The Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board is accepting applications for the Ready Workforce Mobilization Grant during its August 1 through September 30 application window. The grant supports workforce mobilization in Oregon’s Border Region through equipment, facility upgrades, start-up costs, expansion, and other products or services addressing housing, childcare, transportation, and accessibility.
Funding
Applicants may request up to $100,000 per project. A one-to-one match is required, and in-kind contributions do not count toward that match. Matching funds must be identified with the application and documented. The Board’s current handbook states that match must be available before the first draw of grant funds and no later than 45 days after award.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are businesses, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and education service providers located in the Eastern Oregon Border Region. The Board defines the Region as areas within 20 miles of the Oregon and Idaho border, including Ontario, Vale, and Nyssa, plus the Oregon area across from Weiser, an area southwest of Vale for 10 miles, Willow Creek, and Brogan.
Deadline
The application deadline is September 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time.
Eligible and ineligible costs
Funding may support equipment purchases, facility upgrades, start-up costs, expansion, and other products and services necessary to mobilize a workforce around housing, childcare, transportation, and accessibility. Grant funds may be used only for direct costs. Indirect costs are ineligible and may not be applied toward the matching requirement.
Application
Applications are accepted through the Oregon Community Foundation’s MyOCF portal. Applicants should provide complete responses and requested supporting documentation. Program questions may be directed to Board Coordinator Emily Conlon at eoborderboard@gmail.com.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 68/100. The program is a legitimate Eastern Oregon education and workforce opportunity with equipment and facility-upgrade uses, but the narrow geography and mandatory one-to-one non-in-kind match materially increase applicant burden. N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The published purpose does not establish a clinical, telehealth, remote physical examination, guided-vitals, or QC Healthcare technology use case. Direct Dr. Miltie applicant fit remains 0/100 under the published eligibility and program-purpose rules. Applicant outreach should be limited to otherwise eligible Border Region organizations with a concrete qualifying workforce-mobilization project and the required 1:1 non-in-kind match; no N9+ or QC Healthcare role should be asserted without project-specific evidence.
Official source: Oregon Community Foundation Ready Workforce Mobilization Grant. Additional program guidance is available from the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board.