Oregon
| Program | # of Grants | EDA Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Adjustment Assistance | 1 | $800,000 |
| Disaster Relief | 1 | $1,762,110 |
| Technical Assistance |
5 | $343,160 |
| Planning | 16 | $1,173,023 |
| Total | 23 | $4,078,293 |
During FY 2012, EDA awarded 23 grants totaling $4.1 million throughout the State of Oregon. These investments encourage the growth of advanced and metals materials manufacturing, trade, tourism, and disaster resiliency in the state by supporting regionally-owned economic development initiatives to create jobs and position Oregon communities to maximize their economic assets and potential.
Investment Spotlight: EDA Investment links Businesses to Capital for Growth and Expansion
The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) is a two-state, mostly rural district east of Portland, encompassing Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties in Oregon and Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington State. Four of the five counties are within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. MCEDD utilizes the differences and leverages the unique assets provided by each state in supporting economic development efforts of the region, including assistance to local businesses.
Many businesses within the district are challenged by the distance between them and entities that provide financing. EDA awarded MCEDD a $50,000 Technical Assistance grant to implement a web-based fund sourcing tool, the Investment Platform for Economic Development (IPED). IPED will help connect local businesses to capital providers from a variety of geographic areas, so that companies have a better chance of getting the financing needed to expand. In addition, this platform can be replicated with minimal investment throughout other parts of the country to bridge investment gaps and increase economic development opportunities.