City of Moro issued the following announcement on May 27.
Moro is among 28 Oregon Main Street Network organizations to receive matching grants for building projects that encourage economic revitalization in central downtown business districts across the state. Hotel Moro, a local landmark first opened in 1920, announced today that their restoration project was selected as one of the recipients of the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant.
“The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant supports downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network. The purpose of the program is to acquire, rehabilitate, and construct buildings on properties in designated downtown areas statewide; and facilitate community revitalization that will lead to private investment, job creation or retention, establishing or expanding viable businesses, or creating a stronger tax base,” according to the State Historic Preservation Office website.
Hotel Moro is the largest building on Main Street in Moro and currently one of many unused commercial buildings in the small, rural town. Restoration has been underway since 2020, but with help from this grant and support from the City of Moro and Sherman County, bigger projects will be started this summer.
“I am very excited about this grant. We can’t wait to start opening some of the things we have planned: hotel rooms, coffee shop, event room, gift shop, taproom, and more. This grant is such a blessing and will give us a jump start on our big dreams we have for this building.” -Amanda West, Manager, Hotel Moro As the grant applicant for Hotel Moro’s renovation project, the Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce, which is the local Main Street “Hub,” has proven to be an invaluable partner. The Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce has played a vital role in coordinating opportunities and resources for businesses in our rural communities. The Oregon Parks and Recreation awarded the Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce a matching grant worth $200,000, with $87,794 match from Hotel Moro.
The grant will pay for complete restoration work on the Hotel Moro in Moro, including plumbing, hardwood floors, and remodel of hotel rooms and bathrooms. Oregon funded applications worth $5 million that best conveyed the ability to stimulate private investment and local economic development and best fit within the community’s long-range plan for downtown vitality and community need.
The City of Moro has been a strong supporter of community enhancement efforts by property owners, through its own Moro Façade and Streetscape program, since 2016. The program is a cost share partnership between City/County/and private property owners to address exterior façade improvements. The grant program was created during the 2015 legislative session and placed with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The legislation established a permanent fund for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant and provided an initial infusion of funds from the sale of lottery bonds. The legislature included the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant in the lottery bond package approved in 2021. An additional grant round will occur in 2023. The funds must be used to award grants to participating Oregon Main Street Network organizations to acquire, rehabilitate or construct buildings to facilitate community revitalization. The program also requires at least 50 percent of the funds to go to rural communities, as defined in the bill.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up