COVID-19 Economic Relief Resources

Information
Open sign hanging in a window of a business
As we continue to focus on protecting public health, rest assured that government agencies, business chambers, and private partners across the state of Oregon are working hard 24/7 to provide economic relief and recovery aid.

We compiled a list of our collective resources + general information.
On this page

General Information

211 info is available 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., for basic COVID-19 questions, or to find social and health services.

Volunteer & Donations: State of Oregon | Multnomah county

COVID-19 Sources

Our office is working closely with our partners at Multnomah County and the State of Oregon to respond to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. The following links lead to updates both nationally and locally.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Oregon Health Authority

Governor Kate Brown

Multnomah County

Business & Economic Relief

Everyone is being hit by this crisis, both economically and socially. In late March, Portland City Council approved $3 million in emergency funding for COVID-19 response. This money is being used for small business and housing relief. Other resources continue to be available and more is on the way. Below are additional state and regional economic relief resources:

Regional Resources

City of Portland

  • COVID Workforce Response Line: Multnomah County residents can call (503) 714-5989 workforce services and related resources. Hours of operation: Tues. and Thurs., 9:00-12:00 and Mon., Wed., Fri. 1:00-5:00.
  • Utility Bureaus (Water and Environmental Services): SPUR (Small Businesses Program for Utility Relief) will provide one-time credits on qualifying small businesses’ sewer/stormwater/water bills. All applications will be evaluated using a racial equity and vulnerability lens. Applications open July 8 and close July 22. Sign up for an email notification at the link above.
  • Prosper Portland: Economic and urban development agency for the city of Portland. Applications for Prosper Portland’s Small Business Relief Fund have closed. Need help? Email ProsperHotline@ProsperPortland.us or leave a voicemail at to (503) 823-3297.
  • Business for a Better Portland: Leading efforts to advocate for small business and worker relief during the economic crisis. Visit their Switchboard where you can share asks and offers for the community.
  • Greater Portland Inc: Hub for innovation and a workforce talent magnet.
  • PDX Restaurant Alliance: Resources for employers and employees.
  • Float: Crowdfunding and gift card purchases to support Portland's small businesses.
  • MusicPortland: Donate to save Portland music venues.
  • OAME Access To Capital: Access To Capital Program and Technical Assistance for businesses.
  • EO Portland: Top 5 Resources for Portland’s Small Business Owner
    1. Managing Cash in a Crisis
    2. Forecasting
    3. Managing Employees Remotely
    4. Marketing During Times of Uncertainty
    5. Selling in a Recession

City of Hillsboro

City of Beaverton

City of Tigard

  • COVID Workforce Response Line: Washington County residents can call (503) 766-5696 for workforce services and related resources. Hours of operation: Tues. and Thurs., 9:00-12:00 and Mon., Wed., Fri. 1:00-5:00. 
  • Resident Aid Fund of Tigard: This fund will provide at least four grants of up to $25,000 each to Tigard-serving nonprofits, faith organizations, or other agencies to provide immediate and necessary relief to impacted communities in Tigard. Deadline is April 24 at 5:00 pm.

City of Lake Oswego

City of Gresham

City of Eugene

Travel Portland

State of Oregon Resources

Oregon Employment Department:  Information on Business Layoffs, Closures, and Unemployment Insurance Benefits related to COVID-19 including modified unemployment insurance benefits.

Oregon Small Business Advocate: The state office is working directly with businesses seeking answers and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call 503-986-2193 or email Business.SOS@oregon.gov for more information.

Business Oregon

  • Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF) offers direct loans to help start-ups, micro-enterprises and small businesses expand or become established in Oregon.
  • Oregon Business Development Fund (OBDF) provides direct loans that can be used for permanent working capital. Participants must create or retain jobs and must typically be a traded-sector business in manufacturing, processing or distribution.
  • Oregon Royalty Fund (ORF) provides direct loans to help early stage (post R & D and prototyping), scalable, and high-margin small businesses obtain short-term working capital.
  • Capital Access (CAP) provides a form of loan portfolio loss reserve so financial institutions may make business loans that carry higher than conventional risks while complying with federal and state banking regulations.
  • Credit Enhancement Fund (CEF) provides loan guarantees to financial institutions in order to increase capital availability to small businesses.
  • Business Survival Tips

Oregon Dept. of Revenue Tax Relief Options

SAIF: Oregon Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Benefits.

CCD Business Development Corp—microlending program focused on COVID-19 needs.

Work Systems: Hosting webinars every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2p.m. to assist laid off workers impacted by COVID-19.

Oregon Community Foundation: Offering grants for nonprofits and small businesses.

Pregame HQ: On-demand business coaching now available.

Work Share Oregon: Work Share provides an alternative for employers and workers who may be facing the prospect of a lay off situation.

Unions: Weekly workshops for union members and representative led by Oregon AFL-CIO.

OSU Guidance for Small Farms and Local Food (includes guidance for Food & Beverage operators).

