Business Oregon Announces First Round of Matching Grants from the Oregon Small Business Relief Fund
On June 2nd Business Oregon announced the recipients of $2.5 million in matching grant funding through the Emergency Business Assistance Grant Fund, which was created by Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Legislature to assist small businesses suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $10 million of funding is being allocated through three Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for different types of applicants. This is the first of round of funding, consisting of $2.5 million and closed for proposals May 18.
“We stood this program up very quickly, and communities throughout Oregon in turn put together excellent proposals on a short time-frame for how they will get the funding into the hands of their local small businesses,” said Business Oregon director Chris Cummings.
This round solicited proposals from cities, counties, and Economic Development Districts that have existing small business COVID-relief programs or will stand up new programs to issue grants to local small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. The program also encourages efforts to provide access to sole proprietors and historically disadvantaged businesses.
Business Oregon received 46 applications requesting $7.5 million, but only $2.5 million is available in this round. Final amounts to each will be announced shortly as contracts are finalized with each recipient, but the median award will be approximately $45,000.
| Recipient | County |
|---|---|
| Albany | Benton |
| Clackamas County | Clackamas |
| Gladstone | Clackamas |
| Happy Valley | Clackamas |
| Lake Oswego | Clackamas |
| Milwaukie | Clackamas |
| Oregon City | Clackamas |
| West Linn | Clackamas |
| Clatsop County (CEDR) | Clatsop |
| Columbia County | Columbia |
| CCD (Coos, Curry, Douglas) | Coos, Curry, Douglas |
| Central Oregon Intergov. Council (COIC) | Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson |
| Grant County | Grant |
| Ashland | Jackson |
| Jackson County | Jackson |
| Medford | Jackson |
| Talent | Jackson |
| Grants Pass | Josephine |
| SCOEDD | Klamath, Lake |
| Lane County | Lane |
| Lincoln County | Lincoln |
| Sweet Home | Linn |
| Ontario | Malheur |
| Keizer | Marion |
| Silverton | Marion |
| Stayton | Marion |
| Turner | Marion |
| Mid-Willamette Valley COG | Marion, Polk, Yamhill |
| Fairview | Multnomah |
| Gresham | Multnomah |
| Dallas | Polk |
| Independence/Monmouth | Polk |
| Affiliated Tribes NW EDC | Statewide |
| City of Wheeler | Tillamook |
| Pendleton | Umatilla |
| City of Umatilla | Umatilla |
| La Grande | Union |
| City of Union | Union |
| Wallowa County | Wallowa |
| Beaverton | Washington |
| Hillsboro | Washington |
| Sherwood | Washington |
| Tigard | Washington |
| Tualatin | Washington |
| Carlton | Yamhill |
A map of Oregon Small Business Relief Fund grant recipients is available on our website.
To fill gaps not reached by other programs, these state funds are to be directed to adversely affected businesses that have been unable to receive federal CARES Act funding, including the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance program, or other federal programs for emergency pandemic funding. Businesses may use the proceeds for any business-related operating expenses, including helping to reopen in line with state guidance.
A full description of the program details and application requirements are on our website. Proposals for round two of the funding that is open to Community Development Financial Institutions and Economic Development Districts closed Monday June 1. Proposals for the third and final round will be solicited later in June.
Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency, invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency’s services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations.
