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En  Español  l  Recognizing the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on many local small businesses and their employees, the City of Wilsonville has opened the $400,000 Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants Program to aid the community’s economic recovery. Applications may be submitted online until the 5 pm deadline on Wednesday, April 29.  All qualified applications that meet the deadline are to receive funding consideration. 

Program eligibility is limited to qualifying Wilsonville businesses with 20 full-time employees or less. A complete list of eligibility requirements, additional criteria for the City’s consideration, and a link to the online application is now available.

April 22, 2020:  At the April 20, 2020, Wilsonville City Council meeting, the City Council approved a $400,000 grant program to provide immediate assistance to small local businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded by City Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) and Urban Renewal Agency (URA) funds, the Wilsonville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants Program is set to award more than 150 grants to eligible businesses of no more than 20 full-time employees. Designed with input by the Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, the new program provides one-time grants, ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, to a limited number of qualified businesses.

April 10, 2020 – The City of Wilsonville’s “One Wilsonville” Gift Card Purchase Program is now underway to support residents and local restaurants in need of financial relief in the wake of COVID-19.

This month, City employees are visiting local restaurants to purchase $20,000 in gift cards, providing a segment of our local business community with immediate and much-needed support in the wake of the State’s ‘stay at home’ directive that has temporary closed doors and dining rooms, and diminished sales at retail establishments citywide.

All gift cards purchased by the City are being routed to community members with dire need via Wilsonville Community Sharing and the Wilsonville Police Department.

April 6, 2020 – As communities experience the emotional weight of an unprecedented public health crisis, there are many stressors – financial burden, illness, unemployment, confinement, concern for loved ones, etc. – that may adversely affect peoples’ mental health and well-being.

General mental health guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) includes  minimizing or avoiding exposure to news that causes distress, developing daily routines, maintaining connection to people within existing social networks, engaging in healthy activities, and getting proper sleep and nutrition.  

In Clackamas County, mental health professionals and public safety officials are bracing for an increase in depression, anxiety, violence, abuse, suicidal ideation and other mental health conditions. They provide a reminder that anyone in crisis is a phone call away from help.

April 2, 2020 — South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART), which operates transit services in and near Wilsonville, is temporarily scaling back bus service and office hours effective Monday, April 6.

All routes remain in operation; most will run less frequently. The changes come in response to a sharp decline in ridership following the March 23 Stay at Home directive from the Governor. The changes equate to about a 25% reduction in services.

“The conditions demanded that we reinvent ourselves,” said Transit Director Dwight Brashear. “We looked at ridership and adapted with adjustments that avoid severely impacting the people who count on us.”

The decision follows a similar reduction from Portland’s TriMet and the substantial temporary closure of Salem-based Cherriots. Brashear said carriers are focused on driver and passenger safety, fiscal responsibility, and the importance of delivering essential workers to their place of work. 

The April 2020 edition of the all-city newsletter, The Boones Ferry Messenger, features reports and updates on a range of topics including the following articles and content:

March 23, 2020 — The City of Wilsonville and the Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce are working together to explore local solutions and identify state and federal resources to support out-of-work individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations that may be seeking assistance and financial relief in the wake of COVID-19 related hardship.

“Obviously this is a staggering blow for the majority of workplaces here and in many parts of the world,” said City of Wilsonville Economic Development Manager Jordan Vance. “As federal, state and regional programs materialize to aid those impacted by loss of work and/or diminishing revenues, we’re available to point people to programs that might help them find relief.”

March 18, 2020 — If you’re going online to shop for resources or seek information about COVID-19, the Wilsonville Police Department cautions that scammers may be eager to take advantage of consumer fears and uncertainty around the current global health crisis.

“Stay alert,” advises Wilsonville Police Chief Rob Wurpes. “Unfortunately this is a perfect set of circumstances for scammers: an anxious population, vulnerable people at highest risk, excessive demand for out-of-stock goods and disinformation on social media.”

Wurpes cautions people to keep computer protection up-to-date and to remain skeptical of websites and ads that aren’t from trusted sources. If you’re not sure, he says, don’t click. 

March 16, 2020 — The Parks & Recreation Administration Building is now closed to the public, effective Tuesday morning.  While not typically used for programs, the facility hosts occasional group meetings and receives frequent walk-in traffic from people visiting nearby Town Center Park.

All public facility closures announced by the City – at the Park & Rec. Admin Building, the Wilsonville Community Center, and the Wilsonville Library – is to remain in effect until April 8, or longer at the recommendation of public health officials.

City Hall remains open to the public, 8 am to 5 am each weekday. Customers are highly encouraged to conduct business by phone or online for their own protection and that of City staff.

March 13, 2020 — As a precautionary measure in the interest of public health, especially for older adults most at risk of serious illness from COVID-19, the City of Wilsonville is temporarily suspending all public activities at the Wilsonville Community Center.

The facility remains open to the general public until 5 pm today (March 13), though all fitness classes have been canceled. On Sunday, the Community Center is scheduled to host a meeting of the Pioneer Baptist Church. Effective on Monday, Mar. 16, and until further notice, the facility is closed for public use. All drop-in activities, fitness classes and evening rentals are canceled.

“With health officials encouraging people, and especially older adults, to begin social distancing, we need to lead by example by implementing protections to help stem the transmission of COVID-19 in our community,” said City Manager Bryan Cosgrove.

March 13, 2020 —  City of Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp has authorized the City Manager to declare a local state of emergency, which takes effect immediately and may be ratified by a resolution to be brought before the City Council on Monday, March 16, at 7 pm at City Hall.

Taking this action allows City staff greater flexibility to address the hazards posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by facilitating more expedient coordination with other public agencies and quicker deployment of resources needed to safeguard the Wilsonville community.

The state of emergency declaration provides the City’s Emergency Management staff with latitude to coordinate an effective response by redirecting funding for emergency use as needed, implementing mutual aid agreements with other public agencies and suspending standard procurement procedures.

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