The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) took action this week to advance the recovery process for Holiday Farm Fire survivors.
Commissioners voted to accept a $4.1 million* grant from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) for Holiday Farm Fire recovery. The funds can be used for affordable housing development, home purchases, infrastructure, and recovery staffing.
“This is an important step forward for the disaster recovery effort,” said Commissioner Heather Buch. “I am grateful to OHCS Director Andrea Bell for her firm commitment to wildfire recovery in the McKenzie River Valley. This funding is extremely important, and Lane County and our recovery partners will quickly put them to good use.”
The grant funding will be used to support several projects in the McKenzie River Valley, including using $800,000 toward the development of multiple low- to moderate-income single-family homes in Blue River. Lane County’s contribution will be used by McKenzie Community Land Trust and DevNW to secure additional state funds for this project. McKenzie Community Land Trust was established in 2022 to support the development of affordable homeownership opportunities in the McKenzie River Valley. DevNW is a Springfield-based nonprofit that develops and manages affordable rental homes throughout Lane, Benton, and Linn counties.
Other projects that will receive support from this grant include:
Blue River Drive Design and Engineering: A ¼-mile stretch of Blue River Drive, known as “downtown Blue River,” needs design work to meet community transportation needs and to accommodate water, electric, and other underground utilities within the right-of-way. Grant funds will pay for an initial streetscape design.
Blue River Retracement Survey. The wildfire removed all trace of fences and other unofficial landmarks commonly used to mark property boundaries in downtown Blue River. Lane County is hiring a contractor to conduct property boundary surveys for all properties in this area.
Non-Blue River Property Surveys. Lane County will develop a process to fund property boundary surveys outside of the downtown Blue River area.
McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. Funding to help wildfire survivors in need of support to aid their recovery.
Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Account (WRRA) Program. Continue providing rental assistance and financial assistance for home repairs.
Communications. Install communications conduit to accommodate high speed communications while utility work is occurring in the right-of-way within the McKenzie River Valley and in Blue River.
Parks and boat ramps. Fund repairs to local parks and boat ramps damaged in the Holiday Farm Fire.
More information about Holiday Farm Fire recovery is available at www.McKenzieRebuilds.org.
Original source can be found here.
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