For businesses in Clackamas County, Oregon that have experienced hardship in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, there may be a new type of relief available. As of yesterday (6/29), the county is offering Small Business Assistance grants, starting at $2,500, for qualifying businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Business owners must be able to demonstrate that their company has been adversely affected by the economic conditions associated with the pandemic. This new program is provided in cooperation with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), with applications due this Friday, July 3 at 5pm.

Eligibility criteria:

• Business has been adversely affected in one of the following categories:
  • For-profit and non-profit (limited to 501(c)(3) corporations): Business prohibited from operation as directed by Executive Order 20-12
  • For-profit: Business can demonstrate a one-month decline in revenue greater than 50% in the month of March 2020 or April 2020, as compared with sales in January 2020 or February 2020
  • Non-profit (limited to 501(c)(3) corporations: Business can demonstrate a decline in revenue greater than 50% across the months of March 2020 and April 2020, as compared with the same period of time in 2019.
• Business has been unable to access federal CARES Act funds, including:
  • Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance program (EIDL)
  • Other federal programs for emergency pandemic funding
• Business serves Clackamas County residents
• Business employed fewer than 25 employees on February 29, 2020
• If part of a chain, business is an individually owned franchise.

Qualifying businesses may use grant proceeds to cover operating expenses like payroll and benefits, rent or mortgage payments, and utility bills. Clackamas County encourages applications from minority-, woman-, and veteran-owned businesses, as well as sole proprietorships. The county will work with MESO and the grant review committee to ensure equitable distribution among all small business types. The county is committed to ensuring fair, equitable, and careful distribution of grant awards to local businesses.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jon Legarza, the Clackamas County Business & Economic Development Coordinator, at jlegarza@clackamas.us, or the Business and Community Services Department at (503) 742 4BIZ or 4biz@clackamas.us.

For residents of Washington County, the county will be going live with its next round of funding to businesses on Wednesday, July 8. Cities within Washington County will release their grant programs later in the month of July. If you have questions, feel free to consult the business recovery center website or your Geffen Mesher professional.