Clackamas County is distributing $420,000 in grant funding to 145 small businesses that applied for assistance because they have been adversely affected by economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program, in cooperation with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), provided individual grants ranging from $2,500 to nearly $10,000 to businesses located throughout Clackamas County, from Canby to Sandy and Milwaukie to Mt. Hood.
The businesses provide a wide range of services to area residents, including photography, beauty care, children’s learning, high tech support, food services, home repair, cleaning services and much more.
The funds provide much-needed assistance at a crucial time for many small businesses.
• John Staylor of Full Fast Technology, a company that provides CAD services for the Electric Vehicle industry, wrote, “I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Clackamas County and MESO for the grant. They say timing is everything. You have extended to me a lifeline to keep me in business. … Your grant will pay the bills and keep me rolling.”
• Iwona Erbe, owner/director of IQPreschool, wrote, “It has been a tough and very stressful time for our community’s small businesses. The Grant from Clackamas County, will help me with preschool operational costs, and to purchase new electronic equipment for my Distance Learning Program. My plan moving forward is to continue my in-home preschool program and offer a distance learning option to the families, when in-person contact is not possible.”
“We are proud to be able to support many of the small businesses in Clackamas County that are such a valuable part of our community and our economy,” said Laura Zentner, Director of the County’s Department of Business and Community Services, “including those minority-owned, woman-owned and veteran-owned businesses, and sole proprietorships.”
The county was not able to fund all of the grant requests, but, according to Zentner, those businesses will be able to apply for the second round of grants that will become available with another $155,000 expected from the State of Oregon.
The County is committed to ensuring fair, equitable and careful distribution of grant awards to local businesses.
Businesses with questions about future grant opportunities are invited to contact Clackamas County Business & Economic Development Coordinator Jon Legarza at jlegarza@clackamas.us or the Business and Community Services Department at 503-742-4BIZ or 4biz@clackamas.us.
