Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Oregon Corrections Enterprises
Counties across Oregon continue to adjust to new workplace needs as they support hybrid schedules, public service operations, and evolving community expectations. Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) is pleased to highlight two offerings that bring practical function, long-term durability, and updated design to county facilities: the Privacy Pod and the Essentials office furniture line.
Privacy Pod: A Quiet and Secure Space for Focused Work
The OCE Privacy Pod is a self-contained workspace designed for phone calls, virtual meetings, and tasks that require concentration or confidentiality. It is built with steel and aluminum along with sound-deadening materials that support long-term durability and acoustic control. The compact 48 inch by 48-inch footprint and 84-inch height make it a practical fit for offices, campuses, or public areas.
The full glass door is made from 3/8 inch tempered clear laminated glass with a polished edge. Inside, the silver neutral fabric interior and acoustic materials reduce noise by approximately 30 decibels, allowing conversations to remain private. The electric-adjustable work surface raises or lowers with the touch of a button to support an ergonomic setup. Motion activated LED lighting and an automatic ventilation fan maintain a bright, comfortable environment, and red occupancy lights signal clearly when the pod is in use. Built-in charging outlets connect to a standard 120-volt 15-amp power source for easy installation.
Essentials: Durable Office Furniture at an Accessible Price
OCE’s Essentials line offers a practical option for offices seeking dependable furniture at a budget-friendly price. The line is built with thermal fused laminate and optional high-pressure laminate tops. Customers can choose from five standard base colors and five standard top colors. The curated set of configurations provides reliable solutions for essential office needs. Essentials is OCE’s most economical furniture option and maintains the craftsmanship and durability customers expect.
Learn more about OCE’s Privacy Pod, Essentials line, and other workspace solutions at oce.oregon.gov.
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: NACo
The NACo AI Leadership Academy is an innovative, completely online 6-week program created to equip frontline county government leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to understand and utilize AI to create higher levels of operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness and value for those they serve.
This robust curriculum, developed by the Professional Development Academy in partnership with NACo, provides lessons and insights from highly effective government leaders, proven industry executives, researchers and professors from top universities and subject matter experts. These professionals, along with an online Leadership Coach, address pressing issues facing county leaders today: understanding the power of AI, mitigating the risk of AI and navigating the complexity of cascading change occurring because of AI.
The leadership coaches facilitating this program will demystify AI with practical, relevant and immediately actionable cases, frameworks and tools for existing and emerging leaders in government. The work of government leaders has never been more challenging. This program addresses the challenge head-on and provides participants with engaging content that will increase confidence to lead with AI for good governance.
The next cohort kicks off November 2nd. To find more information or to enroll, visit naco.org/ai-leadership-academy.
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Amazon Business
Counties across the country are facing an unprecedented range of natural disasters. That’s why Amazon Business has worked with emergency managers to develop purchasing lists that help you prepare better when it matters most—with 2,200+ emergency essentials up to 25% off, with bulk availability.
- 📦Bulk Disaster Reorder List – Water, batteries, tarps, first aid kits, flashlights, and general emergency essentials
- 🌀 Flood Rapid Reorder List – Pumps, sandbags, waterproof gear, generators, and more
- 🔥 Wildfire Rapid Reorder List – Respirators, fire-resistant PPE, air purifiers, and evacuation supplies
- 🌪️ Tornado Rapid Reorder List – Emergency sheltering, debris cleanup, first aid, and communications equipment
- ☀️Heat Mitigation Rapid Reorder List – Cooling towels, hydration supplies, shade structures, and electrolyte replenishment
Enroll in free Business Prime through AOC here, using code V4CPPP.
Oregon counties are saving big with Amazon Business. Counties that have joined the Amazon Business + AOC partnership have saved a combined $109,812 in 2026. That’s roughly $3,660 per county across program discounts, B2B pricing, and free shipping savings. From office supplies to IT equipment, these savings add up fast and go right back into serving your community.
Amazon Free Prime Flyer
Sep 30, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Alternative Claims Management
When your county vehicle is involved in a not-at-fault accident, the immediate priorities are clear: repair the vehicle, return it to service, and minimize disruption to public operations.
Often, once the repair bill has been paid, the claim is considered closed. When that happens, it’s tempting to consider the matter over and done with.
But physical damage is just the beginning of the recovery process. A gap exists in nearly every county that you might not be aware of. Additional recoverable value may have been overlooked, underclaimed, or never pursued – and it could still be sitting in your closed claims.
For county fleets, physical damage is just one piece of a larger recovery picture. Depending on the accident, vehicle, and its use, additional recovery opportunities may include loss of use, administrative expenses, towing and storage, specialty equipment costs, and other eligible losses. An accident may also affect operations or an asset’s value, even after repairs are complete.
Consider a county vehicle that’s unavailable while awaiting repairs. During that time, staff may need to coordinate other transportation, manage more paperwork, or adjust operations.
A specialized vehicle may also require equipment to be inspected, removed, fixed, or reinstalled. Those impacts create costs that aren’t always reflected in the original repair estimate. In most cases, a second look at closed claims is crucial.
A claim’s age doesn’t automatically mean more recovery is impossible. That said, applicable statutes of limitations vary by state and claim type, and documentation is essential. Reviewing claims before deadlines expire can help you recover on potential opportunities.
