A6 COVID-19 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Eagle fi le photo Paul Gray, Grant County emergency manager. County mulling how to spend COVID-19 relief funds By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County is mulling how it will allocate Ameri- can Rescue Plan funds. County Emergency Manager Paul Gray, who researched the U.S. Depart- ment of Treasury Guidelines, said so far roughly three departments are requesting approximately $300,000, which include the health department, sheriff ’s offi ce and fairgrounds. He said the county has been waiting for the fi nal rul- ing from the Treasury. He said the county’s qual- ifi ed expenses would likely increase because the Trea- sury ruled that general reve- nue loss for the county could be covered by the federal relief dollars. He said the county does not how much money would be allocated for those two funds. “I’m still waiting for data from everyone that’s ask- ing about money,” he said. “Then I’ll be going to the commissioners, and they will make the fi nal decision. My job is to gather the infor- mation and give it to them.” He said he would be advocating for projects that he believes would bene- fi t the community, like the Cyber Mill, a proposal to create locations with internet access. Their request would open locations in Seneca and Prairie City. “I’m going to advocate for it,” he said. “I can’t tell you what the commissioners are going to do.” He told the Eagle that he was trying to get the com- missioners on board with a project to put in six new repeaters for law enforce- ment, emergency services and fi re that would have costed $600,000. However, he said the pandemic relief money would not qualify for the project. He said broadband is cov- ered under the American Rescue Plan. “Some of the people in the community, like in Sen- eca, don’t have good inter- net access,”he said. “This project would give some of these communities better access.” Eagle fi le photo Brandon Elliott runs the grill at the Outpost last year. Small business grants available to local businesses June 21 Businesses must have fewer than 25 employees By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County’s small businesses, sole proprietors and 501©(3) nonprofi ts still reeling from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a small business grant starting at $10,000 June 21-28. Tory Stinnett, Grant County economic develop- ment director, said the grant funding is for any Grant A MAN WAKES UP in the morning after sleeping on... an advertised bed, in advertised pajamas. Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com Mtn. View Mini-Mart 211 Front St., Prairie City 541-820-4477 Weekly Specials Sunday - Family Style Joy’s Choice | Thursday - Asian | Saturday - Sushi S248964-1 He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE. Then it’s too late. AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 The John Day Chapter of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation County-based small busi- ness — including hairstyl- ists, estheticians, massage therapists, etc. — that were in business before the start of 2020 had less than 25 employees. She said, in order to qual- ify, businesses must not have been able to operate due to one of Gov. Kate Brown’s executive orders. Stinett said businesses must be able to demonstrate a one-month decline in sales of 25% or more, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021, com- pared to the previous year. Stinnett said a business S247938-1 Treasury rules general revenue losses can be covered by federal relief dollars Monument Fireworks needs sponsors and donations to make this year’s masterpiece in the sky! S248357-1 http://restoreoregonnow.org/sff/ • 541-820-4463 S245043-1 Drain Services does your drAIN hAve you bAcked up , plugged up or clogged ??? On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, thank you for making this evening 101310 an overwhelming success! City Celebration & Street Fair Farmer's Market Greenhouse Tours 541-260-2726 We have made every GOOD DEALS effort to recognize all We have made HOUSE every effort to recognize our donors, supporters, SNAFFLE BIT DINNER members and all our donors, supporters, members and RADIO SHACK volunteers. If you feel volunteers in this program. If you feel that MALHEUR LUMBER someone has been someone has been omitted, please notify omitted, please notify a a CLOUD 9 HAIR SALON committee member. chapter volunteer. CAROLYN WALL The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. Contact Steve @ Northfork RV or call 541-693-3087 Same day nts! appointme Located in Prineville Stay Local! We also specialise in pump station maintenance for residential and commercial. New clean out installs and camera inspections are available. Live Music Food S248933-1 DP Home Entertainment Radio Shack TIDEWATER CONSTRUCTION minorities, females and ser- vice-disabled veterans. The applications, Stin- nett said, will be reviewed in a lottery-determined order by Community Lending Works, a community devel- opment fi nancial institu- tion that off ers credit, cap- ital and fi nancial services to economically distressed areas. Those interested in apply- ing can visit communitylend- ingworks.org/emergency- grants-grant-county. Stinnett can be reached at 541-575-1555 or via email at tstinnett@grantcountyore- gon.net to answer questions. www.eomediagroup.com Thank you. Your generous contributions of time, talent, currency and merchandise have truly helped make this evening’s banquet a success! NEWPORT CHAPTER Campbell Tractor TIMBERS Co. BISTRO GRANT COUNTY AUTO JOHN DAY RIVER VET CLINIC Nydam’s Ace Hardware BEST WESTERN INN Gale Wall MOSIER’S JOHN DAY VIDEO Don & Donna SUBWAY Viola OF JOHN DAY OXBOW TRADE COMPANY Blue Mtn. Eagle THE OUTPOST VOIGT CHEVRON GALE WALL Best Western Motel SQUEEZE TRACKER SAFES Tim INN & Tracie Unterwegner MOBILE GLASS OF OREGON STYLISH NAILS Jim Dovenburg - Widow’s Creek 10 Ranch BLUE DAYVILLE CAFE De MTN. Ann EAGLE Sandor - Madden Reality 1ST CHOICE AUTO BODY Schwabs TRACIE UNTERWEGNER JD Les Store NYDAM’S ACE HARDWARE LEN’S Oxbow Trading Co. DRUG DOUG’S MOTOR REPAIR ANDY’S PLUMBING & Carolyn Wall SPORTS BLUE MTN. CHAPTER JD True MDF Value Hardware BLUE MTN. CHIROPRACTIC KJDY JOHN DAY TRUE VALUE Radio Station KATU DESIGNS Gary & Michelle Conner ELSA SPENCE JOHN DAY GOLF CLUB Scott MARKET Sutton - Longview Ranch HUFFMAN’S must be current on federal, state and local taxes that were due on the application date. Grants of $10,000 are available for sole propri- etors and businesses with up to fi ve full-time employ- ees. Companies and nonprof- its with between six and 15 employees can get $20,000, and those 25 or fewer are eli- gible for $30,000. Stinnett said priority would go to tourism and hos- pitality businesses, including restaurants, bars, breweries, hotels, motels and gyms. Priority will also be given to businesses owned by WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE! Friday, June 25th 6:00- 8:00 pm S. CANYON BLVD & SE 1ST AVE S248949-1