NEOEDD’s COVID-19-related Financial Assistance

For a short period of time, Baker, Union and Wallowa Counties will be offering grants to businesses impacted by COVID-19. The rules and selection processes are different for each county. We are sharing the information we have on each grant fund as of December 10, 2020.

Baker County

Follow this link to their grant application. This grant program is available for businesses impacted by COVID-19 who have been operating for at least one year. Some exceptions may apply.
Businesses need to provide information that their loses are Covid-19 related. In order to demonstrate past operations, COVID-19 impacts applicants will be screened based on this application, Those who appear to meet eligibility requirements will be required to submit additional documentation as a second step in the application process.

Union County – Grant Application Deadline – Noon December 15

Union County is providing financial assistance to small businesses adversely affected by economic conditions as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses eligible to apply include those with 30 or fewer employees that were prohibited from operating in the primary mode of operation due to Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Orders; or, businesses who can demonstrate a one-month decline in sales of 25% or more incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic between March 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020 as compared to the same period of time in 2019.

Additional information on the program: Union County Business-Assistance-Grant-Information.

Application: Union County Business-Assistance-Grant-Application-Final

Wallowa County

General eligibility to apply to County for assistance funds:

1. Main business operations are in Wallowa County.
2. Registered with Secretary of State if business is required to do so.
3. For profit business or 501(c) (3).
4. Business was affected in one of the following two ways:

•  Business was prohibited from operations as directed by Executive Orders 20-12 or 20-65; or
•  Business can show a one month decline in sales of 25% or more, caused by COVID-19 pandemic regulations between 1 March 2020 and 30 November 2020 as compared to the same time period in 2019.

Application: WallowaCountyCORONAVIRUSRELIEFFUNDFORM

NEOEDD is managing one grant and one Covid-response loan fund.

Small Business and Microenterprise Grant Program 

This grant program is available for businesses affected by COVID-19 that have been operating for at least one year and that are owned by or employ people with low-to-moderate incomes. Business owners need to provide information on how they are responding to the pandemic and their plans to remain in business for the foreseeable future.

All of the following are eligible to apply: 

• Self-employed individual with low-to-moderate income 
• Business with five or fewer employees  with a business owner who has low-to-moderate income (microenterprise)  
• Business (including nonprofit) employing one or more employees who have low-to-moderate incomes   

FAQ: What is a low-to-moderate income?

The following table shows the maximum amount of income a household can have in order to qualify for this grant funding: 

Access the application for this grant here.

Grants for microenterprises and self-employed individuals are expected to be a minimum of $2,500 and up to $10,000. Businesses employing workers with low-to-moderate incomes can receive $2,500 per qualifying employee.  

In order to demonstrate past operations, COVID-19 impacts, and low-to-moderate income qualifications, businesses will be screened based on their initial application. Additional documentation will be required as a second step for those who are likely to receive funding. 

NEOEDD/NOBD Revolving Loan Funds  

NEOEDD and its partner organization, Northeast Oregon Business Development, always have available “gap” loans for people who have found bank funding but it is insufficient for a project or purchase (click here for information). From now until May 2021, NEOEDD also offers loan of up to $250,000 ​to finance businesses that will help the economy recover from the pandemic. These loans can be used by businesses that have identified opportunities to grow, find new markets, or become more stable following pandemic impacts.

These loans have special, favorable terms: 

• 0% interest 
• Deferred payments likely 
• No other lender needed 
• No loan fees
• $100 application fee 
• No job creation requirement 
• Can be used to refinance short-term debt (credit card) 

To apply for one of these loans, download the application form as a PDF here and Word doc here. If you have questions, contact loan officer Mike Ogan at mikeogan @ neoedd.org (no spaces) or 541-519-7699.