MEDFORD, Ore. — Another round of grant funding is now available for small businesses in southern Oregon that have been impacted by coronavirus. In Jackson and Josephine counties, those funds are offered through Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc.
In Jackson County, more than $2.4 million in grants are available, while Josephine County has been allocated more than $1.2 million. SOREDI has been contracted as the grant administrator for both counties.
“This is a significantly large allocation for grant funding with priority given to the entertainment and hospitality sector impacted by the Governor’s recent ‘freeze’ mandate,” says Colleen Padilla, Executive Director of SOREDI.
Applications for Jackson County opened at noon on Friday. For Josephine County, applications will be available starting at noon on Saturday. Businesses can apply until funds are exhausted or until noon on December 29, whichever comes first.
While any eligible business can apply, preference will be given to businesses who were under mandated closures from Governor Kate Brown's executive order.
“It is imperative that eligible businesses apply immediately and provide all requested documentation; the circulation of these new funds to small business and the trickle-down impact to the local workforce, is critically important for the success of our regional economy in this time,” said Padilla.
The application takes at least an hour to complete, and only electronic submissions will be accepted.
To apply, visit the SOREDI page here.
Grant funds are available to all 36 Oregon counties through $55 million from the state. Businesses in Douglas, Coos, and Curry counties can apply at the CCD website here. Douglas County applications are currently open, while Coos and Curry applications open on Monday at noon.
Eligible businesses:
- Have <= 100 employees
- Are headquartered in and have principal operations in Jackson or Josephine County
- Are actively registered with the Oregon Secretary of State (if required to do so)
- Are current on all Federal, State, and local taxes
- Are currently open or in the process of reopening, or currently closed by Executive Order 20-65
- Incurred necessary expenditures due to the COVID19 emergency
- Business revenues for 2019 exceeds the total of 2020 business revenues and all COVID-19 related income assistance (such as grants, PPP and EIDL)
- Have annual gross revenues >= $10,000
Ineligible businesses:
- Real estate related (example: holding companies, realtors, vacation rentals)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status
- Any businesses that do not comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations
- Businesses that are delinquent on federal, state, or local taxes that were due on for before the date of the application
- Any business that has closed and does not intend to reopen
- Businesses that experience a decline in revenues for reasons other than those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. seasonal or cyclical business cycles)
- Any business whose 2020 revenues plus all COVID-19 grant funding exceeds its 2019 revenues
