In partnership with the Columbia County Financial Crew (CCET), Columbia County has distributed $929,274 in small enterprise grants to 159 Columbia County small companies and nonprofits.
The $929,274 in small enterprise grants goes to 159 Columbia County small companies and non-profits.
The grants have been distributed throughout eight cities and cities and awarded based mostly on the scale of the corporate – the vast majority of which have been smaller sole proprietorships. The native hospitality business alone acquired $258,978.
“Our companies and communities want this cash right here,” Columbia County Commissioner Henry Heimuller stated. “We have been decided to not ship a single cent again that will profit the residents of Columbia County.”
CCET Govt Director Paul Vogel stated the method to take enterprise functions and make sure the distribution of the cash was a big group effort.
“The state needed to contract with the county, the county needed to contract with an entity to assist develop and administer this system and chosen us. We needed to coordinate with county finance and attorneys to get all of it put collectively in compliance with state and federal tips,” Vogel stated. “We spent practically a full day on the telephone to ensure all of the T’s have been crossed and the I’s dotted.”
Columbia County acquired affirmation and particulars about its allocation from the state in early December, together with the quantity it needed to work with, and was advised that cash needed to be out the door by Dec. 30. CCET and the county partnered to get this system up and operating, supplies developed and functions for the grant {dollars} made out there by Dec. 9. This gave companies 10 days to file them.
Every utility was individually checked twice earlier than the awards have been made on Dec. 30, in line with county officers.
“The factor that basically stood out to me on this final spherical, it was more cash, and for lots of people this was their first time making use of,” Vogel stated. “They have been new recipients. That tells you what you already sense: there’s an entire lot of want on the market.”
Vogel stated the grant course of has been a superb lens into small enterprise in Columbia County. These concerned really feel as if they’ve gotten to know Columbia County firms higher than they ever had earlier than, which is useful wanting ahead and constructing resilience, he stated.
That is the third spherical of emergency small enterprise grants through which CCET has been concerned. The primary two have been funded immediately by Enterprise Oregon, with the Columbia County Commissioners offering a match for Spherical 1. Rounds 1 and a couple of have been administered collectively by CCET and the Columbia Pacific Financial Improvement District (Col-Pac).
Even so, small enterprise grants like these are a little bit of a brand new factor, in line with Vogel, introduced on by the COVID-19 pandemic and financial disaster. After an admittedly tough first spherical for a lot of candidates, Vogel stated CCET took some steps to help companies in getting ready — together with workshops to assist companies with primary enterprise preparation that assist make them stronger companies, in addition to candidates.
The second spherical bought higher, Vogel stated, and this spherical of grant funding went a lot smoother, though the condensed time crunch created its personal challenges.
“It was a bunch of lengthy hours,” Vogel stated. “We’ve bought a tally — I don’t even know what number of hours. You already know you’re going to have the ability to assist small companies and nonprofits, and that’s what retains you going, the hassle to assist with that’s worthwhile. I really feel like I benefited loads from understanding extra of what they’re coping with when it comes to their value and the way they’ve tailored.”
Vogel stated Columbia County is faring higher than the coast, in some respects, as coastal cities have decrease populations and depend on vacation spot foot visitors — and far of the grant funding was based mostly on inhabitants. Nevertheless, Vogel stated eating places, bars and retail are struggling as a lot in Columbia County as anyplace else.
“We’re not heavy on the hospitality business, however every of our communities has eating places, bars, motels and retail which are the soul of the neighborhood,” Vogel stated. “They’re having a tough time with it. Whereas we’re doing these grants, we’re attempting to advertise the hell out of those companies. Our communities are the way in which they’re due to the companies which are right here. Be sure that these people see you darken their doorways and ensure to assist those that assist our communities stay what they’re.”
