COVID-19 business grants available: Grant applications being accepted

“This is a great opportunity for the city and county to provide direct support to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Julie Krueger, city manager for The Dalles.

Wasco County Economic Development Commission staff at MCEDD will begin accepting applications at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Eligible applicants are small businesses (including independent contractors and sole proprietors) and non-profits (501c3s only) with 25 or fewer employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic between March and August 2020.

Businesses that have received federal emergency assistance under the federal CARES Act, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance Program or other federal emergency pandemic assistance funding may be eligible and are encouraged to apply. For these businesses, the eligible grant award amount will be reduced by the amount of federal dollars received as of the date of application and they must provide documentation of the federal award.

These requirements are different than the those of the grant funding currently available through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), and businesses who have been awarded funds by MCEDD through this program are not eligible to apply for both pools of funding.

The Oregon legislature allocated $5 million from the state general fund, to be combined with $5 million redirected from existing programs at the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon), for the purpose of providing financial assistance to small businesses and non-profits adversely impacted by COVID-19. Businesses may use the proceeds for any business-related operating expenses.

The city and county partnered with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Gorge Small Business Development Center, the Wasco County Economic Development Commission and MCEDD to support this funding request and implement the program.

Applications and a full list of eligibility requirements can be found at www.ci.the-dalles.or.us/node/4063. Contact Jacque Schei with questions about the program at 541-296-2266 ext. 1006 or bizgrant@mcedd.org. To apply, email applications to bizgrants@mcedd.org or mail/ hand deliver to MCEDD at 802 Chenowith Loop Road, The Dalles, OR 97058.