Jun 27, 2024 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: USDA Rural Development
Last month was National Homeownership Month, and after 75 years helping rural Oregonians, USDA Rural Development (USDA RD) has a lot to celebrate and even more work to do. Every year, hundreds of families in rural Oregon buy, build, and repair homes using USDA loans, loan guarantees, and grants, but USDA Rural Development programs also can help whole communities rehabilitate existing property or start fresh from the ground up.
Many of Oregon’s rural communities have seen impressive population growth over the past few years, and with new faces comes a need for new housing. Unfortunately, before new housing can be built, communities must address aging or strained infrastructure. USDA RD’s Water and Environmental Programs provide loans, loan guarantees, and grants for major water projects as well as grants for communities facing the aftermath of or preparing for a disaster like a chemical spill, landslide, or drought. USDA RD also provides financing for electric projects, including renewable energy, and broadband projects, including telemedicine and distance learning. Additionally, USDA RD’s Rural Housing Site loans can be used to acquire and develop single family housing sites for low or moderate-income families.
For some communities, the best way to increase housing supply is to repair or maintain existing homes. USDA RD’s Housing Preservation Grants allow local government entities and Tribes to repair or rehabilitate housing owned by low or very low-income homeowners. Rental owners may also be eligible. Using the funding, applicants can administer grants or low-interest loans so that homeowners can install handicap accessibility features, repair rooves, fix septic tanks, and more. USDA RD’s Rural Energy Savings Program also provides funding for qualified entities that provide energy efficiency loans to qualified customers, which can be used for weatherization, home energy upgrades, and more.
Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start with large housing projects. Sometimes communities need technical assistance to plan out transitional or supportive housing. USDA RD’s Community Facilities Technical Assistance Grants help fund technical assistance from the Housing Assistance Council, so communities can access the support they need before breaking ground, or help public bodies provide technical assistance funding for eligible projects. Similarly, the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan program can help public bodies and qualified lenders finance community, social, public, or cultural centers and other essential community infrastructure for residents to help make new housing feel like home.
Whatever stage your housing project is in, contact USDA RD at (503) 414-3300 or locate your nearest office for assistance. The sooner federal agencies get involved, the faster they can lend support, answer questions, and help with capacity issues. After all, when rural Oregon prospers, all of Oregon prospers.
Contributed by: Max Sprague | United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Jun 27, 2024 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: EagleView
In today’s fast-paced world, the accuracy and detail of geographic data can be the difference between adequate and exceptional in terms of planning, management, and disaster response. For county governments across Oregon, accessing high-resolution aerial imagery is not just an enhancement but a necessity. Among the most transformative advancements in this area is 1-inch Ground Sample Distance (GSD) aerial imagery, which offers unprecedented clarity and detail.
One-inch GSD imagery represents the distance on the ground each pixel covers, meaning each pixel in a 1-inch GSD image represents a 1-inch square on the ground. This level of detail provides a nearly microscopic view of assets, structures, and features, allowing for more precise assessments and informed decision-making. It transforms the typical guesswork associated with lower resolutions into precise, reliable knowledge of ground conditions.
Enhanced Property Assessment
For property assessors, the detail offered by 1-inch GSD imagery is invaluable. This technology allows for a clearer understanding of property features such as building conditions, land use, and even the type of siding. In Oregon, where diverse landscapes from coastal regions to urban centers present unique challenges, such precise imagery enables more accurate property value assessments and fairer taxation.
Increased Data, Increased Efficiency
With 1-inch GSD imagery, the amount of data and information available is significantly higher than that of lower resolutions. For example, a single pixel of 1-inch GSD imagery contains nine times as much detail as a pixel of 3-inch GSD imagery. This increase in data not only enhances the visual clarity but also reduces the need for frequent site visits. Knowing exactly what’s on the ground through imagery means fewer trips, which increases productivity, saves money, and enhances safety for field personnel.
Improved Planning, Development, and Asset Management
Urban and regional planners benefit greatly from high-resolution aerial imagery. With 1-inch GSD, planners can conduct thorough site analyses without the need for extensive field visits, saving time and resources. This imagery supports the design and implementation of development projects with a high degree of precision, ensuring that every detail is considered—from environmental impacts to zoning compliance. Take this example for asset management. On the left you can tell it’s a speed limit sign but can’t confidently read it. On the right, it clearly reads “Speed Limit 35.” This keeps someone from having to visit the sign to verify asset inventory, and when you’re managing hundreds of thousands of signs, those time, cost, and efficiency savings add up.
