COVID-19

We will keep you up to date with the news we receive from the State and the communities we serve in Southern Oregon. The financial impact, as well as the social impact, will be felt for a long time.  If your business has been impacted, please let us know.

Here are a few links to government information about COVID-19.

Here is a non-governmental link sent in by Mari Williams, Junior Researcher, Wilkes Institute for Environmental Sciences and Sustainability

Over $3.6 million in grant funds are now available for eligible businesses impacted by COVID19 in Jackson and Josephine Counties

December 8, 2020

Applications for this new “Southern Oregon CARES Business Grant” (“SOCARES”) fund may be accessed through SOREDI, which has contracted as grant administrator for both counties. These new grant funds are available in all 36 Oregon counties through a $55 million allocation made by the State of Oregon. These funds are intended…

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Governor Kate Brown Announces Launch of ‘Give the Gift of Oregon’ Campaign to Support Local Businesses

December 8, 2020

Oregon retailers are prepared for Oregonians to shop safe, shop local Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced the launch of the “Give the Gift of Oregon” campaign as part of a comprehensive effort to support local businesses statewide. Shopping local is more important than ever due to the significant economic…

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Working from Home on the Decline, and Outlook for Downtowns

December 8, 2020

Working from home has been a key economic response to the pandemic. As detailed before, about 1 in 3 workers are theoretically work remotely. We know that number was higher earlier this year as working from home wasn’t so much about optimal business operations as it was to stop the…

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Today marks highest number of COVID-19 cases in Oregon

October 8, 2020

October 8, 2020 Over the past few weeks, Oregon has seen a steady rise in daily cases. Sadly, today we see the highest number of COVID-19 cases reported in Oregon. During a media briefing today, Deputy State Health Officer and State Epidemiologist Dr. Tom Jeanne said that cases have been caused by infections…

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What COVID-19 means for energy efficiency in Oregon

August 2, 2020

The impacts of COVID-19 on Oregon’s energy-efficiency industry could be felt long after the pandemic is under control. That’s according to Energy Trust Executive Director Michael Colgrove, who was the featured speaker in a webinar this week hosted by the Association of Energy Services Professionals. Colgrove described how the state’s stay-at-home…

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Statewide Mask, Face Shield, Face Covering Guidance as of July 24, 2020

August 2, 2020

by OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOROregon Health Authority Applicability: This guidance applies statewide to:  All businesses, as defined below, and to the general public when visiting these businesses.  The general public when visiting indoor spaces open to the public.  The general public when outdoors, when at least six (6) feet of distance…

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Covid-19 and Cities: A very uneven pandemic

July 2, 2020

By Joe Cortright The Covid-19 pandemic has played out very differently in different metro areas; some have been devastated, others only lightly touched and these patterns have shifted over time. Among US metro areas with a million or more population there is a more than 20-fold difference in cases per…

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People’s Bank Celebrates Success in PPP Lending

June 10, 2020

June 5, 2020 Release By:  Ken Trautman, President & CEO Medford, Oregon People’s Bank of Commerce (OTCBB: PBCO) reports significant support of its communities in providing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans during the COVID-19 crisis. To date, the community bank has provided over 900 PPP loans totaling $91 million to small…

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You received PPP money. Now how do you apply for forgiveness?

June 7, 2020

Julia Beattie, Chief Lending Officer at People’s Bank of Commerce, was the guest on the Southern Oregon Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur (E2E) zoom meeting, on Wednesday, June 3. She discussed the loan forgiveness process in great detail and answered questions from the online audience. Follow the Southern Oregon Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur…

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Who Are the COVID-19 Unemployed in Oregon?

June 1, 2020

By Damon Runberg One of the most visible and devastating impacts of the state’s stay-at-home order to protect us from the human health crisis presented by COVID-19 has been mass layoffs. Tens of millions of initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed across the nation in the first nine weeks…

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Postcards from the edges: Density is not Destiny

June 1, 2020

By Joe CortrightCity Observatory There’s a meme equating density with Covid-19 risk.  Two polar cases shows that density (or lack thereof) has little to do with the spread of the pandemic. Many, including New York’s Governor, have been quick to blame density for the spread of Covid-19.  Last month, we…

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KCC Small Business Development Center ramps up services to help local businesses navigate assistance programs

May 14, 2020

The Klamath Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has ramped up its services for Klamath and Lake counties and is actively working with lenders, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Business Oregon, and numerous local leaders to help business owners and entrepreneurs understand the latest developments with the rapidly changing…

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