Downtown Salem’s usually busy streets were nearly empty during the lunch hour on March 17, 2020, the first day of a statewide restaurant closure (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Time is running out for Salem area businesses to apply for grants intended to help them rebound after being adversely affected by the pandemic.
The city of Salem is accepting applications from local businesses and nonprofits with 25 or fewer full-time employees impacted by Covid until Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m.
This is the third grant program offered by the city since the start of the pandemic. There is $150,000 for the most current round of grants came from Business Oregon, the state’s business development agency.
Annie Gorski, city economic development manager, said that so far the city has received 87 applications. For the current round of grants, the city has awarded funding to 32 businesses totaling approximately $86,000, with most amounts around $2,500, she said. Those eligible can receive grants up to $25,000.
Additional information and the application can be found on the city’s website.
Businesses and nonprofits that received funds under federal pandemic relief programs are eligible for the grants. However, they are required to reduce their grant funding by the amount of federal funds they received.
She said that some applications weren’t approved for funding because applicants received too much federal funding or had already received a similar state grant. Others are located outside of Salem city limits, she said.
Those outside of Salem can apply for a similar grant managed by the Willamette Workforce Partnership, a government-funded workforce development nonprofit. Eligible businesses and nonprofits with 25 or fewer full-time employees can access grants of up to $50,000. They also won’t see the amount of funding reduced if they’ve received under $100,000.
More information about the grants and an application can be found on the Willamette Workforce Partnership’s website.
The grant program runs until Monday, Nov. 9 or until funding runs out, Kim Parker-Llerenas, the partnership’s executive director, said in an email.
Those in Salem can apply for both grant programs.
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
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