SOREDI will be making COVID-19 grants available to both Jackson and Josephine county employers impacted by COVID-19 through the new "Southern Oregon CARES" Business Grants.
The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County, along with the Oregon Legislature and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, will offer limited grants in response to COVID-19 and the economic impacts businesses faced in its wake. The Southern Oregon Strong Business Success Grant Program will provide direct payments to eligible businesses in Oregon House District #4* who have previously or are currently experiencing losses due to the pandemic. The program may cover revenue losses related to utility expenses, mortgage and rent arrears, and other specific expenses to alleviate the financial impacts of the pandemic. To qualify, a company must be classified as a small business with no more than 500 employees, and the primary place of business must be within the boundaries of Oregon House District 4.* * Visit the Jackson County Chambers Site including a Map of Eligible Communities (such as Central Point, White City, Eagle Point, Foots Creek, New Hope, Rogue River, Gold Hill, Wimer). View Press Release.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the Smith River Complex Fire that began Aug. 15. The loans include California and Oregon (Josephine, and Curry Counties). For information visit the SBA Smith Fire website (https://www.sba.gov/article/2023/11/06/sba-offers-disaster-assistance-california-small-businesses-economically-impacted-smith-river-complex). Your local SBDC-RCC may be able to help you navigate this opportunity/eligibility (https://www.roguecc.edu/SBDC/). Deadline is August 6, 2024.
Are you a small business owner looking for funding? The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers loans and grants to help you grow your business and succeed. SBA provides resources to help you start and expand your business.
Assists contractors meet their obligations under Section 503. Includes information supporting contractors on issues related to effective outreach and recruitment of individuals with disabilities and veterans, reasonable accommodations in the workplace, promoting self‐identification as an individual with a disability or a veteran by job applicants and employees, and other relevant topics.
SBA microloans may be able to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit child care centers start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000. To see if you are eligible and to access additional valuable resources contact your local SBDC office in Josephine County (https://sbdc.roguecc.edu/business-services, 541-956-7494, SBDC@roguecc.edu), tell them you heard about the Microloan program on Rogue Business and would like more information.
SBA microloans may be able to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit child care centers start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000. To see if you are eligible and to access additional valuable resources contact your local SBDC office in Jackson County (https://sbdc.sou.edu/, (541) 552-8300, sbdc@sou.edu), tell them you heard about the Microloan program on Rogue Business and would like more information.
The Live Event Support Industries Program is administered by Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency. The Oregon legislature allocated Business Oregon federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds for the purpose of supporting live event support industry service providers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This Program will provide up to $10 million in grant assistance to qualifying applicants that have experienced financial hardships as an outcome of public health measures necessitated by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The grant can be awarded to those that plan/deliver live events and most businesses that support live events (catering, audio-visual, equipment rentals, security, speciality entertainers, portable toilets, photographers, planners and more). Click View Resource for details including eligibility, an application, and more.
Applications must be received by December 10. For businesses looking for help averting layoffs, the Rogue Workforce Partnership can provide Layoff Aversion Funds to help retain impacted workers. Visit the RWP Layoff Support for Employers web page for more information and the application link.
The long-awaited Fire Hardening Grants are now available to those whose home or business was lost or damaged in the 2020 wildfires. This is an opportunity to “Build Back Better”! You may be eligible to receive more than $6,000 in money (including reimbursement) for fire hardening of your home or business. With $5.7 million dollars available to residents of Jackson County and 155 applicants to date, millions of dollars of funding remain for those who are facing an expensive rebuild. Here’s the link to apply: www.tinyurl.com/firehardeningapply Here is the full list of fire-hardening improvements eligible for funding: www.tinyurl.com/grant-incentives
Eligible businesses that allow employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine can receive a tax credit. Partner with a vaccine provider to host an on-site vaccination clinic. If you need help finding a COVID-19 vaccine, here are local resources: Jackson County: https://jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/COVID-19/Vaccine-Appointments Josephine County: http://www.co.josephine.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=2288
Governor Kate Brown signed into law House Bill 3389, which provides UI tax relief and deferral for 2021 unemployment insurance (UI) payroll taxes to qualifying businesses. The tax relief program was collaboratively developed by the Oregon Employment Department, Gov. Brown, and the Oregon State Legislature as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on many businesses.
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) will accept grant proposals from qualified tax-exempt organizations, public schools, or institutions located within the AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter geographic boundaries of Oregon and SW Washington. Applicants must also offer construction-related programming such as: construction management, civil and engineering studies, construction technology, construction related career technical education, pre-apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, construction trades preparation, or other construction-related career training. The deadline is April 2, 2021.
