Thirty Oregon Counties will Receive More Than $47.7 Million in Federal SRS Payments in 2024
US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Friday that 30 Oregon counties will receive more than $47.7 million in federal payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS). The SRS funds are allocated from the US Forest Service for schools and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. Locally, Douglas and Klamath counties will receive by far the largest amount of SRS funding with $6.67 million and $6.37 million, respectively. Jackson County will receive more than $1,462,000 and Josephine County will get $950,157.29. Nationwide, SRS provides critical funding for schools, roads and other municipal services to more than 700 US counties. A portion of US Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities such as timber production, grazing and special use permits supports rural counties with federal forestland to improve the health of forested communities. More funding for rural counties is expected from the Bureau of Land Management in the near future. ...Read more

Rogue-Siskiyou Forest Employee Receives Pacific NW Region Engineering Award
The US Forest Service recently selected a Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest worker as the Pacific Northwest Region's Technology Applications Employee of the Year for 2023. Troy Phillis, a Rogue-Siskiyou employee and 1992 graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology, received the award from the federal agency. Phillis was among the recipients identified for annual Engineer of the Year awards in four categories in March. He was nominated by his supervisors, peers and employees for being known to consistently deliver a high caliber of performance and for taking initiative in completing priority work for the agency. Acting Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Dan Quinones said Phillis has helped them further develop one of the best fleet organizations in the region. He said their shop and crews follow impeccable standards of safety, quality and service, adding that Troy has also significantly enhanced fleet capabilities and efficiency while doing so. ...Read more

Josephine County Awarded Broadband Grant to Hire Technical Infrastructure Coordinator

The Oregon Broadband Office is pleased to announce that Josephine County is among the awardees of Broadband Technical Assistance Program (BTAP) grants of up to $150,000 per county. The grants can be used for eligible broadband planning and pre-construction activities, staffing and grant application support. A total of $1.5 million will be distributed to 11 projects to prepare for broadband infrastructure. Applicants had until February 2024 to apply for this competitive grant, which underwent a rigorous scoring review by Oregon Broadband Office staff and the Oregon Broadband Grant Application Review Committee based on the criteria outlined in the Program Handbook. The $150,000 grant for Josephine County will support efforts to attain a consultant who will perform strategic and feasibility planning services as well as stakeholder meeting engagement, permitting analysis, request for proposal and selection of lead applicant for the program, and application preparation. The consultant will serve as the Josephine County Broadband Coordinator and grant detailed activities. The funding came from the Oregon Universal Service Fund. ...Read more