Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
Marion County and the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments are teaming up to reimburse Santiam Canyon residents for septic system work necessitated by the 2020 wildfires.
The county and the Mid-Valley COG have approximately $5 million in federal funds to spend on the program. The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will be available until the money runs out.
Two types of grants are available, one from the COG and the other through the building inspection department at Marion County. One application qualifies a property owner for both grant opportunities. The COG grants range from $2,000 to $20,000, with the amount tied to income.The county grant amounts will be determined at the time of application.
The grants only apply to septic system work completed post-fires and not to work that is planned for the future.
Here is how the process works:
Eligibility: You must answer yes to the following three questions:
1) Was your septic system destroyed or damaged in the 2020 Beachie Creek or Lionshead fires?
2) Have you pumped, located, repaired or replaced the septic system during the rebuild?; and,
3) Do you have an approved authorization or a certificate of satisfactory completion for the system?
Application: Get a bill of sale or itemized receipt from your contractor for the installation of the system. Fill out the joint application available at mwvcog. Property owners can submit the application online or print it and forward it to 100 High Street SE, Suite 200, Salem, OR 97301.
TO GET INVOLVED
The Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments is coordinating applications for septic system grants.
For more information: 503-540-1612 or email: [email protected]