Effective Disaster Management
The clarity of 1-inch GSD imagery proves critical in disaster management. Following events like wildfires or floods, it’s crucial for response teams to have detailed visual data to assess damage and strategize recovery efforts effectively. The 2023 Gray fire in Washington showcased how detailed aerial imagery could aid in rapid assessment and help manage the aftermath efficiently, facilitating quicker recovery and minimizing economic impacts.
Encouraging Adoption
Despite its benefits, the adoption of 1-inch GSD imagery among county governments has been varied. Cost and technical requirements can be barriers. However, the return on investment, in terms of enhanced accuracy, time savings, and improved outcomes, often outweighs these initial challenges. As more counties experience and share their success stories, the momentum for embracing this technology continues to grow.
1-inch GSD aerial imagery is not just a tool but a game-changer for county governments in Oregon. It empowers counties to perform better in every facet of their responsibilities, from assessment to emergency response. As we continue to advocate for and invest in these technologies, the scope for their application expands, promising not only to meet but exceed the modern demands of county governance.
Contact Ruth Zipfel, ruth.zipfel@eagleview.com, for a demo to see how 1-inch GSD imagery can transform the way you work.
Contributed by: Megan Reilly, EagleView
Jun 27, 2024 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Community Renewable Energy Association (CREA)
Due to the threat of climate change and the need to decarbonize our sources of power, Oregon (alongside other west coast states) has adopted aggressive laws and policies to move toward electrification from renewable sources. The latest in Oregon is HB 2021 which set targets for decarbonizing the electricity supply by 2040. Oregon counties began to experience this transition firsthand around the turn of this century with the first “wind boom” on the Columbia Plateau.
Gilliam, Sherman, and Morrow counties are the leading producers of renewable energy in the state (#1 depends on what you count: Sherman is #1 if the John Day Dam is included, or if just wind and solar, Gilliam leads with Morrow gaining fast).
Now, we’re experiencing the second rush for siting projects to meet the legislative goals. For example, Sherman County, which has a little over 1259 MW of wind and solar generation capacity currently is targeted for over 15,000 MW of proposed new generation based on known requests to interconnect to the BPA grid. These projects are limited by the lack of transmission capacity which, unfortunately, has a long lead time for upgrade. The developers are often large multinational corporations with access to the immense capital needed to fund and build the projects. The customers are primarily the investor-owned utilities (IOUs) who serve the load in the population centers along the I-5 corridor. Most of rural Oregon is served by consumer owned utilities (COUs) who get their power largely or entirely from hydropower and some nuclear power.
The investor-owned utilities in Oregon subject to the requirements of HB 2021 must file with the Oregon Public Utility Commission a plan for acquiring new resources (Integrated Resource Plan or IRP and a Clean Energy Plan or CEP) and then must seek those resources either by contracting for them or building them through their Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation. After a long period of flat load growth due to measures like conservation and some distributed generation (like rooftop solar) load growth is now increasing at over 10% a year. General electrification, the demand from new data centers and increased numbers of electric vehicles are large factors in this growth as well.
There is no requirement that these renewable energy projects to become carbon neutral by 2040 get built in Oregon. However, we’ve seen significant benefits for those counties where projects have been located. These projects grow the property tax base and provide employment opportunities and can help make the area more energy resilient in times of need. Twenty years ago Sherman and Gilliam were near the bottom in per capita income of Oregon counties, now both are near the top (Sherman 4th, Gilliam 6th in recent statistics). Counties are also able to negotiate Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) which have become standard as a requirement for siting and in property tax incentive negotiations. These CBAs can range and are negotiated based on the needs of the local community.
The IOUs operating in Oregon are often motivated to obtain resources from other states where wind and solar resources are somewhat better and can be cheaper to build. The IOUs often cite “protecting the rate payer” as the reasoning for this strategy. But ratepayers are also taxpayers (directly or indirectly) and an increased property tax base means more revenue for schools and public safety as we have seen throughout Eastern Oregon where most of the utility scale projects are being built. Building projects out of state means Oregon will lose out on the local community benefits that include jobs, taxes, other financial agreements, and energy resiliency.
CREA, an ORS 190 intergovernmental entity, advocates on behalf of Oregon local governments and energy developers in support of policies favorable for local renewable energy development. Our members include primarily counties but also cities, irrigation districts and a port. CREA also has members from the development community who help the organization and its members understand the industry and the challenges. We try to stay abreast of new technologies and issues arising from renewable energy development such as green hydrogen, geothermal, offshore wind, nuclear and storage solution (batteries & pumped hydro).
