Five Years After Labor Day Wildfires, Jackson County Businesses Receive $1.2M to Keep Rebuilding
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Jackson County businesses struggling to rebuild after the devastating 2020 Labor Day Wildfires, from which the state has not yet fully recovered, are receiving $1.2 million in grants and loans through the ReOregon disaster recovery initiative to help cover rebuilding costs.
$1.2 Million More Headed To Jackson County Businesses For Post-Wildfire Rebuilding
Managed through the Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization (PIER) program by Oregon Housing and Community Services, the ReOregon initiative, Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDO), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Cave Junction, Oregon, currently has two major initiatives in the county:
- The Microenterprise Grant Program is designed to help small businesses with five or fewer employees that are affected by the Almeda and South Obenchain Fires.
- The PIER Loan Fund offers fixed, low-interest loans to enhance working capital and support credit building for businesses in fire-impacted areas.
| Topic | Microenterprise Grant Program | PIER Loan Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Business size | Five or fewer employees | 100 or fewer employees |
| Aid size | Up to $15,000 | Typical loans from $10,000 to $50,000 |
| Uses | Working capital, repairs, hiring, inventory, marketing | Payroll, equipment, rent, capital improvements, marketing |
| Timing | Round 2 open Jan. 23 to March 31, 2026 | Open now / no deadline listed |
| Support | Application help and interpretation support | No cost SOU SBDC advising |
These programs are just two of several measures designed to contribute to rebuilding after the 2020 wildfires.
They aim to revitalize the local economy and support small businesses in their recovery efforts.
Jackson County Still Recovering From 2020 Labor Day Fires
Five years after the Almeda and South Obenchain fires, local recovery leaders say the region is still years away from full recovery, with housing and workforce rebuilding expected to take a decade or more.
Source: Oregon DLCD Almeda fire damage and recovery report
Dailytidings.com
A recent report indicates that “It’s going to take a decade or more to restore the housing and to rebuild the needed workforce capacity.”
In Royal Oaks, rebuilding is still not complete. While some housing projects came back more quickly, it is estimated that it will take almost five years to rebuild Royal Oaks after the debilitating fires.