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Communities across Oregon are seeing improvements through the help of Recovery Act funding. It is more important than ever to strengthen communities during these difficult economic times. Oregon is expected to receive about $160 million to support communities through job skills training programs, AmeriCorps members put to work at rural food banks, and infrastructure improvements to provide safe drinking water for generations.
A couple examples of community services funding opportunities include:
- Almost $10 million in block grant funding for community projects across the state.
- A little over $300,000 for arts organizations through the National Endowment for the Arts.
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AmeriCorps Community Service Programs – Funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, these Recovery Act dollars will be distributed to three existing AmeriCorps programs currently operating within the State of Oregon. Only existing AmeriCorps programs were eligible. AmeriCorps members are serving with Community Action Agencies, rural food banks through the RARE program at University of Oregon, and Impact NW in Multnomah County.
Broadband Mapping – The Recovery Act authorizes $7.2 billion in funding to expand broadband access capabilities throughout the country, with special consideration for rural and other unserved and underserved areas. The funding will also help enhance broadband capacity at public computer centers and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. Applications for the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) were due August 14, 2009 (August 20, 2009, for those "pending" as of the earlier date). The Governor's Office will have an opportunity to review and provide prioritization input on BTOP applications that progress to a "step two" review process. The state of Oregon, through its Public Utility Commission, will also be competing for nationally competitive broadband "mapping" grants though the State Broadband Data and Development Program.
Community Service Grant – Under the CSBG program, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards eligible entities funding to provide services and activities addressing employment, education, better use of available income, housing, nutrition, emergency services and/or health to combat the central causes of poverty.
Community Development – These grants, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development enable local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide decent affordable housing and create economic opportunities, primarily for persons of low and moderate income.
Elderly Employment – The Recovery Act allowed the U.S. Department of Labor to allocate additional funds to the Senior Community Service Employment Program. These additional funds will work to help older persons, 55 years of age or older, with low incomes improve their employment prospects by providing job skills training and minimum wage jobs while they gain job experience.
Emergency Food Assistance – This program administers and distributes USDA commodity foods to provide emergency food to low-income Oregonians. Funds are distributed equitably, by population, statewide through the Oregon Food Bank Network of Regional Food Banks. Emergency food box distribution has increased 105% in the past year as more Oregonians find themselves unemployed and below poverty level. Recovery Act funds will help to distribute an additional $1.2 million dollars of commodity food to low-income Oregonians.
Safe Drinking Water – The Environmental Protection Agency, through the Recovery Act makes additional money available for the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. This makes funding available to drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.
National Endowment for the Arts – The National Endowment for the Arts awarded one-time grants through the Recovery Act to the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to support the arts sector of the economy. Potential recipients include organizations in the performing, visual, and literary arts.
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To learn more about projects near you, take a look at our Tracking the Dollars map to select specific projects or select one of the categories below to learn more about the types of projects funded. Projects can be divided specifically by the following categories:
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