Symbolic of the mythical bird associated with its name, Phoenix Helio is helping itself and other Jackson County businesses to rise from the ashes of the 2020 Almeda Fire. Grant funds from the ReOregon Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization (PIER) program are enabling the local public relations firm to persevere while assisting local artists and businesses to do the same.
“The PIER grant has been a meaningful and catalytic investment in the growth of Phoenix Helio, and I am deeply grateful for the support," said Beca Blake, general manager of Phoenix Helio. “As a small, independent cultural PR firm rooted in the Rogue Valley, this funding arrived at a pivotal moment, allowing me to stabilize operations, expand capacity, and step into a more sustainable level of professional practice."
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) administers the PIER program, which provides Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help Oregon communities recover from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters. These funds are awarded to nonprofits, schools, local governments, and other qualified entities to support projects that address unmet planning, economic revitalization, and critical infrastructure needs, ensuring communities can rebuild and be better prepared for future challenges.
To date, 28 microgrants of up to $15,000 and two small business loans up to $50,000 each have been distributed by the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDo) in Jackson County.
With the support of their microgrant, Phoenix Helio was able to establish an administrative home at the Ethos Office Center in Phoenix, creating a consistent and credible base of operations. This shift has strengthened both internal organization and external perception, enabling Blake to take on new clients with greater confidence and professionalism.
Phoenix Helio's work is deeply tied to the recovery and reemergence of creative and community-centered businesses that were displaced or disrupted. One such client, Hermeticus Bookshop, is a model of this resilience. After losing its original location in the fire, the bookshop rebuilt and relocated to Ashland, carrying forward not only its inventory but its cultural presence.
“Supporting Hermeticus through visibility, storytelling, and public engagement has been both a professional priority and a personal honor," Blake said.
The PIER grant has made it possible for Phoenix Helio to move beyond a survival model and into one of thoughtful growth, where strategic communications, cultural programming, and community partnerships can be developed with care and intention.
“I am sincerely thankful for this support and the trust it represents, and I look forward to continuing this work in a way that contributes to long-term cultural and economic vitality in our community," she said.
To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov or call the ReOregon Call Center at 877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938.