Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.6 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Oregon Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $3.6 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to nine EDA Economic Development District organizations in Oregon to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Oregon with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

“These investments come at a crucial time to help Oregon’s and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to make these investments in Oregon’s EDA Economic Development Districts to help them prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.”

“The Trump Administration and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross continue to deliver for Oregonians and provide the support rural Oregon needs to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congressman Greg Walden (OR-02). “These funds, which are a result of the CARES Act, will provide crucial economic development grants across Oregon’s Second District and help propel our communities’ recovery. I am pleased that the Department of Commerce is working hard to disseminate CARES Act funding to Oregonians in need and I look forward to continuing to work with them to further provide our communities the support necessary to get them safely up and operating.”

“I am glad to see that the Willamette Valley Council of Governments received additional CARES Act funds today that will be used to help small businesses weather the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05). “These federal funds will be used to develop and implement strategies that will help keep Salem area small businesses afloat and support agricultural businesses in the Willamette Valley.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Bend, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by identifying pathways to economic recovery and providing technical assistance to diversify the Central Oregon economy.
• Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District of Oregon, St. Helens, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by investing in technical assistance for businesses; supporting rural communities; and building more equitable, sustainable and disruption-resistant economic systems.
• Greater Portland Economic Development District, Portland, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing an action-oriented recovery strategy that supports regional economic development efforts.
• Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, The Dalles, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by funding staff to develop and implement short- and long-term economic development strategies for pandemic recovery and resiliency, and support for small business training.
• Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, Salem, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by supporting the region’s agriculture-focused economy; boosting regional workforce and business partnership in the region; and developing an economic recovery and resilience strategy.
• Northeast Oregon Economic Development District, Enterprise, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing financial resources and technical assistance to small businesses in rural Northeast Oregon.
• South Central Oregon Economic Development District, Klamath Falls, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by working with small businesses to assess how they could modify their business model and enhance revenue channels and product/service offerings.
• Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Medford, Oregon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance; supporting efforts to diversify the economy of tourism-dependent communities; assisting with tourism recovery through marketing initiatives; and addressing homeless issues.
• Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, Albany, Oregon, will receive a $381,752 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing tools to increase local capacity and implement strategies that address the region’s natural resource and tourism needs.

These entities, all EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDD), are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA EDD, University Center, Tribal, and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 7, Secretary Ross announced that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.

EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit our recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.