8A | MARCH 4, 2021 Funding from A1 year when $100,000 was set aside to assist busi- nesses impacted by the pandemic. Cuts to a planned “vi- sioning” project, city layoffs and taxes from al- cohol, cigarette and mar- ijuana sales contributed to the city’s ability to establish the fund, said City Manager Richard Meyers in an interview at the time. About a quarter of the funds were set aside to be used as a matching grant with Business Or- egon and the remain- ing $74,500 were to be loaned through the city’s program. While the matching grant fortuitously bal- looned to $85,000 and was spent on aiding 11 local businesses, the loans saw only a luke- warm response. With a little more than $30,000 still in the program, half of the re- maining funds were ap- proved to be funneled to the Community Sharing program. The remaining funds in the emergency loan program will be convert- ed to a grant program, also managed by Com- munity LendingWorks, to cover a portion of water, wastewater and | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL stormwater bills for small local businesses that were closed or re- stricted by state orders. Meanwhile, Commu- fers utility assistance to Cottage Grove ratepay- ers who are in jeopardy of having their water shut off by the city due will be shut off to qualify. Those who do qualify may receive a one-time payment of up to $300 to cover costs. The pay- The remaining funds in the emergency loan program will be converted to a grant program, managed by Community LendingWorks, to cover a portion of water, wastewater and stormwater bills for small local businesses that were closed or restricted by state orders. nity Sharing Executive Director Mike Fleck said the $15,000 going into the H20 Program will make a significant im- pact on the community. “This will be a dramat- ic increase in the amount we normally would be giving out,” he said. Fleck, who is also a city councilor, stated in a Feb. 22 city council meeting that he did not have a conflict of interest in the matter. “Community Sharing is where I am employed, but every dollar of the H20 Program goes di- rectly to the client,” he explained. “Our agency does not receive any sort of administrative fee for doing that.” The H20 Program, which has served the area for nine years, of- to outstanding bills. The program is funded almost entirely through donations from ratepay- ers, who produce an av- erage of about $1,000 in assistance per year. On the 15th of each month, Community Sharing opens up avail- able funds and distrib- utes payments on a first- come, first-serve basis until funding is deplet- ed. Leftover funds roll over into the following month. Normally, one would have to earn less than 185 percent of the fed- eral poverty level to be eligible, however that number has increased to 300 percent during the pandemic. One must also pro- duce a notice from the city warning that utilities ment is limited to once per year. The program’s level of impact varies year to year. Typically, between six and 10 households are aided through the pro- gram per year, according the nonprofit’s register. Though last year saw only three payouts, five households have already qualified for aid this year. Fleck noted that the numbers were not reflec- tive of actual demand, however, and that ad- ditional funding would yield a much higher turnout. Staff at Community Sharing estimated that, were funding unlimited, an additional 15 house- holds per month would likely benefit from the program, highlighting a deep need for utility bill assistance in the com- munity. Both the residential and business assistance programs are anticipat- ed to be ready in mid- March. In addition, the city is automatically processing credits for the turn-on fees for businesses which turned off their city util- ity service when they were ordered closed. Another of the assis- tance package proposals will see parklets installed for downtown restau- rants. Parklets are extensions of sidewalks into park- ing spaces and provide a small space for people to dine or relax. Plans were in motion last year to initiate a pilot program for up to three parklets on Main Street, though financial and logistical issues delayed the project. However, Travel Ore- gon announced late last month that the City of Cottage Grove has been awarded a $30,000 in- vestment through Trav- el Oregon’s Destination Ready program, which will go directly toward the parklet development project. Originally announced as a $250,000 opportu- nity, Travel Oregon re- ceived more than $4 mil- lion in requests through 135 applications. In response to this high demand, the agen- cy reviewed internal program dollars and re- allocated resources to in- crease the award amount to $913,000, which al- lowed 34 projects to be awarded across the state. The $30,000 award will fund the installa- tion of all three parklets in downtown Cottage Grove and city staff have already begun efforts to install the facilities as quickly as possible. Though the names of the businesses receiving parklets have not yet been released, down- town restaurants Jack Sprats and Axe and Fid- dle had previously ex- pressed interest in the idea. In a more modest bid to relieve the stresses of pandemic