NORTHEASTERN OREGON — Businesses in Wallowa and Union counties can apply for a small grant funded by Business Oregon’s Economic Equity Investment Program.

The grants through the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District make $48,000 available for business grants.

Learn more about the two-step application process, deadlines, requirements and more at shorturl.at/xYis7.

The application period opens Feb. 17 and runs through March 16. Apply for up to $4,000 for existing registered businesses and up to $2,000 for new registered businesses or existing businesses that received the EEIP grant in 2024.

Grant funds may be used for business assets, working capital and marketing. Funds may not be used to repay debt, for travel, owner’s salary, or multilevel marketing businesses.

General qualifications include being approved for Reinventing Rural’s EEIP and participating either in NEOEDD’s free 10-week business planning class, starting Feb. 24 in La Grande and Feb. 25 in Enterprise, or other business planning classes or assistance.

Visit Reinventing Rural to create an account and establish eligibility at tinyurl.com/mswn55rk.

Once notified of eligibility for a grant, business owners can apply at tinyurl.com/mrytyjys.

For more information about the program, contact Chantal Ivenso at chantalivenso@neoedd.org or 541-426-3598, ext 4.