Housing is still a big issue in the region, two and a half years since the September 2020 fires. And simple rebuilding is not enough; there's a greater emphasis on building dwellings that will be harder for a fire to burn down.
We have talked about fire "hardening" and money available for it on previous programs. Now there is a deadline approaching for using fire hardening money made available by the State of Oregon; unless reauthorized, it runs out June 30th.
Ted Zuk runs Development Services (planning) in Jackson County. He and Russ Gallegos, who used a grant to harden his business in Talent, talk about the deadline and the ways in which the money can be used.
How to apply: contact the development offices in Phoenix or Talent or Jackson County.