Resources on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 (ARRA) - the official website for the ARRA. Provides links to the legislative documents signed by President Obama, press releases, and links to various government agencies.

Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN)
State agencies are finalizing a streamlined procurement process to speed the start-up of Go Oregon! projects. If you or your company wants to bid on a Go Oregon! contract, visit this website, register, log in, and view or search for opportunities that match your business offerings.

“The ARRA: What it means for Oregon” (pdf document)
This document explains how the recovery money has been allocated to Oregon, what sectors the money will be spent in, and how that will translate into projects on the ground. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) is actively pursuing ARRA funds to support habitat restoration and conservation needs throughout the state. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) was asked by the USFS Region 6 to submit a prioritized list of projects eligible for ARRA funds available through Wildland Fire Management grants and the State and Private Forest Lands Program. ODF identified a number of projects, and the USFS is considering projects totaling almost $16 million.

Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps.gov)
Almost all federal project solicitations for bids or proposals over $25,000 are advertised on Federal Business Opportunities, also known as FedBizOpps.gov. A user guide is available on the website to assist a “vendor” in using the site. There is a link on the right side of the website that directs users to actions specific to ARRA.

Central Contractor Registration (CCR)
Any business that wants to bid or provide proposals on federal government projects on the FedBizOpps.gov website must be registered in CCR. As part of the CCR registration, you will need to register on the ORCA (Online Representations and Certifications Application) website (http://orca.bpn.gov). You will also need to register for a free DUNS number at http://www.dnb.com (a DUNS number is a unique 9-digit ID number for each physical location of your business).

Relevant state websites for recovery money allocation in natural resources
Oregon state agencies receiving ARRA funds: web sites and contact information - This site lists the 27 state agencies receiving ARRA funds (in alphabetical order), their web addresses that link directly to pages discussing the recovery money, and agency contact information. More detailed information about natural resource-related state agencies is listed below.

• OR Department of Energy (ODE) - This site contains a link to an application form for projects or proposals that may be eligible for funding through the Oregon Department of Energy, utilizing federal stimulus money. Click on the “Request Stimulus Funds for a Project” link. Initial screening of applications is April 15, 2009. Also, Click on the “Renewable Energy” link on the left side of the page for information about alternative fuel opportunities including biomass and biofuels.
• OR Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - This site provides an overview of the ARRA funding that Oregon DEQ will receive from the federal government ($53 million) for environmental projects. The majority of funds ($45 million) will be administered through the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds. All funds will be committed to eligible projects by Feb. 16, 2010. The remaining monies will be distributed through grants and cleanup activities. DEQ is working with the EPA to determine eligible projects for these grants. Applications for competitive grants are due to the EPA by late April 2009. DEQ will provide support to those entities wishing to develop their own proposals.
• Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) - This site provides an overview of general criteria for funded projects, and a list of projects already approved under “Go Oregon!” As projects are approved, the agency will post details about the projects and associated grants, including instructions on how to bid on a project or apply for a grant.
• Recovery act dollars fund SW Oregon forest projects (11/4/09 press release)
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) - Brief overview of ODFW-related recovery information. ODFW has received approval and funding for 24 projects under the Go Oregon! stimulus bill. A list of these projects is provided in this handout.
• Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) - Oregon Parks and Recreation has eight “Go Oregon!” park projects funded by the sale of Oregon Bonds. Brief descriptions of these projects and contact information can be found on this site. The Oregon Transportation Commission approved two OPRD requests totaling $1.72 million to improve safety rest areas in eastern and western Oregon (11 rest areas that are contained within various Oregon state parks). The money is allocated from ARRA funds targeted for state highway system projects.
• Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL) - The Department of State Lands received $460,000 in state funding as part of the Go Oregon! economic stimulus bill. The agency’s projects include juniper and fence removal on southeastern Oregon rangelands ($60,000); a boundary survey in the Portland Harbor ($200,000); and air conditioning upgrades for the State Lands headquarters building in Salem ($200,000). Requests for proposals were issued for the rangeland and building projects, and contractors have been selected.
• Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) - ODOT projects account for $4.4 million in “Go Oregon” funding. ODOT will let 101 projects for bid. Projects will be in every region of the state. The majority of the projects are small, under $50,000, and will go through a streamlined small contracting process (information found on this site). Several of the projects are over $50,000 and will be advertised through the ORPIN website. A current list of projects can be found on this site, which will be updated regularly.
       Oregon also received $410 million in ARRA funds to preserve and improve the state’s highways, transit systems, and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure. Information about these projects can be found here. Funding will be provided to the state, local governments, and transit districts under a variety of programs. An overview of the transportation funding is outlined here.
• Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) - This site provides an overview of the three areas in which OWRD is preparing for using federal stimulus funds. The three areas are in technical and permitting support, grant programs for water resource projects, and infrastructure projects within OWRD.
• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) - OWEB receives no direct funding under the ARRA. However, ARRA has several funding opportunities related to habitat restoration that can create local jobs and restore habitat in Oregon. As a granting agency with close connections to local partners, OWEB is working with partners to develop lists of shovel-ready projects that may be eligible for funding through different federal processes. In the coming weeks, OWEB anticipates submitting federal grant applications for projects through competitive solicitations from federal grant opportunities on behalf of its partners. If ARRA funds are received by OWEB, they will be subgranted to the appropriate organization to implement the projects.

