Coronavirus Relief Fund Cultural Support Program

August 19, 2020

Applications are open for Oregon’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Cultural Support program. Funds allocated to the Oregon Cultural Trust will be available to Oregon cultural organizations facing losses due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The $25.9 million in funding was made available through a $50 million relief package for Oregon culture recently approved by the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature.

Applications are due by noon on Monday, August 24, and approved funds must be distributed by September 15, 2020. For eligibilities please click here.

Small Business Relief Grants
While all businesses are bearing the brunt of COVID-19’s economic backlash, small businesses are hardest hit. A coalition of not-for-profit, cooperative credit unions is working together to distribute relief grants, which qualified small businesses will not have to pay back.

Four credit unions with CDFI designation — Consolidated Community, Trailhead, Point West, and Central Willamette — stepped up and will fund grants ranging from $2,500 to $12,500. Interested business owners may reach out to the participating credit unions by emailing or visiting the websites:

New child care and early education guidelines released
Last week, the Oregon Department of Education's Early Learning Division released the new Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care and Early Education Operating in COVID-19. The updated guidelines take effect Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
The guidelines are broken into 14 sections, with some notable updates in the following areas:

  • Increased use of Personal Protective Equipment
  • Adjusted group size
  • New family engagement and health and safety plan sections
  • Responding to possible and confirmed cases of COVID-19

The new guidelines are posted on ELD's COVID-19 webpage in English and Spanish, and they will be posting videos, updated FAQs and information to assist providers on that page as well.

How to comfortably wear a face covering in the heat
As temperatures climb, it might feel uncomfortable or out of place to wear a mask. But it's still true that wearing a face covering will help slow the spread of COVID-19. Here are some ways to make wearing a mask more comfortable as temperatures rise:

  • If you wear a mask outdoors, try to wear a mask that is light in color as dark colors may become hotter.
  • Breathe through your nose, which will result in less heat and humidity within the mask.
  • If you feel overheated, move away from others, remove the mask, and rest in a well-ventilated, shaded area.

Please wear a mask when indoors or in crowded outdoor spaces where physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible.

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