Central Lincoln PUD Offers Assistance
As COVID-19 continues to shut down businesses and forces employees to the unemployment line, essential services continue to support residents that have found themselves without an income. The latest is Central Lincoln PUD. The power utility has implemented a Job Loss Assistance Program for residential customers that have had to file for unemployment. According to Central Lincoln PUD officials the funds are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis. For details on qualifications for the program Central Lincoln PUD has set up an information page on their website at clpud.org.
No Evictions Says Governor Brown
Governor Kate Brown yesterday issued another executive order placing a 90 day moratorium on commercial evictions for nonpayment. The order also strengthens the governors previous ban on residential evictions and prohibits landlords from charging late fees.
PPE Levels Good in Florence
COVID-19 cases have reached 736 in Oregon with 19 deaths associated with the virus. Testing continues to ramp up with more tests being made available. Personal Protection Equipment is also arriving in Oregon from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Fire and EMS and Florence Police say that Florence is currently stocked.
Chief Michael Schick with West Lane Fire and EMS
“We have adequate supplies right now. We don’t want to be hoarding, I mean we don’t want more than what we really can use, but again we look at what’s going to happen 2 weeks from now.”
Florence Police Chief Tom Turner echoed Schick’s assessment of the situation as it applies to the police department. Turner says the jail is also well equipped.
“We have more protective gear for the people working at the correction facility as opposed to out in patrol.”
Turner says they are taking extra precautions for transports and in the jail.
And continuing with test results from the OHA, 14,868 tests have been performed in Oregon with 14,132 negative results. Lane County Public Health officials say that the average length of sickness has been about 3 weeks until recovery.
Loan Applications Become Available
Local banks are rolling out applications beginning today for businesses that want to take advantage of the provision in the Cares Act to provide finances to make payroll. Banks through the Small Business Administration are beginning to go through the process of sorting through the qualifications and are already seeing a significant response. Ron Green, with Oregon Pacific Bank.
“We’re expecting a tidal wave of small businesses to apply we have already had about 50 people in Florence who have asked about it.”
Green says that businesses that qualify can potentially use the funds to pay employees and even rent whether or not the business was forced to close by executive order.