Federal & National Resources

Small Business Administration: The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are accepting applications.

Federal Reserve: The Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program is providing roughly $600 billion in loans to businesses, with interest rates ranging from 2.5% to 4%. Unlike the PPP, the repayment term for a Main Street loan is four years and the loan can’t be forgiven.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: The Save Small Business will distribute $5,000 grants to small employers in economically vulnerable communities in the United States and its territories.

U.S. Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance: New guidance on unemployment insurance flexibilities during COVID-19 outbreak.       

International Revenue Service: Get Your Economic Impact Payment

COVID Workforce Response Lines  

Work Systems established two phone lines to help Multnomah County and Washington County residents to workforce services and related resources.

The City of Portland and Multnomah County COVID Response Line: (503) 714-5989

Washington County Workforce COVID Response Line: (503) 766-5696 

Hours of operation: Tues. and Thurs., 9:00-12:00 and Mon., Wed., Fri. 1:00-5:00

Languages: Spanish, English and other languages through a translation service

Available Services:

1. General assistance related to workforce system services and other resources (childcare, food assistance, housing, etc.).

2. Information and support related to filing an initial Unemployment Insurance claim.

  • NOTE: They CANNOT HELP individuals who have already filed a claim. If you have received a letter from the State of Oregon that there is an error on your claim, your claim is on hold or has been denied, follow this link for information or contact the Unemployment Claims Center at 1-877-FILE-4-UI.

3. Remote TriMet Low-Income Fare enrollment. Individuals will need to have computer/internet access or a mobile device to do eligibility by video conference. 

4. Job Information. Many employers are currently hiring such as grocery stores, manufacturers and delivery positions. We can provide leads for openings that are updated daily.

5. Assistance applying for SNAP benefits.

For questions related to Worksystems’ COVID Response Line contact: covid_response@worksystems.org.

Housing, Shelter & Utility Assistance

Coping with the existence of COVID-19 and how it has changed our daily lives is difficult enough. That’s why the City, County, State and federal government are all working to help provide relief for homeowners, renters and those experiencing homelessness.

Homeowners: Contact your mortgage servicer to determine whether or not your loan is backed by the Federal Government and to understand additional eligibility requirements. See the resources below for more information.

Renters: If you can demonstrate a substantial loss in income due to the COVID-19 pandemic you can defer your rent payments. Rent payments are not being forgiven, you will still be obligated to repay missed payments.

Federal and Private Mortgage Relief Information & FAQ.

Utilities: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Northwest Natural, and Portland Water and Environmental Services (sewer/stormwater/water) have all announced a suspension of disconnects and/or late fees to support the community during the COVID-19 outbreak.

  • NW Natural | For more information visit www.nwnatural.com or call 1-800-422-4012
  • Portland General | For more information visit www.portlandgeneral.com or call 800-542-8818
  • Pacific Power | Customers can call 1-888-221-7070
  • Portland Water & Environmental Services | Financial assistance on sewer/stormwater/water bills is available. For more information call 503-823-7770 or email PWBCustomerService@portlandoregon.gov

Regional Resources

State & Federal Resources

Access to Health Care

Regional Resources

State & Federal Resources

If you have lost your health insurance due to COVID-19, there are a number of different options depending on your circumstances. Those may include the following:

  • Marketplace coverage through healthcare.oregon.gov
  • Oregon Health Plan—OHP provides health care for low-income Oregonians.
  • COBRA— When you lose job-based insurance, you may be offered COBRA continuation coverage by your former employer.
  • State continuation— State continuation applies to those who have had continuous health coverage (not necessarily with the same employer) for at least three months before the date employment or coverage ended.
  • Medicare— Medicare is for U.S. citizens 65 and older who meet residency requirements and some blind and disabled people younger than 65.
  • Your previous employer decides to continue paying for employer-based coverage through a spouse’s insurance.

Nutrition Assistance

Putting food on the table to feed your family does not have to be an added stress. Families and individuals who have experienced a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for SNAP or WIC. Many local organizations and community partners also continue to operate at a high demand to ensure children, seniors and our most vulnerable neighbors are fed during this crisis.

Regional Resources

State & Federal Resources

Economic Relief Partners

We’re all in this together, so we’re working together with partners from all over the region and state to ensure economic and social resilience and recovery. The City of Portland thanks its partners who are helping everyone in our community get through this crisis.

State of Oregon| COVID-19 Resources

Metro | COVID-19 Resources

Multnomah County | COVID-19 Resources

City of Gresham | COVID-19 Resources

City of Beaverton | COVID-19 Resources

City of Hillsboro | COVID-19 Resources

City of Lake Oswego | COVID-19 Resources

City of Eugene | COVID-19 Resources

Prosper Portland

Greater Portland Inc

Business for a Better Portland (BBP)

Portland Business Alliance (PBA)

Venture Portland

Travel Portland

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC)

The Black American Chamber of Commerce (BACC)

Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon (PACCO)

Oregon Native American Chamber (ONACC)

Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber (HMC)

Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)

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