Tigard Commercial Assistance & Relief for Economic Stability

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For the latest information, visit the City's Economic Development webpage - https://www.tigard-or.gov/business-development/economic-development

Application window is currently closed

To date, over $3.4 million in financial aid has been awarded.


Tigard CARES - Recovery Ready Grant Program 

City Council allocated an initial $100,000 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support Tigard businesses. Recovery Ready Grants are intended to help businesses in critical need of funding who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Given the immediate availability of ARPA funds, the City, in coordination with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), is collecting grant applications, reviewing eligibility, and making awards as soon as April 4, 2022. Please review the information below before you start your online application.

Award Amounts

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are granted based on documented negative COVID-19 impacts and business need.


Business Eligibility

Small businesses grants must be used to respond to negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency. According to federal rules, grants cannot be used to cover negative impacts from longer-term economic trends unrelated to the pandemic. A business owner must be able to relate their grant request to a negative impact from COVID-19. Examples of negative COVID-19 impacts include:

  • Expense incurred for COVID-19 mitigation measures (like PPE) or cost associated with adopting safer COVID-19 operating practices.
  • Increased operating costs due to COVID-19.
  • Retention of employees during State-mandated COVID-19 closures.
  • Decreased revenue due to State-mandated COVID-19 closures.


Federal guidelines identify the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors as suffering disproportional negative COVID-19 Impacts. Business in these sectors will be prioritized for grant funding. Firms in business sectors with commensurate negative impact will also be considered. As required by ARPA rules, the City of Tigard will publicly report financial assistance provided to businesses and the related negative economic impacts.


Funding Priorities

As in previous rounds of grant making, the City of Tigard may not have sufficient funds to make grant awards to every applicant. The City will use this application process to assess business needs, and determine whether more grant funding should be made available for business support grants. The following information will help determine funding priorities:


  • Business where the owner is the primary earner for their household.
  • Businesses size.
  • Percentage of revenue lost during COVID-19.
  • Percentage of operating cost increase due to COVID-19.
  • Increase of debt to finance business operations during COVID-19.
  • Decrease of personal savings to finance business operations during COVID-19.
  • Businesses located in a Qualified Census Tract.
  • Travel, Tourism & Hospitality sector businesses.


Timing

  • Week of March 28th - first round of grant applications will be reviewed. Applications will continue to be accepted after this date.
  • Week of April 4th - Awardees will be notified, and grant awards will start being distributed by our partner MESO.


Depending on assessed need, the City may increase funding for a second round of grant awards to businesses that have not already received funding.

If you have questions about the application or need assistance completing a form, please email tigard0322@mesopdx.org.

Application window is currently closed

To date, over $3.4 million in financial aid has been awarded.


Tigard CARES - Recovery Ready Grant Program 

City Council allocated an initial $100,000 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support Tigard businesses. Recovery Ready Grants are intended to help businesses in critical need of funding who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Given the immediate availability of ARPA funds, the City, in coordination with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), is collecting grant applications, reviewing eligibility, and making awards as soon as April 4, 2022. Please review the information below before you start your online application.

Award Amounts

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are granted based on documented negative COVID-19 impacts and business need.


Business Eligibility

Small businesses grants must be used to respond to negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency. According to federal rules, grants cannot be used to cover negative impacts from longer-term economic trends unrelated to the pandemic. A business owner must be able to relate their grant request to a negative impact from COVID-19. Examples of negative COVID-19 impacts include:

  • Expense incurred for COVID-19 mitigation measures (like PPE) or cost associated with adopting safer COVID-19 operating practices.
  • Increased operating costs due to COVID-19.
  • Retention of employees during State-mandated COVID-19 closures.
  • Decreased revenue due to State-mandated COVID-19 closures.


Federal guidelines identify the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors as suffering disproportional negative COVID-19 Impacts. Business in these sectors will be prioritized for grant funding. Firms in business sectors with commensurate negative impact will also be considered. As required by ARPA rules, the City of Tigard will publicly report financial assistance provided to businesses and the related negative economic impacts.


Funding Priorities

As in previous rounds of grant making, the City of Tigard may not have sufficient funds to make grant awards to every applicant. The City will use this application process to assess business needs, and determine whether more grant funding should be made available for business support grants. The following information will help determine funding priorities:


  • Business where the owner is the primary earner for their household.
  • Businesses size.
  • Percentage of revenue lost during COVID-19.
  • Percentage of operating cost increase due to COVID-19.
  • Increase of debt to finance business operations during COVID-19.
  • Decrease of personal savings to finance business operations during COVID-19.
  • Businesses located in a Qualified Census Tract.
  • Travel, Tourism & Hospitality sector businesses.


Timing

  • Week of March 28th - first round of grant applications will be reviewed. Applications will continue to be accepted after this date.
  • Week of April 4th - Awardees will be notified, and grant awards will start being distributed by our partner MESO.


Depending on assessed need, the City may increase funding for a second round of grant awards to businesses that have not already received funding.

If you have questions about the application or need assistance completing a form, please email tigard0322@mesopdx.org.

