Month: November 2020

Thanksgiving is this week, and what would normally be a bustling time of year looks like a slow-motion video.  

One way you can help our community during this two-week freeze, if you are financially able, is to purchase pick-up orders from our local restaurants or gift certificates as holiday gifts. Our restaurants and bars are once again restricted to take out, which jeopardizes the future of many of these local businesses. 

This update has information about ways you can support our local economy this holiday season to help small businesses survive the pandemic, as well as resources for keeping yourself healthy through these difficult times. 

Shop Local

The holiday season normally ushers in a time of local economic prosperity as consumers purchase goodies and gifts, but this year will look much different due to COVID-19.  

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is asking the community to consider shopping locally for the holidays, and so Chamber staff created a festive guide. 

If you have a product or service you’d like to have included in the holiday guide, please fill out the form for the Chamber to include. 
 

#LoveLaneBiz 

Supporting local businesses during this time will help these companies bounce back and our economy to recover. Right now, that support means shopping local, following health guidelines and providing grace and understanding as businesses adapt to and navigate new guidelines being required by the state. Take the pledge.
 

Holiday Market in the Park Blocks 

The Holiday Market, with its extensive array of craftspeople, returns to its downtown roots by moving from its indoor venue at the Lane Events Center to the outdoor Park Blocks. 

The Holiday Market will be open at the Park Blocks from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays, from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19 and will require people to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing. The Holiday Farmers Market also remains on the Park Blocks each Saturday through Dec. 19 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Business Support

Layoff Aversion Funds

A limited amount of new funds will be available to help Lane County businesses keep their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the State of Oregon Two-week Freeze requirements that began November 18, Lane Workforce Partnership will distribute a limited amount of Layoff Aversion Funds in Lane County to the following types of Lane County eligible employers with fewer than 20 employees:  

• Restaurants 
• Bars 
• Gyms 
• Fitness organizations 
• Other indoor recreational facilities  

Lane County Employers interested in receiving funds should complete the Application Form in its entirety (all fields are required) and submit to fiscal@laneworkforce.org by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2.  Initial distributions will be made during the week of Dec. 7. 

Business Investment Grants 

The City of Eugene and Community Lending Works are hosting a grant opportunity for small businesses with priority of award going to those owned by black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community members and women. Eugene businesses in the most impacted economic sectors (hospitality, retail, arts, and culture) ranging from 2 to 25 employees who have experienced negative impacts from COVID are eligible to apply.  

Award amount is based on employee count:  

• Businesses with 2-10 employees are eligible for $5,000 awards 
• Businesses with 11-25 employees are eligible for $10,000 award 

The grant opportunity opens today and applications will be accepted through end of day on December 6, 2020 – see Community Lending Works website for more details. 

Learn about additional resources on our Business Support page.  

Mental Wellbeing During the Holidays 

None of us expected the pandemic would still be impacting our lives when the holiday season came around. Holidays often bring up a range of emotions for people, from joy to loneliness, and this year has been especially difficult for everyone.  

The CDC has put together a guide for holiday celebrations and small gatherings with suggestions of how to safely celebrate (you’ll notice that wearing masks and keeping 6 feet of distance continues to be one of the top recommendations). Getting outside is one great way to take care of our mental health. Consider some of these options: 

• Many parts of Oregon already have snow – go for a drive to enjoy the scenic beauty, or bring a sled along  
• Enjoy the fresh air at Eugene’s numerous parks and trails 
• Take a tour of Eugene’s 20×21 Mural Project 
• Showcase your talent and win prizes in the Hult Center’s Still at Home Talent Show – Holiday Edition! 
• Try creating something seasonal, like homemade eggnog, or a wreath for your front door 
• Make homemade gifts to mail or deliver to loved ones 

Taking care of your emotional health and wellbeing is important right now. It’s vital that we all try to decrease stress and anxiety. It can help keep you physically healthy and, in turn, help those around you. See our Health and Wellbeing page and open the Mental Health tab to find helpful local and national resources.

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

Follow the Four:

1. Stay six feet apart
2. Wear a mask
3. Wash Your hands
4. Avoid large gatherings

COVID-19 Resources

See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.

Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• State of Oregon
• Oregon Health Authority
• Lane County Public Health

Lane County Call Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 541-682-1380

Eugene is once again in a make or break moment. Our COVID-19 cases have been rising steadily for weeks and our hospitals are sounding the alarm.

