Community & Economic Development Grant Program

Lane County's Community & Economic Development Grant Program provides funding to advance economic development activities delivered by qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and cities serving Lane County residents, businesses, and communities. Lane County receives an allocation of state video lottery funds that supports its Community and Economic Development Program and other related county services. These lottery funds must support economic development programs and projects that create and retain jobs, enhance employment opportunities, and provide a stable tax base. For the 2027 grant cycle, Lane County has made a total of $200,000 available through this funding opportunity. The program prioritizes projects and programs addressing one or more of four Community and Economic Development objectives. Workforce Prosperity focuses on increasing employment and/or wages in targeted sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverage manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and wood innovation. Innovation & Growth supports industry or business innovation, engagement, or business development, including activities such as accelerators, incubators, and apprenticeship programs. Business Assistance encompasses technical assistance, training, and support services for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. Downtown & Main Street Revitalization supports improvements to physical and visual assets in Lane County downtowns and Main Streets to create a business-friendly environment. Applicants may request a minimum of $5,000 and no more than $30,000. The program has $200,000 in total funding available, and Lane County notes that requests are expected to exceed available funding, so final awards may be lower than the amount requested. The solicitation does not state a required cost share or matching contribution. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and cities serving Lane County. Organizations that received 2025-2026 CED Grant Funding Awards are not eligible for consideration for the 2026-2027 grant. The solicitation also states that programs or projects that received funding for the 2026 CED grant are not eligible for funding in 2027. Only one application per organization is permitted. The solicitation is released August 31, 2026, and applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026. Applicants must download the application from Lane County's Bidlocker and email the completed application to CED@LaneCountyOR.gov by the deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted or considered. By submitting an application, applicants acknowledge that the application becomes a public record and may be released in response to a public information request. An informational webinar is scheduled for August 19 at noon, with a recording to be made available online, and Frequently Asked Questions are available through the CED Grant page. The webinar is informational and is not described as a required pre-application step. Lane County staff will first review submitted applications for completeness and responsiveness. Complete and eligible applications will then be evaluated and scored by a review committee composed of county staff and other agency staff. Four principal criteria are worth up to 25 points each: Economic Development Impact, Outcomes & Performance, Clarity of Program Reach and Operations, and Budget & Funding. Reviewers will consider economic and business impacts, clearly defined goals and measurable evaluation metrics, regional need and partnerships, defined audiences and methodologies, and the clarity and efficient use of the proposed budget. Bonus points may be available for serving under-represented or underserved populations, adding measurable financial value to Lane County's economy, and information concerning previous grant receipt as described in the solicitation. All applicants are expected to receive an email notice regarding the outcome of their applications within 45 days after the September 25, 2026 submission deadline. Selected nonprofit organizations will be required to provide a W-9. Grant funding agreements will cover services provided during the 2027 calendar year. Recipients must submit a Grant Impact Report within two months after completion of the funded project or program services and no later than March 1, 2028. At a minimum, the report must describe how CED funding supported the project or program, the impacts of the grant investment, and a summary of the activity including its nature, timing, and population served. Program questions may be directed to Lane County Community and Economic Development staff at CED@LaneCountyOR.gov.

Align the proposal clearly with one or more CED Grant Program Objectives; define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely goals and evaluation metrics; explain regional need, partnerships, audience, and methodology; provide a clear and concise budget showing how County funds and other funding sources support the work; address applicable bonus priorities concerning underserved populations and measurable economic value