restrictions, the City of Cottage Grove is also working with the local Oregon Liquor Control Com- mission office to waive 2021 city liquor license renewal fees for those businesses which were closed by state orders. The move is intended to benefit mainly small and local businesses. “It’s not a lot, but every little bit helps,” said Mey- ers of the plan. BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 15 % OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE * + 1-855-536-8838 10 % OFF SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST + 5 % OFF To our valued readers: Help small businesses affected by coronavirus right now, including ours. TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS! ** | Promo Number: 285 *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. ** Offer valid at estimate only. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114 South Lane Mental Health “Alas” South Lane Mental Health, located in Cottage Grove, Oregon, is now providing mental health services for Spanish speaking individuals. Our program, Alas, serves children and adults, individuals, couples, and families. Our services include case management, group therapy, individual therapy and peer support services. We offer in-person services or remote services via tele- health. We can assist with your computer needs if you prefer Telehealth services. For more information and/ or to make an appointment, please call 541-942-3939 South Lane Mental Health, ubicado en Cottage Grove, Oregon, ahora ofrece servicios para gente hispano- hablante. Nuestro programa, Alas, apoya a jóvenes, individuos, parejas y familias. Nuestros servicios in- cluyen el manejo de casos (navegación de recursos y educación comunitaria), terapia de grupo y terapia para individuos. Ofrecemos servicios en persona, por teléfono y por video. Nosotros podemos ayudar con sus necesidades de tecnología si prefi ere recibir servi- cios por teléfono o video. Para más información o para hacer cita, por favor llame a 541-942-3939. SOUTH LANE COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE The Only Emergency Medical Transport Service in South Lane County Businesses of all sizes have been hit hard in this challenging new age of social distancing and self-isolation, but the blow has been catastrophic for small operations that rely on in-person transactions. There are many ways to help, like purchasing gift certificates or memberships, and yet there are many service-type businesses that don’t have that option. As we look to a new year, we’re celebrating what connects us as a community, and what we can do to support our local businesses! THAT’S WHY WE CREATED THE SUPPORT LOCAL TOGETHER CAMPAIGN. The Support Local Together campaign will help local businesses who have to choose between promoting their business and paying the electric bill. It will also help support the Cottage Grove Sentinel, who has seen a strong decrease in advertising revenue, but an increase in readership. IT DOES TWO THINGS. 1. Funds advertising dollars for local businesses Your financial support will go directly to fund advertising that our local businesses need to stay top of mind. 2. Supports local journalism By becoming a supporting member, you are helping to replace some of the advertising revenue the Cottage Grove Sentinel has lost due to the pandemic. HERE IS HOW TO SUPPORT: • Call 541-942-3325 x 1200 • Make a donation of your choosing. • Choose a specific local business that you would like the advertising credit to go to, or leave that blank and we will designate it to a business we know needs help. Our community is small but generous and we recognize there are many great organizations, like ours, that could use your help. We believe the vast majority of our readers have always shared our view of the value and necessity of a strong local media and are willing to provide support Yes, I would like to become a 2020/21 Support Local Together Sponsor equal to two or three cups of Call 541-942-3325 x 1200 coffee a month to secure its Mail sponsorship form to: Cottage Grove Sentinel Supporter future. PO Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Thank you in advance for doing your share to secure a strong local economy in the community we are proud to serve. Gary Manly General Manager gmanly@cgsentinel.com 541-942-3325 x 1207 $10 $20 $50 $100 Other Amount _______ Name __________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Phone__________________Email ___________________________________ Check Credit Card Name on Card:______________________Expiration date:_______________ Number:_______________________________________________________ Billing Zip Code: _____________ 3 Digit Security Code:_________________ Do you have a specific business you would like to sponsor: COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Call 541-942-4493 for info. FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911 Serving South Lane County. www.southlanefi re.org UNITY WITH OUR COMMUNITY List here: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ We will send a gift card to the business(es) of your choice with your name. If would like to remain anonymous please check here. *This sponsorship is not tax deductible.