Oregon News Herald
January 2025
USDC Invests $700,375 for Improvements in Sweet Home
Story by Milo Banks
Infrastructure Improvements to Promote Business
Washington DC – The U.S. Department
of Commerce’s Economic Development
Administration (EDA) is awarding a $700,375
grant to the city of Sweet Home, Oregon, for
utility infrastructure improvements to serve
businesses in the region.
This grant will provide for three power
generators, providing uninterrupted service and
water to businesses in a region recently impacted
by winter storms. This EDA investment will be
matched with $175,094 in local funds.
“EDA plays an important role in supporting
locally driven disaster recovery and resiliency
plans,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Economic Development Cristina
Killingsworth. “This EDA investment will help to
ensure that the local economy continues to thrive
in the event of future storms.”
“Oregon’s rural communities often face
many of the same challenges as more populated
areas but with less resources to address them,”
said Governor Tina Kotek. “This timely
investment from the Biden-Harris Administration
will support businesses in the city of Sweet Home
through another winter season.”
“Ensuring that small businesses in rural
communities have the resources they need to
thrive and expand is essential to towns like Sweet
Home,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “This federal
investment helps support small businesses here
in Oregon and will help communities be more
resilient to natural disasters caused by the climate
crisis. I will continue to push for more resources
like this for Oregon’s small businesses and rural
communities.”
“When extreme weather strikes, we need
to make sure our local businesses have the tools
they need to keep their doors open and serving
Oregon’s communities,” said Senator Jeff
Merkley. “EDA plays a critical role in disaster
recovery and this federal funding to bring new,
reliable power generators to Sweet Home will
help businesses in the region weather the worst
impacts of the storms and keep their local
economy going. I will continue to do all that I can
to ensure that every available resource is allocated
to protect Oregonians’ lives and livelihoods from
the worst impacts of catastrophic weather.”
This project was made possible by the regional
planning efforts led by the Oregon Cascades
West Council of Governments (OCWCOG).
EDA funds OCWCOG to bring together the
public and private sectors to create an economic
development roadmap to strengthen the regional
economy, support private capital investment
and create jobs. This project is funded under the
Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act,
2023, which provided EDA with $483 million
in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance
(EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and
recovery for areas that received a major disaster
declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as
a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires,
flooding, and other natural disasters occurring
in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit
EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more
information.
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development
Administration (EDA www.eda.gov) is to lead
the federal economic development agenda by
promoting competitiveness and preparing the
nation’s regions for growth and success in the
worldwide economy. An agency within the
U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in
communities and supports regional collaboration
in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote
American innovation, and accelerate long-term
sustainable economic growth.
Page 13
Holiday Gas Oregon Lowest since 2022
Story by Scooter Brown
Gas prices have been inching down
for several weeks and are now at their
lowest point of the year so far. This
means holiday travelers may keep a
little extra jingle in their pockets when
they finish up at the pump.
Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon
said nearly 1.7 million Oregonians
will be traveling 50 miles or more over
Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s.
Ninety percent of them will be driving.
“This is a little bit of a gift for
folks as they head out on those holiday
road trips,” she said. “We are paying
the cheapest prices for gas in four years
for the holidays. We have to go back to
2020 to find gas prices that are cheaper
than what we’re paying now.”
Nationally, the current average
for a gallon of regular gas is $3.03. The
Oregon average is now $3.47 a gallon.
Dodds said if you shop around, it’s easy
to find prices that are well below those
figures. She went on to say gas prices
tend to bottom out for the year sometime
between December and February. There
are normal seasonal factors that put
downward pressure on prices including
the reduction in demand.
“The summer driving season
comes to an end and everyone gets back
into their fall and winter routines, which
tend to include less travel,” she said.
Also impacting gas prices is
the type of gas being sold. In the fall
and winter months, Oregonians can
purchase “winter blend fuel” which is
less refined, thus less expensive. Dodds
said the winter blend fuel causes more
pollution when it evaporates, so it is
only available when temperatures are
cooler. Summer blend fuel is burned
during the hotter months and is more
environmentally friendly. It also costs
more to make.
Oregon State Parks fees Increase for 2025
Oregon State Parks users will find
that a visit costs a little more since the
first of the year. Day-use parking fees
have been raised from $5 to $10 to
starting in 2025. Oregon State Parks said
the day-use fees helps pay for operations
and maintenance. It’s the first increase
for our State Parks in 15 years.
The 12-month and 24-month
permits will remain the same price in
2025 -- $30 for 12 months and $50 for
24 months. About 35% of funding for
Oregon Parks and Recreation comes
from park fees from visitors, the
department said.