ARPA Funding, Youth Wage Grants & County Park Closures

It’s been a busy week in Marion County. Here are a few of the highlights we believe are most relevant to you.

ARPA Funding Approvals

On Wednesday, the Board of Commissioners approved the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Sub-recipient Agreements for the following projects, retroactive to March 3, 2021, through December 31, 2026:

• The City of Keizer for the Two Athletic Fields at Keizer Rapids Park Project in the amount of $2,000,000;

• The City of Salem for the Salem Navigation Center Project in the amount of $3,000,000;

• The City of Silverton for the Transitional Housing and Homeless Resource Center Project in the amount of $250,000;

• Marion Polk Food Share, Inc. for the Rebuilding AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn Project in the amount of $750,000;

• The Hope Pregnancy Clinic for the Parenting Initiative Annex Project in the amount of $285,409; and

• Marion County Public Works for the Lebrun Road Realignment and Railroad Crossing Project in the amount of $1,000,000.

PHOTO: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Project Locations

Altogether, Marion County received nearly $68 million in ARPA dollars and has allocated a large portion of the funds to generational infrastructure investments for our community.

Youth Wage Grant

Are you a small business looking to hire extra help and open to providing valuable work experience to a local teen? If so, you may qualify for Marion County’s Youth Wage Grant Program.

Participating businesses with 35 or fewer employees can be reimbursed $5 per hour up to 1,000 hours per eligible youth, and a total of $6,000 maximum compensation. An eligible youth must be between the ages of 14 to 17 to qualify and must have never previously worked.

This year’s program was authorized for $50,000 and will operate jointly with other funds secured from the Marion County Extension and 4-H Service District as well as Willamette Workforce Partnership for total funding between $100,000 and $150,000.

The current application window is open through September 30, 2022. The next window will open November 1, 2022, and it run through February 28 of 2023. All eligible employers must secure a Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) permit prior to hiring. If you meet these criteria, apply today.

Summer Statuses for Parks

Due to ongoing fire recovery efforts, some of our Marion County parks are still closed to the public. Those still not open to the public include:

• Salmon Falls

• Bear Creek

• North Fork

• Niagara

• Minto

PHOTO: Despite some closures, Marion County has a wealth of parks to explore this summer.

Additionally, in the North Fork area:

• Only Authorized Vehicles and Pedestrians may use N Fork Rd SE, Gates Hill Rd SE, Pioneer Rd SE.

• No access to Little North Fork or Santiam River is allowed from N Fork Rd SE, Gates Hill Rd SE, Pioneer Rd SE.

• No parking is allowed within right of way on N Fork Rd SE, Gates Hill Rd SE, Pioneer Rd SE.

• No bicyclists are allowed to use right of way on N Fork Rd SE, Gates Hill Rd SE, Pioneer Rd SE.

• Continued Park Closures are to allow for the reconstruction of needed infrastructure within North Fork Park, Salmon Falls Park, and Bear Creek Park/Campground, and to reduce congestion on N Fork Rd and Gates Hill Rd. 

We are happy to announce that Packsaddle, St. Louis Ponds, and the Auburn Conversion Project are all open. You can always find an ongoing current list of open parks at Marion County Public Works.

That’s it for this week’s update. Stay tuned for more!