Union and Baker Counties awarded $15 Million Grant to bolster economic development
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
UNION & BAKER COUNTIES – (Press release from the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District) The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD) has been awarded a $15 million grant to support the implementation of its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in Baker and Union counties. This funding, through US Department of Energy, has the potential to enhance the region’s economic resilience and improve the lives of its residents.
“This grant is a tremendous opportunity for Northeast Oregon,” said Lisa Dawson, Executive Director of NEOEDD. “It could allow us to address key economic priorities identified in our CEDS, such as workforce development, housing, business development, and infrastructure.”
The grant is part of the USDOE Transmission Siting & Economic Development Program which provides funds to state, local, or Tribal governmental entities for activities that promote economic development and mitigate impacts in communities that may be affected by the construction and operation of a covered transmission project, in this case the Boardman to Hemingway transmission line in Baker and Union counties.
“It’s been a very long wait, but we got notice in June that we can start scoping projects to propose for funding and we’re in that process now,” said Dawson. NEOEDD was awarded the grant in 2024, but in January 2025 was notified that grant terms and conditions were subject to ‘definitization’ by the new federal administration. In June of this year, NEOEDD received notice that the grant could go forward, but that a new method of selecting activities to receive funding would be required.
Funds were originally approved for NEOEDD to conduct a community engagement process and set up a subgrant program with a committee of community representatives making shared decisions on grant awards. Those activities are no longer allowed. Under the new administration’s direction, NEOEDD has until December to identify proposed subawards for public and non-profit entities. In January 2027, NEOEDD will submit proposed subaward agreements to USDOE and political appointees will review them and have the final say on which are approved or denied.
Information on the subaward scoping process is available at https://neoedd.org/usdoe-ceds-implementation-grant/ including a recorded information session, FAQs, and Preliminary Information Form. NEOEDD will host Strategic Priority meetings on zoom by CEDS focus area: Workforce Development, 3-4:30 pm, September 10; Housing, 3-4:30 pm, September 15; Small Business Development, 3-4:30 pm, September 21; Infrastructure 3-4:30 pm, September 24th. Non-profits and local governments interested in a potential subaward should submit a Preliminary Information Form by September 27 and register to attend a Strategic Priority meeting https://neoedd.org/news-events/.
About the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD):
The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD) is one of twelve federally recognized economic development districts in Oregon, dedicated to promoting economic development in Baker, Union and Wallowa counties. NEOEDD works closely with communities to provide financial, technical, and educational resources for entrepreneurs/ small businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities in Northeast Oregon (Baker, Union and Wallowa counties).
