Klamath County Economic Development Grant Program

The Klamath County Economic Development Grant Program is administered by the Klamath County Board of Commissioners and managed by the County Finance Office. The program is funded through State of Oregon lottery funds, which must be used in compliance with Oregon Revised Statute 461.540. The overall goal of the grant program is to strengthen economic development within Klamath County by supporting projects that align with the county’s long-term strategic objectives, which include business attraction and support, economic infrastructure development, workforce development, and community revitalization. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will contribute directly to economic growth, job creation, business expansion, or community revitalization. Eligible applicants include local governments, port districts, federally recognized Tribes, nonprofits registered in Oregon, and for-profit entities operating within the state. Ineligible applicants include those with bankruptcies or financial corruption within the past five years, those failing to fulfill prior grant obligations, and applicants who have not attended the mandatory orientation session required before applying. Individuals employed by or affiliated with Klamath County are also excluded. Eligible projects are expected to provide unique enhancements to the local economy and may include services or financial support to businesses and associations, as well as infrastructure or facility development projects. Ineligible uses of funds include debt servicing, ongoing operating costs, fundraising or endowment campaigns, and projects involving cannabis or tobacco. All projects must be completed within 12 months of the signed agreement. The maximum allowable grant request is $30,000, and applicants seeking $3,000 or more must provide a 30% cash match. In-kind contributions are encouraged but cannot count toward the required cash match. Grant recipients are required to maintain insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, naming Klamath County as an additional insured. They must also follow guidelines on recognition of county support, including acknowledgment in press releases and display of the county logo where appropriate. Project budgets must use county-provided templates, and no more than 80% of awarded funds can be disbursed prior to submission and approval of the final report. Final reports, including a complete budget and receipts, must be submitted within 30 days of project completion. Failure to comply results in a two-year ineligibility penalty. Applications will be evaluated by a seven-member review panel appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The panel assesses the project’s potential to create or retain jobs, stimulate economic growth, support businesses, and demonstrate measurable outcomes. Additional scoring criteria include completeness of the budget, clarity of project description, sustainability, and innovation. Projects located outside the City of Klamath Falls’ urban growth boundary may receive preference points. For the Fall 2025 cycle, the grant timeline begins with an August 1, 2025 press release. Applications open on September 2, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., and a mandatory orientation will be held on September 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. both in-person at Room 219 of the County Government Complex and available online. The application period closes on September 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The review panel will meet October 10, 2025, and recommendations will be considered by the Board of Commissioners on October 22, 2025. Applicants will be notified on October 23, 2025. Signed contracts are due October 31, 2025, and the Commissioners will execute agreements on November 11, 2025. The program is administered by Klamath County Finance, located at 305 Main Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601. The Finance Office can be reached at (541) 851-3637. Applicants may submit questions or request assistance through the Klamath County website’s grant program page. Electronic submission of applications is strongly encouraged, though hard copies are accepted if they exactly replicate the official application form.