Grant Recipients Stories

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    The House

    almost 4 years ago


    With over 14 years of fitness industry experience under his belt, owner Mike Van Tassel started The House to offer a workout space “with no mirrors, no judgement, and full of hard-working individuals determined to get things done.” Since opening his doors in Tigard in 2016, Mike has created a popular small group fitness studio built on a foundation of family and community. “We give individuals a place to gain strength, knowledge, and empowerment through proper education and coaching,” says Mike. “We seek to empower you to be able to come into a place as you are, where you are... Continue reading

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    Tiger Auto Detail

    almost 4 years ago


    Thomas Campbell (pictured) has always kept his vehicles spotless and loves the sense of pride that comes with driving around in a sparkling car. Thomas opened Tiger Auto Detail to provide this same sense of pride to the Tigard community, offering full-service interior and exterior cleaning and conditioning services at his shop in downtown Tigard. Going on three years in business, Thomas enjoys meeting the variety of people that come through his doors and learning more about why they are getting their vehicle detailed. “It’s interesting to see the types of vehicles that come in, Thomas says. “Dirty, not... Continue reading

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    Clarity Direct NW

    almost 4 years ago


    Elizabeth Sloan started Clarity Direct NW because she felt a strong draw to help people with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental fog. Having previously dealt with some of these issues herself, Elizabeth learned about effective treatment methods and invested in the training and equipment to become a practitioner. Elizabeth opened Clarity Direct NW in the 2018 and has been using alternative therapies such as neurofeedback and EFT tapping to help her clients ever since. “I love to see how people really change their lives when they become free of ongoing anxiety, stress, PTSD or depression,” says Elizabeth.

    ... Continue reading

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    Buster & Lilly’s Doggie Daycare and Boarding

    almost 4 years ago

    Like many dog owners, Brian Tennison (pictured) dreamed of a job where he could be with his dogs all the time. When the company he was employed with for more than 16 years closed its Portland office in 2010, Brian seized the opportunity to bring his dream to life by opening Buster & Lilly’s Doggie Daycare and Boarding. “It was certainly frightening to leave the corporate world and step outside of my comfort zone, but it has most certainly paid off,” Brian says.

    Named after Brian’s first two dogs (both of whom are featured prominently in the company logo)... Continue reading

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    Mugen Noodle Bar

    almost 4 years ago

    Mugen is the Japanese word for both infinity and dreams/fantasy. In May 2019, co-owners Michael Phillips and Panuwat “Tay” Prosertyitin followed their dreams and opened Mugen Noodle Bar to bring authentic ramen cuisine to Tigard. As the driving force behind the restaurant, Tay and his family developed the unique recipes that comprise Mugen Noodle Bar’s menu. Tay enjoys interacting with customers, talking about the food and hearing their thoughts about his recipes. While most ramen restaurants serve a Tonkotsu or pork broth, Mugen stands apart by serving a Tori paitan broth (Japanese for chicken broth) that gives their ramen a... Continue reading

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    Souper Natural

    almost 4 years ago


    Souper Natural is the brainchild of Heidi Liebowitz (pictured). A trained chef with over 25 years’ experience in the food industry, Heidi opened Souper Natural in 2004 so she could be her own boss. At first Heidi started off small, selling three of her signature soup creations at the Beaverton Farmer’s Market. Through hard work and hustle, Heidi expanded Souper Natural into a wholesale business, opening a commercial production space in Tigard in 2008. Souper Natural now sells a signature line of over 45 soups and five pasta sauces, crafted using local ingredients to support farmers and growers. Heidi’s products... Continue reading

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    I will remember...

    by Henry Vaughan, almost 4 years ago

    I am proud to say that "The City of Tigard rose to the challenge of this crisis". When all other avenues seemed bogged down, I got a personal call and they offered much needed assistance. Within days I had proof that this was the message from the city... "we have got your back". We have been in business here for almost 20 years. I have never had to go through the obstacle course of red tape I had to with the Unemployment agency, The Small Business Association and the "Stimulus" package. I cannot even get a status on those applications... Continue reading

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    New Shoes Shoe Repair

    almost 4 years ago

    Photo Credit: Pamplin Media

    A downtown Tigard staple, New Shoes Shoe Repair has been operating on Main Street since 1991. With over 40 years of industry experience, owner Donny Myers (pictured) is an expert in shoe/boot/leather goods repair and Pedorthic shoe modifications.

    Donny’s experience in the shoe trade could easily fill a book. His journey began with a six-year apprenticeship learning the shoe repair trade from over four generations of old-world Italian and Czechoslovakian master craftsmen, widely regarded as some of the best in the world. Following his training, Donny opened his first shoe repair business in 1979 in Astoria... Continue reading

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    Good Cake Bakery

    almost 4 years ago

    Good Cake Bakery is the result of more than 30 years of combined baking experience by co-owners Jay Burton and Edgar Contreras (pictured). Edgar comes from a long line of bakers. His father and grandfather were both bakers and he got his start at a young age in his grandfather’s panadería/pastelería in his home state of Michoacán, Mexico. Jay began her baking career 13 years ago at the now-closed La Montana Market in Aloha, initially filling in when their head baker unexpectedly quit. Through hard work and hours spent teaching herself the ins and outs of baking, Jay became... Continue reading

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    Empyre Barbers

    almost 4 years ago


    With an old school aesthetic and convivial atmosphere, Empyre Barbers has become a popular local destination for high-quality haircuts, beard trims and shaves since opening in January 2019. Lively conversation and attention to detail has earned Empyre a loyal customer base. “Tigard has really embraced us and made us feel like we are a community,” says owners Matthew and Lydia Hickox (pictured).

    This community-oriented approach separates Empyre from other barbershops. Empyre supports Tigard youth by giving back-to-school haircuts to low-income families and sponsoring local youth sports programs, including Tigard High School sports and the Mitchell Robinson Junior NBA Basketball Camp... Continue reading