Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the City of Irrigon has been awarded $1 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to build a Business Opportunity Incubator for the community. Merkley and Wyden secured this community-initiated project’s funding in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package.
“Small businesses are the backbone of economies across Oregon and are vital to the success of the communities they serve,” said Senator Merkley, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee that funds community-initiated projects like this. “This project will support small and medium sized businesses in Irrigon, providing space and support for companies to grow and thrive.”
“Federal investment to help jump-start small and medium-size businesses that generate jobs in rural Oregon is crucial to our entire state’s economy,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified that Irrigon has earned this $1 million that will make the town and Morrow County an even better place to live and work for generations to come.”
This funding will support the design, permitting, planning, and construction of a Business Opportunity Incubator for the community. The Incubator in Irrigon will provide a facility for small to medium sized businesses with a focus on enhancing opportunities for minority-owned businesses and women-owned enterprises and supporting low-income populations. This facility will be able to accommodate multiple use types, ranging from small office spaces to larger areas for manufacturing, to meet the needs of the region.
“Irrigon is very excited about this funding. This grant brings opportunities for sustainable growth in our community and our region. The incubator development project will help entrepreneurs to take that first big step toward launching their own business. The City of Irrigon is also grateful to US SBA and agency staff for getting this project award across the finish line. The project fits hand and glove with the current business developments happening in our community,” said Aaron Palmquist, MBA/PA, City Manager, City of Irrigon.
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