Community groups launch fund for Oregon’s small, immigrant-owned businesses
A closed sign in downtown Salem on Thursday, March 19. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)
Oregon small businesses that have been cut out of federal pandemic relief programs can apply for a grant from a new $10 million fund.
The Oregon Small Enterprise Fund began accepting applications on Monday, March 8. The new pot of money is being managed by the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, which was formed by over 100 community organizations earlier in the pandemic to help immigrant workers ineligible for safety net programs.
The money is intended to go to “micro-enterprises,” small and very small businesses. To be eligible, a business must be for-profit, operating in Oregon, not have received Paycheck Protection Program funds, seen a decline in revenue because of the pandemic and still be open.
Businesses must also be at least partially owned by someone who files their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which is often used by immigrants who don’t have a Social Security number.
Those interested in applying should call the fund at 1(888) 274-7292 to be assigned a navigator who will help them through the process.
-Jake Thomas