Relevant federal websites for recovery money allocation in natural resources

• US Department of Agriculture (USDA) - This site provides an overview of the $28 billion allocated to the USDA from the ARRA. The agencies receiving funding most relevant to natural resource-related projects include the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and USDA Rural Development.
       The USFS Region 6 (Oregon and Washington) site contains general information about how the funds will be allocated in the PNW: jobs clearing brush and trees to prevent wildfires in rural Oregon will be funded with $10 million in economic stimulus funds. This document provides a general breakdown by state of how the Forest Service ARRA funds will be allocated.
       The NRCS is responsible for implementing the Farm Bill and a host of other programs. This site provides an overview of the three areas funded with recovery money: watershed rehabilitation, watershed operations, and floodplain easements. And this site provides information about the provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill, including cost-share programs and grants for farmers, ranchers and forestland owners.
       USDA Rural Development: Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) - This site describes grant and loan guarantee opportunities for rural small businesses and agricultural producers in Oregon to implement renewable-energy-generation systems.
• US Department of Energy (DOE) - This site provides an overview of ARRA funds allocation. The DOE site related to Oregon [http://www.energy.gov/oregon.htm] provides a breakdown of categories that will be funded, and news releases related to the recovery funds and Oregon.
• US Department of the Interior (DOI) - This site provides an overview of the $3 billion allocated to the Department of the Interior from the ARRA. It highlights the six bureaus within the department, and provides a breakdown of money allocation and the types of projects funded. The six bureaus within the DOI include the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
• US Department of Transportation (DOT)

Relevant non-profit websites for recovery money allocation in natural resources

• American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) - Provides a list of AFRC members, and their associated websites.
• American Tree Farm System - Check out the links on the right side of the home page for summaries about the ARRA and the 2008 Farm Bill provisions.
• Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc. - sent a document to its members titled: Is There ‘Relief’ For Contract Loggers In The Stimulus Bill?
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) - A wealth of information about incentives for renewable energies, organized by state.
• Forest2Market, Inc. - Recent articles at bottom of home page describing the current state of wood bienergy industries; other helpful market information on this site for the forest products industry.
• Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) - Check out the list of forestry links under “Facts and Resources;” also the events calendar under “Tours and Events” for educational events in the PNW.
• Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA) - Check out the great links to forestry-related websites under “Links.” Valuable information about carbon markets on the homepage.

Finding New Markets

Oregon Forest Industry Directory - Given the dismal state of markets right now, it is more important than ever that you do all you can to locate new customers - and to ensure your customers are able to find you. The primary tool we use for linking buyers and sellers in Oregon's forest industry is the Oregon Forest Industry Directory. Visitors to the directory can search for potential suppliers and customers. And we use the directory as well to help link people with Oregon firms. For example, we often receive phone calls or emails with questions such as, "which companies produce tanoak flooring?", "where can I find alder logs?", "how many sawmills are using pine in eastern Oregon?" and the list goes on.

We've Been Here Before: How Companies Survived Earlier Economic Storms - ideas from Nancy Koehn, Harvard Business School. April 26, 2009 article in the Wall Street Journal.

Managing Change

Towns in Transition: Managing Change in Natural-Resource-Dependent Communities (video) - This 30-minute video looks at how three communities are managing change. Farmers, loggers, fishermen, and community leaders share their experiences with surviving change. A companion study guide (publication EM 8648; 42 pages; $2.50 if sold separately) offers practical information to help communities deal with change.

Our Finding Help in Tough Times website is for people who find they need to ask for help - people who may have recently lost a job, a home, or may be having a hard time making ends meet. People looking for help may not know where to begin. OSU Extension has compiled a list of state resources, community services, and information to help people find the help they need in these tough times. We will continue to add links and information as it is developed. For local resources, please contact your local County Extension office.