91视频

, a nonprofit working to build the state鈥檚 electric vehicle cluster, today announced two new grant programs that are already drumming up interest from local companies.

The programs, which will offer at least $125,000 to local companies, are meant to help startups attract outside financing.

The Matching Grant Program will pledge direct grants of up to 20 percent against larger grant proposals, with a maximum of $50,000. The local match is expected to help lure investment from federal or state resources and is written flexibly enough to match equity investment is well, according to Jeff Allen, Drive Oregon鈥檚 executive director.

鈥淲e are new to this, and we really want to see what鈥檚 out there and respond to what the needs are,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淚f (companies) have a bit of funding committed from us, it will help them leverage bigger grants from somewhere else.鈥�

Since the program was mentioned at an event last week, Allen said that two or three people have already expressed interest in applying for a piece of the available $100,000 in matching grant funding. Applications received by close of business April 26 will be reviewed by the Drive Oregon board at its May 4 board meeting.

Drive Oregon also today announced a grant assistance program , which has a purse of $25,000, to help companies pay for proposal writing, review or development through 1:1 matching funds of up to $5,000.

鈥淎 lot of folks are interested in funding opportunities for EV companies,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淏ut you need to know what funding is out there, and (this program) will help them evaluate what鈥檚 a good fit for them.鈥