To prevent hospitals from being stretched to capacity, Governor Brown has announced a statewide two-week freeze in addition to a new travel advisory (more info on both below). These new measures put strict limitations on social gatherings, which continue to drive our COVID-19 case increases.

We can’t control the pandemic, but we can control the steps we take to protect ourselves and the community. If we do not act now to slow the spread of the virus, these restrictions will be extended.

Statewide Two-Week Freeze Begins Today

Last week, Governor Kate Brown announced a statewide two-week freeze, implementing new measures to limit gatherings and stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Oregon.

The two-week freeze will be in effect from today, November 18, through December 2.

These risk reduction measures are critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19, reducing risk in communities more vulnerable to serious illness and death, and helping conserve hospital capacity so that all Oregonians can continue to have access to quality care. They include restrictions on social gatherings, restaurants, retail, gyms and more. See our Keeping Eugene Safe web page for more information.

City Services Affected by the Freeze

Some City of Eugene services will have temporary changes due to the statewide freeze from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2:

• Eugene Public Library: All locations will remain open with most services continuing, including holds pick-up and book returns. Because fewer people will be allowed inside the buildings, two services will temporarily not be available: at the Downtown Library, there will not be counter service for same-day borrowing; and at Bethel and Sheldon branches, there will not be Internet computer access.
• Recreation: Sheldon and Amazon pools are closed. Adult programming and indoor sports leagues are canceled. We will be able to continue offering childcare, youth programming, outdoor sports leagues and virtual programming. Check with specific programs for any additional details.
• Parks and Open Space: The Rhododendron Garden at Hendricks Park and the Owen Rose Garden are closed. Community gardens are open for harvesting produce. All volunteer events during this period have been canceled and park rental applications are not being taken.
• Eugene Police Department: Eugene Police Records Section Front Counter is providing only the following services: vehicle impound releases, pet fix-it tickets, potentially dangerous dog (PDD) registration and posting bail. All other Front Counter and Records Services are suspended. Learn how to submit public records requests.
• See our City Services – What’s Open? page for upcoming information about Municipal Court and other services.

Travel Advisory

Together with the governors of Washington and California, Governor Brown announced a joint travel advisory effective November 13, 2020. The advisory urges anyone entering Oregon – either residents returning from a trip, or non-residents entering Oregon on a trip – to quarantine for 14 days. It further advises Oregonians to refrain from any non-essential travel to other states or countries. Read the full advisory.

Thank you, COVID-19 Messaging Contest Participants

We are thrilled to have received 67 entries for “Stop the Spread: A COVID-19 Messaging Contest for Young Adults.” Public voting has now ended but you can still view the entries while they are being scored by our panel of judges.

Winners will be announced by Friday, Nov. 20. The winning graphics and videos from young adults ages 14-30 will be shared with other young adults to emphasize the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Safely

It is difficult to think about Thanksgiving looking different this year. But social gatherings among all age groups are the largest cause of increasing COVID-19 cases. The governor’s statewide freeze currently limits gatherings to no more than 6 people total, from no more than 2 households, whether indoors or outdoors.

The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to share it with people in your household. You might also consider alternatives like hosting a virtual Thanksgiving meal, playing games with people in your household or safely preparing a dinner and providing a “no contact” delivery to a friend or neighbor. We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others healthy so that we can move toward a return to our favorite holiday traditions.

And One More Thing To Consider This Thanksgiving… 

Follow the Four:

1. Stay six feet apart
2. Wear a mask
3. Wash Your hands
4. Avoid large gatherings

COVID-19 Resources 

See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.

Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• State of Oregon
• Oregon Health Authority
• Lane County Public Health

Lane County Call Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 541-682-1380

Starting today, Nov. 18, Oregon will begin the statewide two-week freeze.

Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-65 following last week’s announcement of a temporary statewide freeze to stop the rapid community spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. In light of increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the order outlines necessary risk reduction measures designed to limit gatherings and curb human contact.

“I know Oregonians have made tremendous sacrifices throughout this pandemic and that these new, temporary restrictions may seem daunting,” said Governor Brown. “But, we are at a breaking point. If we don’t take further action, we risk continued alarming spikes in infections and hospitalizations, and we risk the lives of our neighbors and loved ones.”

“I also know that Oregonians come together in times of need, and we owe it to each other to take these measures seriously. It is up to all of us to work together to get this virus under control.”

For more details about the freeze see the news release and check out the graphic below. You can also find this graphic in multiple languages for sharing here.