Economic Equity Investment Program
Funding, Resources, and Technical Assistance to Address Longstanding Economic Inequities in the State of Oregon
During the 2022 short session, the Oregon legislature passed SB 1579, the Economic Equity Investment Act, to build economic stability, self-sufficiency, wealth building and economic equity among disadvantaged individuals, families, businesses, and communities in the state. The program was allocated $15 million and Business Oregon awarded High Desert Partnership, in collaboration with 8 organizations, a grant of $400,000 to implement programs and provide services and resources to eligible beneficiaries designed to address longstanding economic inequities in four key areas: ownership of land and property; entrepreneurship and business development; workforce; and intergenerational wealth building.
Who Qualifies for EEIP Programs
EEIP beneficiaries consists of individuals, families, businesses, and communities whose future is at risk because of any combination of two or more of the following economic equity risk factors.
Growing Small Business Entrepreneurs in Rural Eastern Oregon
Economic Risk Factors Include
To meet this factor you will be required to self-attest during the application process.
This factor means a language other than English is spoken within your home. To meet this factor you will be required to self-attest during the application process.
Refers to Refers to non-U.S. citizens, undocumented persons, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, refugees, asylees, immigrants, VAWA petitioners, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) holders, individuals covered under the Compact for Free Association (COFA) and persons with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), etc. To meet this factor you will be required to self-attest during the application process.
Refers to a person who lives or operates a business in Oregon that is “entirely outside the acknowledged Portland Metropolitan Regional Urban Growth Boundary and the acknowledged urban growth boundaries of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.” To meet this factor you will be required to provide proof of residency or business location.
Refers to a person or household whose combined income is no more than 100% of the area median income, adjusted for family size, based on the most recent HUD
data. You can download a PDF document showing this data by county. To meet this factor you will be required to provide proof of income.
Create Your EEIP Account in 1 Minute.
To apply for programs and resources under the EEIP program, you need to create an account and complete your application. Once you create an account, you will be able to apply for services. You are able to stop and start your application and it should not require more than 5 minutes.
co.starters
core program
Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative
Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative exists to help rural Harney County businesses start, grow and succeed while also helping to build a thriving business environment. Formed in 2017 Biz Harney is responding to a resurgence of interest in homegrown economic development and an increased willingness to work together for success. Government and nonprofit entities along with Tribal economic development are sitting at the same table finding solutions to improve Harney County's business opportunity culture.
co.starters
core program
Foundry Collective & Reinventing Rural
Foundry Collective’s nonprofit mission is to help small and rural communities develop strong, vibrant, and creative startup communities that contribute to improved prosperity and enjoyment of life. We believe that everyone should have access to the resources they need to take their idea to the next level, create a business, and achieve their dreams. Through our Reinventing Rural initiative and community, we are connecting rural small businesses to the resources they need to start and scale.
co.starters
core program
Northeastern Oregon Economic Development District
The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD) is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1985 by an intergovernmental agreement between Baker, Union, and Wallowa counties. Its mission is to provide resources and facilitate quality decision-making for the benefit of entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities in Northeast Oregon.
co.starters
core program
Burns Paiute Tribe
Our vision is to become a self-reliant, self-sufficient economic driver for the Burns Paiute Tribe of Oregon. We offer techncial assistance, grants, funding, IDA accounts and more to help Tribal members start and grow businesses.
co.starters
core program
Launch Pad Baker
Our mission is make sure every business and entrepreneur gets the support and direction to resources available regardless of who they are. To be a place where an entrepreneur can incubate and grow as needed by offering free mentorship and affordable office space to develop their dreams.
co.starters
core program
Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce
Our mission is to provide leadership and create regional economic prosperity for our members through business development, the support of civic, educational and cultural programs and the enhancement and promotion of tourism development to ensure thriving communities.
co.starters
core program
EUVALCREE
EUVALCREE serves as a beacon of hope, helping to create better places for our family and community. Since its inception, EUVALCREE has galvanized a Latino population strong in number but underrepresented in leadership roles.
Euvalcree mobilizes and engages underserved and underrepresented populations to improve the lives of all children, families and communities in rural Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
co.starters
core program
TREASURE VALLEY SBDC
The Treasure Valley Community College Small Business Development Center offers entrepreneurial assistance tailored to the local community. We format our services to correspond to unique client needs, local business trends and individual business requirements.
Programs, resources, and services available through the EEIP Program
Reinventing Rural Ambassadors
Brad Attig
I have a passion for helping startups and small businesses in our rural communities. I believe that with the right amount of support, our small towns can become vibrant, engaging places to live, work, and start businesses. Through Foundry Collective and Reinventing Rural I work to help increase access for small businesses entrepreneurs to proven curriculum, mentorship, markets, and funding.
This "place-based" work is done in partnership by supporting and building on the people and organizations that already exist in your community to promote inclusive and equitable entrepreneurship.
In 2022 I facilitated Bootcamp in Condon, Fossil, and Joseph, co-facilitated Tillamook with Misty, and look forward to bringing Bootcamp to more rural places in 2023.
Misty Lambrecht
I have owned Webfoot Marketing and Design, a website development company in Siletz, Oregon for over 15 years and have worked on a variety of small business, nonprofit, college and government websites. I am a Google-certified trainer, GrowthWheel® and Profit Mastery® Certified. I teach a variety of classes ranging from social media, web design, and profitability to small businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest.
I am a CO.STARTERS graduate from the Fall 2022 Northeast Oregon cohort, facilitated 4 Core programs in 2022, and co-facilitated the Tillamook Bootcamp I'm excited to bring this program to other rural communities.
Reinventing Rural is an online community focused on helping rural communities in the Pacific Northwest embrace their strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
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