The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board on January 8, 2021, allocated $100 million to fund a new Commercial Rent Relief Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses and landlords adversely affected by economic conditions as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program targets landlords with tenant businesses with 100 or fewer employees who are behind on lease payments or any forgiven base rent amounts that have been negotiated due to COVID-19. The program will require both business tenant and property owner participation. The program includes additional protections for tenants, such as non-eviction clauses, and a waiver of penalties and interest.

The first round of applications closed on March 22 but a second round of applications is expected to open in Mid March. Visit http://www.oregon4biz.com/Coronavirus-Information/CRR/ for more information and eligibility requirements.

Programa de alivio de alquiler comercial Espanol through Google Translate.

Counties approved to expand vaccinations

Today, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that 20 Oregon counties have submitted attestation letters, signaling their intention to immediately offer COVID-19 vaccinations to expanded eligibility groups.

The counties are Benton, Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union and Wheeler.

By attesting, these counties can now begin vaccinating all individuals listed in Phase 1B, Group 7, ahead of the previously designated statewide start date of April 5.

“Moving up vaccination in these counties will enable us to vaccinate our frontline workers more quickly while enabling counties with adequate supply to fully utilize their allotment of COVID-19 vaccine,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen.

Group 7 is composed of:

• Frontline workers as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• People living in multi-generational households.
• People aged 16-44 with one or more health conditions with increased risk.

As of Monday, people in Phase 1B, Group 6 became eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine.