City of Grants Pass Accepting Submissions for New Homelessness Grant Program

The City of Grants Pass is offering a grant program to explore options that will alleviate the need for the City to allow persons experiencing homelessness to remain on public property overnight. The City Council is anticipating proposals for one or more managed low-barrier resting sites for homeless individuals. Alternative proposals will be considered if they demonstrate a capacity to minimize or alleviate the burden of using public property for homeless individuals to rest. At a minimum, the City's obligation is to provide capacity for 150 people in a manner that is compliant with ADA requirements and all local, state and federal laws and regulations. Proposals should describe the assistance that will be provided to move homeless individuals to transitional and/or permanent housing for addiction recovery, mental health and employment. The deadline for submissions in response to this Request for Proposals is no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, July 18th. The submittals should be directed to:

Grants Pass Homelessness Grant Program
Attention: Karen Frerk, City Recorder
101 NW A Street
Grants Pass, OR 97526

Questions regarding this program should be directed to the City Recorder at (541)-450-6010 or "kfrerk@grantspassoregon.gov." ...Read more

GP Fire Marshal Elevates City Fire Danger Level to "High" Due to Extended Heat

An extended period of high temperatures has dried out vegetation, making it easier for fires to ignite and harder for them to be controlled. As a result, the Grants Pass Fire Marshal has elevated the fire danger level to 'high" starting today. The public use of power-driven and spark-emitting equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, weed-eaters, wood splitters, generators, and the cutting, welding and grinding of metal is now prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.. This does not apply to the mowing of green lawns. All open wood-fueled fires are prohibited including campfires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at locations designated by the Fire Marshal. Wood smokers, charcoal barbecues as well as propane and natural gas-fueled ornamental fires are allowed. Motor vehicles -- including motorcycles and ATVs -- are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. Smoking in areas of flammable vegetation is prohibited. The Grants Pass Fire Marshal or an authorized representative may -- in writing -- approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. ...Read more

City of GP Staging Annual Independence Day Celebration at the All Sports Park

The City of Grants Pass is staging its annual Independence Day Celebration on Friday at Reinhart Volunteer Park. The 4th of July event starts at 11 a.m. with a Classic Car Show that runs until 4:30 p.m.. A Food Truck Festival and Bouncy Fest 3.0 run between 4 and 10 p.m.. Entertainment includes A-Rae of Light Dance Group at 5 p.m. followed by a 'live" concert with The Paper Flyers at 8. The fireworks show begins at approximately 9:30 p.m.. City officials encourage people to consider parking in the Grasshopper Lot at 5th & F streets and carpool with others to Reinhart Volunteer Park as parking at the park will be somewhat limited. Special thanks to Patrick Hoadley of Blaze-N-Monkeys food truck, who compiled participants for this year's Food Truck Festival and organized the drive for the Josephine County Food Bank. Thanks also goes out to the students with the American Exchange Project who will volunteer to help with the event as well as the Grants Pass School District for letting the City use the Parkside Elementary field to launch the fireworks. ...Read more