Business Oregon Awards $7.6 Million in Economic Equity Investment Program Grants

EEIP grants support culturally responsive organizations that provide assistance to eligible beneficiaries in an effort to advance economic equity.

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

To drive equitable outcomes in small business development, housing, and workforce development, Business Oregon is making a final round of grant awards from the Economic Equity Investment Program (EEIP). This final round of grant awards consists of $7.6 million in grant funding to 33 organizations across the state.

The EEIP was first created in 2022 by Senate Bill 1579 to make $13.6 million in grant funding available to culturally responsive organizations to provide outreach, support, and resources to eligible beneficiaries to address longstanding economic inequities. In 2024, the Oregon State Legislature allocated additional funding that allowed for another $7.6 million in grants through the program to carry out EEIP projects.

For this round of funding, Business Oregon received 88 program applications, requesting $36 million in funds. After a thorough evaluation process involving agency staff and a diverse panel of external reviewers, 33 grants were awarded, pending execution of a grant agreement with each awardee. Awardees include new applicants, as well as organizations that received EEIP funding in the first round. The current funds must be expended by June 30, 2025, when the program is expected to conclude.


“The Economic Equity Investment Program is helping to close longstanding wealth gaps, support disproportionately underrepresented Oregonians, and build a foundation for greater economic equity,” said Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon. “In partnership with these diverse organizations receiving grant awards, these funds will drive very real impacts for communities and businesses across the state.”


Following this announcement, Business Oregon will work with grant recipients on the development and negotiation of contracts. Recipient organizations will have approximately seven months to distribute programming and resources to eligible beneficiaries.


Recipients of the $7.6 million in EEIP funds will continue to invest in affordable housing and down payment assistance; small business education and grants; workforce programs that lead to family wage jobs; and financial tools and resources that help support economic resilience.


Successful applicants demonstrated a meaningful track record of delivering programs or resources to target populations within at least one of the following key areas: land ownership and real property acquisition, entrepreneurship and business development, workforce, and intergenerational wealth building.


The funded projects are listed below under each of those four categories.

Ownership of Land, Principal Residences, and Other Real Property:
9 Projects; $3,035,000 Awarded

  • CASA of Oregon ($275,000)
  • Habitat for Humanity of Oregon ($450,000)
  • Hacienda CDC ($350,000)
  • Kor / Rooted Homes ($475,000)
  • Native Youth and Family (NAYA) ($350,000)
  • Umatilla Morrow Head Start ($235,000)
  • Self Enhancement Inc. ($400,000)
  • Umpqua CDC ($250,000)
  • DevNW ($250,000)

Entrepreneurship and Business Development: 15 Projects; $3,425,250 Awarded

  • Be-Blac ($105,000)
  • High Desert Partnership ($350,000)
  • Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) ($215,000)
  • Livelihood NW ($185,250)
  • National Association of Minority Contractors-Oregon ($273,000)
  • Nixyaawii Community Financial Services (NCFS) ($150,000)
  • NW Native Chamber ($325,000)
  • Philippine American Chamber and Black American Chamber ($250,000)
  • SEDCOR ($225,000)
  • The Next Door Inc. ($122,000)
  • Urban League of Portland ($325,000)
  • Warm Springs Community Action Team ($150,000)
  • Plaza Nuestra de Communidad ($125,000)
  • NuProject ($475,000)
  • CCD Business Development ($150,000)

Workforce Development: 7 Projects; $738,658 Awarded

  • Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY)
    ($128,706)
  • Constructing Hope ($48,609)
  • Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center ($94,050)
  • Venture Partners ($180,000)
  • UNIDOS Bridging Community ($200,000)
  • Illinois Valley Family Coalition ($12,293)
  • Pacific Refugee Support Group ($75,000)

Intergenerational Wealth Building: 2 Projects; $400,000 Awarded

  • Rural Development Initiatives ($175,000)
  • NeighborImpact ($225,000)

Leave a Comment





Advertisement

Advertisement

Archives