CREA meetings are public and virtual. We welcome participation and membership from all Oregon counties and local governments.
Contributed by: Sherman County Judge Joe Dabulskis, CREA chair
CREA is an ORS 190 intergovernmental association. Members include counties, irrigation districts, project developers, for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. CREA supports business and economic opportunities through renewable energy development in a competitive environment. We support the use of free enterprise principles to create economically and environmentally responsible electric generation within the State of Oregon.
May 24, 2024 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Kaiser Permanente
For employers looking to maintain productivity amid stubborn economic headwinds, it may be time to reevaluate your workplace mental health strategies. Consider this: Fast Company recently polled workers from 60 organizations across the U.S. (and around the globe) and found that an overwhelming 80% report feeling stress on the job. Additionally, nearly one-third of U.S. employees say that their work adversely affects their mental health, resulting in issues such as lack of sleep, anxiety attacks, and low morale. Even more troubling, 27% report losing trust in their employers’ well-being efforts.
The Cost of Inaction
Addressing mental well-being gaps amid tough business climates may not feel top of mind. But doing so pays dividends. According to Gallup, burned-out and disengaged employees can cost $3,400 for every $10,000 of salary due to lack of productivity. The expense to replace employees runs one-half to two-times their annual salary. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health puts the cost of depression in the workplace at $210.5 billion. And the World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety account for $1 trillion in lost productivity globally.
Overwhelming Demand
Expect employee mental health to remain a key factor for securing top talent. A 2023 work study from the American Psychological Association found that 92% of workers said it’s important to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological well-being. And a study from Harvard Business Review reinforces those findings with 91% of employees stating that employers should support their mental health at work.
Multigenerational Needs
With 5 distinct generations now represented across the workforce, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting employees’ mental health needs. For example, members of Gen Z, who will soon outnumber baby Boomers in the workplace, are more likely to experience negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, and loneliness than older employees. But, they’re also less likely to ask for help. More experienced millennials, on the other hand, may be more vocal about their needs and more adept at navigating support systems. Older generations may still feel a deep stigma around discussing mental health at work at all.
The Future of Workplace Mental Health
Organizations like Kaiser Permanente are already fine-tuning strategies to meet the mental health needs of tomorrow’s workplace. Key strategies include encouraging employees to take care of their well-being through company-sponsored wellness programs and seminars. And, to ensure employees understand the support that is available to them, the organization has doubled down on communicating the importance of tapping available benefits.
Research shows that supporting workplace well-being with such employer-led initiatives can help drive productivity and growth. Across the workforce, employees are expecting employers to address the soaring levels of work-related stress. Employers that recognize the urgent need for action and continue to embrace the message of workplace wellness can create a competitive advantage with thriving employees who remain invested in boosting the company’s bottom line.
May 24, 2024 | AOC Business Partner, NACo
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: National Association of Counties
We would like to acknowledge and congratulate the January NACo Leadership Academy graduates from Oregon. This is the largest cohort of Oregon counties to date – 37 graduates! They join over 10,000 graduates and current participants from across the country benefitting from the 12-week online program enabling existing and emerging county leaders to achieve their highest potential.
