Serving the Mid-Columbia region of Oregon and Washington, providing regional economic development and business assistance.Mid–Columbia Economic Development District

Mid Columbia Economic Development District strives to promote the creation of family-wage jobs, the diversification of the economic base, and the growth, development and retention of business and industry in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania Counties

MCEDD is organized as a government non-profit in Oregon as an ORS-190 and in Washington through RCW 39.34.010.

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Sherman County Housing Incentive Funds Available

July 29, 2026 – Grant funding is available through Sherman County for eligible housing projects. A summary of the available grants is below. Applications are available on the Sherman County website. The County Court approves all grant awards. Grants are reimbursement-based, so recipients receive the funds after their project is completed. Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) administers these programs on behalf of Sherman County. Jill Catherine is available to answer questions about the grants at jillc@mcedd.org and 541-296-2266 ext. 1006. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the application requirements and contact Jill before beginning their project. Completed application packets should be emailed to Jill. New Rental Housing Development Grant Grant amount: $10,000 per newly constructed rental housing unit. Development of a new rental housing to stimulate growth in the rental housing market. Units must be stick-built or new manufactured homes (at least double-wide on a permanent foundation). Each qualifying rental unit constructed must be self-contained. The grant recipient must agree to keep the new unit(s) as a long-term rental for at least 5 years. New Housing Construction Grant Grant amount: $10,000 per newly constructed housing unit. Construct a new stick-built or install a new manufactured home (at least double-wide on a permanent foundation).Housing must be sold or occupied by the owner within 30 days of project completion and cannot be used as a second home or short-term rental. Housing Rehabilitation Grant Grant amount: Up to 20% of the eligible project budget, not to exceed $20,000. Rehabilitate rental units or newly purchased homes (must submit application prior to owner moving in) by improving or fixing aging or deteriorated structures to increase the amount of habitable housing. The dwelling must meet HUD habitability standards once the rehabilitation is complete. Housing Property Preparation Grant Grant amount: Up to 50% of the eligible project budget, not to exceed $20,000. Responsible demolition of dilapidated structures (non-owner-occupied) or abatement of lots with hazardous materials to support construction or installation of new dwelling units. The grant recipient must put the lot up for sale or start construction on a new housing unit on the lot within 90 days of project completion.   [Continue Reading]

Sherman County’s Incentives for Housing Development

October 16, 2024 – In 2017, Sherman County faced the dilemma of  newly-hired employees in municipal and community organizations and in local businesses who couldn’t find local housing. In response, county officials set to work exploring options to spur the development of additional local rental housing. In 2017, Sherman County created the New Rental Housing Development Grant program to provide an incentive for construction of new rental housing, offering a grant of $10,000 per unit. In 2018, the County created the Housing Rehabilitation Grant program to support renovations of non-owner occupied housing, with the goal of bringing existing housing up to working family standards. Eligible applicants can receive up to $20,000 through this program. Between 2017 and 2020, the County approved about $175,000 in grants to nine applicants with these two programs. The projects included five rental projects expected to complete a total of 13 units and four rehab projects. With these successes, the County realized that there was more work to be done with incentivizing housing development.  In 2021, two more grant programs were added to their line. The Housing Property Preparation Grant offers applicants up to $20,000 in grant funding to responsibly demolish unsafe housing units, clean up any environmental contaminants on properties and prepare lots for housing redevelopment or sale. The New Housing Construction Grant provides a $10,000 grant for newly constructed housing units that will be owner-occupied or sold. The County received nine eligible applications to the four programs in 2021, with approximately $90,000 in grants approved to fund two rehab projects, one new rental housing project, and six new housing construction projects.  With the slowdown in housing development since Covid, only two applications have been approved in 2024. Incentive funding is still available if you are developing housing in Sherman County and are interested in the County’s grant programs! Applications can be found on Sherman County’s website. Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) supports the County with the administration of these programs. Contact Michelle Colby (michelle@mcedd.org, 541-296-2266 ext. 1006) with any questions about the grants or eligibility requirements. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the applications in detail and reach out to Michelle prior to starting projects.     [Continue Reading]

MCEDD

802 Chenowith Loop Rd,
The Dalles, OR 97058
Phone: (541) 296-2266

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