Emergency Board approves more than $128 million for Oregonians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

SALEM, Ore. – The legislative Emergency Board today approved more than $128 million to help Oregonians impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This includes funding for childcare providers, Oregonians in need of shelter, small businesses, long-term care providers and victims of domestic and sexual violence.

The Emergency Board approved $35 million from the state’s Emergency Fund to support the Project Turnkey Statewide Pandemic and Homelessness Response. The Oregon Community Foundation will use funding to support the acquisition, retrofitting and potential operation of hotel and motel properties to be used as emergency shelter. This funding is in addition to $30 million the Emergency Board approved on October 23 to begin Project Turnkey in wildfire-affected areas.

The Emergency Board also approved the following allocations from the state’s share of federal funds available through the Coronavirus Relief Fund:

• $45 million for Childcare Provider Assistance to support the increased costs facing childcare providers facing economic and operational challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $20 million for a third grant to the Oregon Community Foundation for the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, which will make additional payments to workers who are ineligible for wage replacement payments from traditional unemployment insurance programs.
• $20 million to provide additional financial assistance to small businesses economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The board previously allocated $25.6 million for COVID-19 Emergency Business Assistance in July.
• $5 million to help cover long term care provider costs for routine COVID-19 staff testing.
• $2.4 million for one-time COVID-19 baseline testing of long term care facility staff and residents.
• $1 million to support victims of domestic and sexual violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for increased domestic and sexual violence. The board previously dedicated $2 million to support victims in April.

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Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2020 and the O has reported on closures and virtual opportunities to celebrate. ODVA also has a list of events giving tribute to veterans. In addition to the Governor’s pause on five counties on Friday, she added four counties today. OPB and the O did some reporting on the recent surge and what the “pause” looks like. Please continue to encourage face-coverings and following public health guidelines. Share those photos of mask usage, flu shots, and zoom get-togethers. President-elect Biden is also encouraging mask-usage.

Oregon is working to pay waiting-period unemployment benefits out before Thanksgiving.

OSU and UO are working to increase testing in the university communities.

Recent research has indicated that the university funding structures have a gender bias.

Stephen Trout losing his job at the Oregon elections division in the midst of vote-counting.

Many Portlanders and Oregonians celebrated election results last week, which included an increase in purchasing of bubbly.

A local timber company has sued over the Black Resiliency + Relief fund.

Some outlets reported on the Emergency Board meeting today, which among other items, approved an additional $35 million for Project Turnkey.

email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1705
address: 900 Court St NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan