Grants Aimed at Rebuilding Businesses

Businesses that operated within the Holiday Farm Fire burn footprint at the time of the 2020 wildfire may soon be eligible for new grant funding aimed at supporting long-term economic recovery.

Community LendingWorks, a Springfield-based nonprofit, is launching the Holiday Farm Fire Small Business Recovery Program in partnership with the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group and Lane County. Online application materials will be available beginning Friday, Dec. 19. Business owners may work on applications starting that day, with completed applications accepted from Jan. 1 through 5 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2026.

The program will distribute $1.77 million in grant funding to help businesses recover from losses caused by the Holiday Farm Fire. The funds are part of the ReOregon Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Revitalization (PIER) program, a statewide initiative supporting disaster recovery. Awards will be issued as grants and will not require repayment.

Community LendingWorks will manage the application and award process. Program manager Lynn Meyer said that while the funding does not need to be repaid, recipients will be required to meet federal reporting standards.

“These are federal dollars, so there are a lot of conditions on use of the money,” Meyer said. “Grant recipients will need to keep careful accounts and records documenting how the funds are used.”

To be eligible, businesses must have been located within the official Holiday Farm Fire footprint at the time of the 2020 fire, show that they generated revenue prior to the disaster, and demonstrate a loss of revenue as a result of the fire. Grant funds may be used for a wide range of operating expenses, including wages, inventory, tools, equipment and movable fixtures. Funds may not be used for construction projects that require state or county permits.

Two public information sessions are planned to help business owners learn more about the program. The first will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Leaburg Fire Station. A second session will be held during a McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce meeting at Ike’s Pizza on a Friday lunchtime in January; the exact date has not yet been announced.

Additional information, including a list of frequently asked questions, is available through Community LendingWorks and the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. Interested business owners may contact Max Baker at Community LendingWorks at 541-345-7106, extension 2037, or Grant Simonton with the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group at 541-521-0382.

The McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group is a grassroots nonprofit formed after the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire to assist residents and businesses affected by the disaster. Established in 2021, the organization provides financial assistance and recovery services and has become a model for wildfire recovery efforts across Oregon.