Government - page 49

The Orange County Economic Development Corporation and Dow Sabine River Operations announce Small Business Recovery Grant Program. Qualifying Orange County businesses will be eligible to receive a $1,000 grant to assist with economic recovery efforts resulting from COVID-19, Hurricane Laura, and/or Hurricane Delta.

Southeast Texas was significantly impacted in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as Hurricanes Laura and Delta. On March 19, 2020, Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of DSHS, declared a public health disaster in Texas, because COVID-19 “has created an immediate threat, poses a high risk of death to a large number of people, and creates a substantial risk of public exposure because of the disease’s method of transmission and evidence that there is community spread in Texas.” On August 27th, Hurricane Laura made landfall causing significant property damage and economic loss. Six weeks later, Hurricane Delta impacted Orange County and further contributed to the economic disorder.

“We are very appreciative of Dow’s generous $45,000 contribution to the recovery and success of our local small businesses. This partnership will allow the EDC to inject funds directly back into our community and support Orange County businesses through a very difficult year,” says Jessica Hill, Executive Director.

“Orange has welcomed Dow into the community – we are neighbors. When a neighbor is hurting, you find ways to help. We are excited about this opportunity to pay it forward with our partner the Orange County EDC. We are always stronger when we work together,” Chrissy Babcock, Dow Sabine River Operations.

The Orange County Economic Development Corporation will take applications for $1000 recovery grants beginning TUESDAY, JANUARY 19th at 12:00 pm. Funds will be distributed to approved for-profit businesses throughout Orange County on a first-come basis. Applications must be submitted IN PERSON and individuals may only submit ONE application. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility in the order they are received.

Applications are available online here or in-person at 123 S. 6th Street, Orange, Texas 77630. Applications will not be accepted until 8:00 AM, Monday, January 18th, and must be delivered to the EDC office at 123 S. 6th Street, Orange.

The Orange County Economic Development Corporation will administer all evaluation and allocation responsibilities

According to KFDM News, Jefferson, Hardin, Orange and the six other counties in Trauma Service Area R must roll back business capacity to 50% and bars may have to close due to the region exceeding the 15% threshold for COVID patients in all hospital beds for 7 straight days.

The order takes effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday. In addition, elective surgeries must be postponed.

A letter from the Texas Department of State Health Services went to each county in the region. The 15% threshold for seven straight days automatically triggers the rollback specified in Governor Greg Abbott’s October order.

The other counties include Jasper, Newton, Galveston, Liberty, Chambers, and Brazoria.

In observance of the Christmas holiday, the City of Orange will be closed Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25. Much like Santa, the City of Orange Police and Fire Departments will be working to see who is being naughty or nice. Waste Management will not service its Friday route on December 25. Residents with Friday service are asked to place their containers out on Saturday, December 26. The City of Orange will reopen for business Monday, December 28.

For the New Year’s holiday, the City of Orange will be closed on Friday, January 1, 2021. The City of Orange Police and Fire Departments will be on duty. Waste Management will not service its Friday route on January 1. Residents with Friday service are asked to place their containers out on Saturday, January 2. The City of Orange will reopen for business on Monday, January 4.

The Federal Communications Commission today announced that an estimated 675,000 rural Americans living and working in Texas will gain access to high-speed broadband through the Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, according to auction results released today.

In Texas, the auction allocated $362,662,934.10 in support to expand broadband to 310,962 unserved homes and businesses over the next 10 years. Nearly all locations in Texas that were eligible for the auction will be receiving access to broadband with gigabit-speed broadband. The auction unleashed robust price competition that resulted in more locations being awarded at less cost to Americans who pay into the Universal Service Fund.

“This historic auction is great news for the residents of so many rural Texas communities, who will get access to high-quality broadband service in areas that for too long have been on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “We structured this innovative and groundbreaking auction to prioritize bids for high-speed, low-latency services to deliver the best results for rural Americans, and the results show that this strategy worked. This auction was the Commission’s single largest step ever taken toward delivering digital opportunity to every American and is another key success in our ongoing commitment to universal service.”

Following is a list of winning bidders, number of homes and businesses to be served, and total support for 10 years in Texas, in Orange County:

For a full list, visit this page.