Beaverton Allocates More Than $1 Million For Additional Coronavirus Response

Press release from the City of Beaverton:

April 29, 2020

BEAVERTON, Ore. – The City of Beaverton has authorized $1,020,000 in funds to provide support to residents and local businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Beaverton City Council at its April 28 meeting approved a resolution appropriating $507,000 from existing contingency in the city’s General Fund, as well as transferring $513,000 from existing budgeted appropriations.
The funds will be used to expand Beaverton’s COVID-19 response for individual housing and small business assistance needs and support several programs: a new Residential Emergency Rent Program, a second phase of the Emergency Business Assistance Program, and new Operating Capital for Business Relief and Recovery. Additional funding will be used for translation services and unemployment technical assistance.
“Identifying the critical needs of the community and addressing the issues that directly affect health and safety is our top priority,” said Beaverton City Council President Laura Mitchell. “This is a difficult time and we want our residents and businesses to know we care and that we are here to support them.”
The Emergency Business Assistance Program will begin accepting applications for its second phase on Monday, May 4 at 8 a.m. and the application period will close on Wednesday, May 6 at 5 p.m. Eligible businesses will be entered into a random lottery and if selected can receive up to $2,500 in rent assistance. Program details are available at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/EmergencyBizAssistance. Qualified businesses that applied and were not funded in the first round of the program will be automatically entered into the lottery.
Details on other programs and available funding will be available soon.
“Beaverton has been impacted by COVID-19 and we have a responsibility to support our community members, especially those who are traditionally marginalized and most vulnerable,” said Mayor Denny Doyle. “Nearly 25 percent of Beaverton households were considered severely rent burdened before this pandemic hit. With many local businesses closed and the inequity of impacts to certain communities, our residents need us now more than ever before.”
Beaverton community members are invited to participate in a Virtual Town Hall hosted by the Beaverton City Council on Thursday, May 7 at 6 p.m. The town hall is an opportunity to connect with city leadership, learn more about Beaverton’s COVID-19 response and get questions answered. The virtual gathering will be available for viewing online at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/town-h... and Spanish interpretation will be provided. Questions should be submitted early to publicinformation@beavertonoregon.gov.
The City of Beaverton previously provided $250,000 to 121 local businesses and launched resources for residents and businesses including a housing hotline and links to state and federal information on our website. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing, and other state and federal stimulus programs, also will be allocated and reprioritized for COVID-19 activities as they become available.
City services are available by phone and online while public buildings remain closed. Police services and city maintenance continue in our neighborhoods, construction permits and inspections are ongoing, library programming and court hearings occur remotely, and meetings are happening virtually.
Visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/corona... for information on resources available, updates on city closures and latest news.

This press release was produced by the City of Beaverton . The views expressed here are the author’s own.