Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
Marion County has dedicated $115,000 additional dollars for economic redevelopment in Gates and Detroit amid continuing efforts to recover from the 2020 wildfires.
On Nov. 29, the Board of County Commissioners approved a contract extension with Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments (MWVCG) for consultation and support services.
Commissioners transferred $114,574 from grant funds for wildfire recovery to bring their total contract with MWVCG to $236,414, and extended the contract through June 2024.
The Santiam Fire, which sparked Sept. 8, 2020, destroyed many buildings in and around both cities. In 2021, the county provided consultants to help each craft a Community Vision and Strategic Plan that would help determine what type of redevelopment should be pursued.
MWVCG was also contracted to assist with the steps necessary to achieve these goals, including any potential zoning or permitting changes the cities could make to encourage growth. This included assistance with legal matters, planning, community development and administrative support.
Other projects funded by the wildfire recovery grant includes support for Christian Aid Ministries, which helps provide labor at no cost for residents rebuilding their homes. The grant supports the lease of a mobile home out of which the ministry has been operating.
