Economic Boost for Sweet Home, Oregon, with Federal Grant
The city of Sweet Home, Oregon, is set to enhance its utility infrastructure following the announcement of a significant grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The $700,375 grant aims to support businesses in the region, with the project complemented by an additional $175,094 from local funds.
With this funding, Sweet Home will install three power generators, ensuring continuous power and water supply to local businesses, particularly in response to disruptions caused by recent winter storms. This EDA initiative is part of a broader effort to bolster disaster recovery and resilience in the area.
Cristina Killingsworth, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, emphasized the importance of local recovery strategies, stating, “EDA plays an important role in supporting locally driven disaster recovery and resiliency plans. This EDA investment will help to ensure that the local economy continues to thrive in the event of future storms.”
Governor Tina Kotek highlighted the critical nature of such investments for rural communities, noting, “Oregon’s rural communities often face many of the same challenges as more populated areas but with less resources to address them. This timely investment from the Biden-Harris Administration will support businesses in the city of Sweet Home through another winter season.”
Senator Ron Wyden expressed his support for the initiative, commenting on its significance for small businesses: “Ensuring that small businesses in rural communities have the resources they need to thrive and expand is essential to towns like Sweet Home. This federal investment helps support small businesses here in Oregon and will help communities be more resilient to natural disasters caused by the climate crisis.”
Senator Jeff Merkley also praised the federal funding, emphasizing the need for preparedness: “When extreme weather strikes, we need to make sure our local businesses have the tools they need to keep their doors open and serving Oregon’s communities. EDA plays a critical role in disaster recovery and this federal funding to bring new, reliable power generators to Sweet Home will help businesses in the region weather the worst impacts of the storms and keep their local economy going.”
The Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (OCWCOG) played a pivotal role in facilitating this project through regional planning efforts. Funded by EDA, OCWCOG collaborates with both public and private sectors to develop strategies for economic development, capital investment, and job creation.
This initiative is part of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which allocated $483 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds to support disaster relief. These funds target areas impacted by major disasters as declared under the Robert T. Stafford Act, including hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding experienced in 2021 and 2022. For further details, visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage.