Do your closed claims still hold value? County fleet and risk-management teams can start by asking:
- Were past claims closed after physical damage was paid?
- Was the vehicle out of commission for an amount of time?
- Did it involve specialized equipment, towing, storage, or additional administrative work?
- Are supporting documents available?
- Has the claim ever been reviewed for recovery beyond the repair bill?
At Alternative Claims Management, we’ve been the not-at-fault claims recovery experts since 1997. Our specialty is helping organizations like yours identify and pursue overlooked recovery opportunities – including those from closed claims.
For counties managing taxpayer-funded vehicles and equipment, reviewing closed claims could provide another way to identify value that was not recovered during the original claims process.
A claim may be closed, but that doesn’t always mean you’ve recovered every dollar you’re owed.
Sep 2, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe in many parts of the country, especially in the summer. When these fires burn, they release harmful particles and pollutants into the air, contributing to poor air quality. Wildfire smoke can be harmful, and certain groups are more vulnerable to its effects, including people with respiratory conditions, children, older adults, and those who are pregnant. By taking simple steps, you can minimize your exposure to wildfire smoke and stay healthy.
Stay informed
The best way to know if the air quality is safe is to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) using AirNow.gov. The AQI translates real time air quality data into numbers and colors to help you make informed decisions about your outdoor activities. You can enter your zip code or city name to see the AQI for your location. Many smartphone weather apps also share AQI data.
Reduce exposure
When air quality is poor, follow these tips to reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke:
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
- Reduce intense outdoor physical activity.
- To reduce indoor air pollution, refrain from smoking indoors, vacuuming, using wood stoves or fireplaces and frying food.
- Use central air conditioners or heaters to filter the air. A home’s heater or air conditioner set to the fan mode may be able to filter out some particles by re-circulating the indoor air through the filter.
- Use air purifiers with HEPA (PM2.5) filters to remove fine particles from the air.
- When driving, keep windows closed, run the air conditioner, and set the air to recirculate to reduce smoke.
- If you need to go outside, wear a disposable respirator mask rated N95 or higher to inhale less pollution.
Manage respiratory conditions
If you have a respiratory condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), take extra precautions:
We’re here to help
If you’re a Regence BlueCross BlueShield member and you need help finding a provider, we’re here to support you. Use our provider search to find a provider in your network. Check out our virtual health choices if you prefer telehealth. If you are insured in other ways and have questions about your health plan or need help using your benefits, please contact the customer service at your health plan.
Sep 2, 2026 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Grant Pilot
In county courthouses across Oregon, you’ll hear a version of the same story. The person managing the county’s finances is also the one tracking down matching funds for the road project. The person coordinating emergency response is also the one who used to have time to chase outside grant dollars, until that work slid to the bottom of an ever-growing pile. AOC hears this often enough that it has a name: the STP problem, short for “Same Two People.” The same two people writing the grant, tracking the deadline, filing the report, usually on top of the rest of their actual job description.
It isn’t a gap that’s closing on its own. At least 21 of Oregon’s 36 counties, roughly 58%, entered the FY 2025–26 budget cycle facing general fund deficits or anticipated cuts to core services. Property tax revenue, which grows slowly under Oregon’s constitutional limits, hasn’t kept pace with rising costs, and the one-time federal relief funding that had propped up many county budgets has run dry. Few counties employ a dedicated grant writer. Instead, department heads absorb grant-seeking on top of everything else they’re already doing, and real money that could be coming into the county goes unpursued because no one has the hours to go find it.
Grant Pilot was built for exactly this moment. The platform comes from Rural Prosperity Partners, a team that has spent nearly seven years working alongside rural Oregon communities and helped raise nearly $100 million in funding, the majority of it right here in Oregon. That track record is built into the platform itself: it isn’t a search tool bolted onto an AI. It’s a full grant lifecycle solution, built on a proven workflow: find the right opportunities, help draft competitive applications, and track reporting and compliance once the grant is awarded. Grant Pilot is offered at a fraction of the cost of the national platforms many counties have already been pitched.
Cody Lathrop, Wallowa County Commissioner put it simply: “This is a really exciting opportunity. It could help counties streamline their grant process, expand what they’re able to do, and save money in the process.”
Proven results for organizations like yours
Built by experienced grant professionals for organizations with limited capacity, Grant Pilot covers the full grant lifecycle in one platform, starting at $69/month, a fraction of the cost of Instrumentl and with more functionality than Candid.
- Smart discovery: Daily ranked searches across federal, state, local, and private funders, matched to your mission and capacity. Includes 30,000+ open, vetted grant opportunities and 124,000+ active funders.
- Project tracking: One shared workspace for the grant process, so institutional knowledge survives staff turnover.
- Grant writing assistant: Drafts applications question by question, checks consistency, verifies citations, and scores against a rubric. It’s built on an AI trained on millions of dollars in successful grant applications.
- Award management: Deliverables, deadlines, reporting, and budget in one place from discovery through closeout. No separate spreadsheets to maintain, and planned integrations with administrative software.
Maybe your county has a grants function stretched too thin. Maybe department heads are squeezing grant-seeking in between everything else. Either way, Grant Pilot gives your people their time back and brings more dollars in the door in the process. As fall funding cycles open up, make sure the same two people aren’t carrying this alone.
Try Grant Pilot at 50% off for two months. It’s an exclusive offer for AOC members. Learn more at www.grantpilot.org
