JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — A new program designed to assist businesses in Jackson County affected by the 2020 Labor Day fires is set to launch, offering a unique approach to economic recovery. The PIER (Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization) Program is the first of its kind in Oregon, focusing on economic revitalization as a method of disaster recovery.
The program, which has been years in the making, will provide grants and loans to businesses in Jackson County to help them rebuild. Businesses affected by the fires can apply for grants of up to $15,000, while microenterprises are eligible for loans up to $50,000. Additionally, the program will offer educational resources and business service assistance to support long-term recovery efforts.
“This is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Ruthie Painter, a representative from the Southern Oregon University Small Business Development Center (SOU SBDC). “It’s a whole new approach to recovery, and the goal is to see if this can help revive the local economy.”
The PIER Program is managed by the Jackson County Community Long-Term Recovery Group, with the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDO) overseeing the application process and compiling a list of eligible businesses. The SOU SBDC will assist with both the application process and the education needed to rebuild these businesses.
The fires, which ravaged Southern Oregon communities more than four years ago, left many local businesses devastated, with some losing everything, including their homes and livelihoods. According to Painter, the challenge has been significant, but the PIER Program aims to provide much-needed support to help businesses recover and rebuild.
“There was so much loss — businesses were wiped out, entire towns were impacted,” Painter said. “We’ve been working tirelessly to find ways to help these businesses get back on their feet.”
The funding for the PIER Program, which totals over $1 million, comes more than four years after the fires. Local organizations attribute the delay to both the complexity of planning for such a program and the bureaucratic hurdles associated with government funding.
“This is uncharted territory,” said Malcom Voyager, the business and economic development manager at IVCanDO. “The process of getting funding distributed was long and challenging, but we’re hopeful that this unique program can make a real difference for the businesses that have been struggling.”
As the PIER Program begins, local leaders and residents are optimistic that it will provide a vital boost to the local economy and help Jackson County businesses recover from the lasting impacts of the 2020 Labor Day fires.