Aaron Hartman, Director, Klamath County
Alisa Zastoupil, Health Program Supervisor-EH and PHEP, Marion County
Alisha Lundgren, Assistant Director of Public Health, Umatilla County
Amy Pearson, DD Supervisor, Umatilla County
Anne Oscilia, Clinical Supervisor, Marion County
Ben Weaver, Detective Sergeant, Jackson County
Bill Lee, IT Director, Baker County (CLA)
Brooke Skidmore, Rural Section Supervisor, Marion County
Bryan Robb, Senior Planner, Washington County
Chrissy Zaugg, Chief Deputy Clerk, Wasco County
Debbie Wells, Division Director, Marion County
Erin Good, Communications Coordinator, Association of Oregon Counties
Fiona Ferguson, HR Director, Wasco County
Haley Huffman, Administrative Manager, Klamath County
Heidi Gaither, Director, Klamath County
Jaime Preston, Deputy Director, Wasco County
Jesus Murillo, IMET Sergeant, Jackson County
John Kubasak, Community Relations Coordinator, Marion County
Kerry Savage, Assessor, Baker County
Krista Appleby, Assistant Building Official, Deschutes County
Linda Miller, Director of Human Resources, Wasco County
Lola Lopez, Veterans Service Coordinator, Umatilla County
McKenzie Bowey, GIS Cartographer, Umatilla County
Naomi Hudkins, Clinical Supervisor, Marion County
Nina Fox, Technology Services Manager – Business Services Division, Lane County
Paula Davis, Administration Services Manager, Lane County
Robb Witters, Residential Appraisal Section Supervisor, Marion County
Robert Hughes, Facilities Manager, Wasco County
Robert Sayler, Building Inspector III, Klamath County
Ryan Dickerson, Division Chief – Training, Jackson County
Sandra Cox, Administrative Manager, Klamath County
Shannon Deutschman, Data Systems Specialist, Jackson County
Shayla Maki, Finance Manager, Wasco County
Stacie Smith, Accounting Analyst, Lane County
Steve Dennison, Deschutes County Clerk, Deschutes County
William Tester, Quality Improvement Facilitator, Marion County
Zach Evans, Administrative & Finance Manager, Lane County
(Note: CLA = Cybersecurity Leadership Academy graduate)
Invest in your team with Leadership Training!
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the High Performance Leadership Academy with us – each county can enroll 10 leaders for $15,000 in 2024. Our next cohorts start August 5, and September 16.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND ENROLL
Developed by General Colin Powell, the Professional Development Academy, and NACo, the High Performance Leadership Academy is an online 12-week program that helps your workforce develop fundamental, practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and residents.
May 24, 2024 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Public Surplus
Public Surplus has partnered with AOC to help counties sell surplus property online through their online auction website. If your county or department has surplus equipment, vehicles, real estate, tax sale property, or anything else, Public Surplus can help you sell it quickly with some of the lowest buyer’s premium fees in the country!
The Public Surplus online auction system was created with unique capabilities exclusively for public agencies. We are confident that our solution will generate more revenue, increase transparency, and reduce the overhead of your surplus operations.
Below are just a few of the many features that over 4,000 government agencies are taking advantage of today.
Features:
- Comply with state, federal, and local regulations: Designed specifically for government agencies you can rest assured that we designed our system to meet and exceed all regulations regarding surplus disposal for your agency.
- Simplicity: Simple navigation and ease of use, all without sacrificing powerful functionality.
- Large/Qualified Buyer Database: Increase the number of buyers from your own community and combine them with the largest database of qualified buyers for government agencies.
- Increase Revenue – typically 30% – 60% more net revenue when compared to live auctions. We consistently out perform our online competitors as well.
- NO COSTS: Our solution is easy on the budget. There is no cost to your agency when selling on Public Surplus. Free registration, free listing and free payment collections. All fees are paid by the buyer in the form of a buyer’s premium and the agency will not be charged anything. Lower buyer’s premium available with the AOC program!
- NO commitment required: With a no cost solution many agencies don’t require a contract and can use us on an at will basis. If a contract is required please ask us about one of our national cooperative contracts.
- Auction Extensions: Increase revenue and parity with our auction extensions. Everyone has an equal chance to compete while driving up the prices of your auctions.
- Specific and Customized Reporting: Our reporting solution is second to none. Let us surprise you with just how comprehensive and simple it is to pull auction data.
- Payment Collections: Let us take away the hassle of collecting payment from buyers.. Buyers can pay via credit card and wire transfers for convenience and security.
- Control: Live auctions and many online solutions leave government agencies powerless when selling their surplus assets. Public Surplus gives you and your agency complete control. Set reserve pricing; retract auctions, and so much more.
- Transparency: Increased visibility coupled with increased access are a winning combination for government agencies. We know of no other online solution that offers the level of transparency Public Surplus does.
- Customer Service: Unmatched customer service. Your agency will have a dedicated support representative to assist you at anytime during business hours. Whether it be for training or just simple questions on the value of an item you are listing, our support representatives are there to assist your agency.
Our brief 30-minute online presentation is the best way to show you the power of our online auction system when coupled with software designed specifically for public agencies. Please reach out to Jaren Waters (801)-932-7000 Ext. 428 jarenwaters@thepublicgroup.com – if you are interested in viewing a presentation about Public Surplus.
If you are ready to get started selling with Public Surplus, click this link and fill out the one-page registration application. The registration link below will connect you to the Public Surplus/AOC program.
Please call us today to find out how your county can benefit!
