<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;}
p.externalclass, li.externalclass, div.externalclass
{mso-style-name:externalclass;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.imagefix, li.imagefix, div.imagefix
{mso-style-name:image_fix;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body bgcolor="white" lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">FYI – another new resource to support businesses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="top" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<div align="center">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<div id="previewtext">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:.75pt"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:white">As the economic impacts of the pandemic continue, the Oregon legislature and Governor Kate Brown have allocated millions more
in grant funding for Business Oregon to deliver into the hands of small businesses across Oregon
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;margin:0!important">
<span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct0_0/1/m?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt"><span style="color:#006699">View this message</span></a> in
a browser window.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div align="center">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="600" valign="top" style="width:6.25in;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="top" style="width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:0%"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct1_0/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="600" height="111" style="width:6.25in;height:1.1583in" id="r-221834" src="http://development.oregon4biz.com/cdnr/84/acton/cx/39c2/logo73.jpg" alt="Business Oregon logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600" valign="top" style="width:6.25in;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;box-sizing: border-box">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" id="B1440606249367">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="600" valign="top" style="width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="top" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:16.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<a name="B1440606249367"></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
November 18, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;box-sizing: border-box">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="600" valign="top" style="width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" id="B1441820668325">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="top" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:150%"><a name="B1441820668325"></a><strong><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">More Grants to Help Oregon Small Businesses are on the Way</span></strong><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Salem, OR — As the economic impacts of the pandemic continue, the Oregon legislature and Governor Kate Brown have allocated millions more in grant funding for Business Oregon to deliver into the hands
of small businesses across Oregon. On Monday, November 9<sup>th</sup>, the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature approved $20 million more to Business Oregon’s Emergency Business Assistance Grant Fund. This funding and program are separate from the $55
million in funds the Governor also announced this week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This grant fund has already put approximately $25 million out into the community through four rounds of funding. The first four rounds were allocated from Business Oregon to intermediary lenders such
as cities, counties, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and Economic Development Districts (EDDs), who in turn granted the money to individual businesses. With this new round, Business Oregon is able to fund businesses directly. The grants
are available to small businesses that have seen lost revenue due to the pandemic, and that meet a minimal set of requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“This funding is timely, as we face the sharp increase in COVID-19 under this new wave of the pandemic,” said Business Oregon Director Chris Cummings. “These grants can help our small business owners
today, but to get back to business in the long haul we’ve got to do what it takes now to stop the spread of this virus.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This round makes some changes to previous rounds of grant funding under the program, so that more businesses can access the funds. Businesses with up to 100 employees can apply, whereas previous funding
was limited to those with up to 25 employees, to ensure smaller businesses could access the funds first.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Most previous rounds also targeted businesses that did not already receive assistance through the CARES Act (such as PPP, EIDL, City of Portland Small Relief Program, the Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief
+ Resiliency and other programs funded with CARES Act funds). This round will now consider applications from businesses with 1 to 25 employees that
<strong><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">have</span></i></strong><em><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
</span></em>already received anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million in funding from these federal resources. Businesses with 26 to 100 employees are eligible regardless of the amount of federal resources they received (up to $1,000,000), if they meet other program
requirements. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Businesses are eligible to receive up to $200,000 in grant funding as detailed in the grant application. To be eligible, a business must show it was prohibited from operations by the
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct2_0/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt" target="_blank" title="Governor's executive order">
<span style="color:#006699">Governor’s Executive Order 20-12</span></a>, or demonstrate a 25% reduction in sales over a 30-day period in 2020 compared to a comparable period in 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Tomorrow, Thursday November 19, the application form and additional details will be found on
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct3_0/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt">
<span style="color:#006699">Business Oregon’s website</span></a>. If the application is not yet posted in the morning, a time estimate will be provided on the web page. Grants will be reviewed on a first-come first-served basis, and will be allocated so that
there is an equitable geographic distribution of funds as dictated by the Oregon Legislature.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The application portal will close once applications totaling $25 million in requested grants are received. Business Oregon will reopen the portal if any funds remain after reviewing those initial applications
for eligibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Additional resources and information on COVID-19 response can be found on the
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct1_1/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#006699">department’s website</span></a>, and the <a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct4_0/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#006699">Governor's COVID-19 web page</span></a> has the latest guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Business Oregon</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">, the state's economic development agency, invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote
a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency's services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade; investments in industry research
and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct5_0/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt">
<span style="color:#006699">www.oregon4biz.com</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Media Contact</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">:
<a href="mailto:nathan.buehler@oregon.gov"><span style="color:#006699">Nathan Buehler</span></a> 503-689-3559<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;box-sizing: border-box">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="600" valign="top" style="width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in" id="B1440606673668">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="top" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<a name="B1440606673668"></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
<hr size="3" width="100%" align="center">
</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%">
<strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Business Oregon,</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> the state's economic development agency,
invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency's services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export
promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-044e-2011/Bct/q-004c/l-0007:27ce/ct1_2/1/l?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt">
<span style="line-height:150%;color:#006699">www.oregon4biz.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black;display:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div align="center">
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" style="width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;line-height:10.5pt">
<span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Copyright © 2020 Business Oregon</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Our address is
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#006699">775 Summer St NE, Suite 200, Salem, OR 97301, USA</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">If you do not wish to receive future emails,
<a href="http://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/rif/14786/s-044e-2011/-/l-0007:27ce/q-004c/zout?sid=TV2%3Ad0Rk8Rlqt">
<span style="color:#006699">update your preferences here</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(You can also send your request to
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Customer Care</span></strong> at the street address above.)</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/o/14786/s-044e-2011/l-0007:27ce/q-004c/UVADTDTDU/endline.gif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>