April 19, 2024 2:20 p.m. 

On Friday Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that 30 Oregon counties will receive more than $47.7 million in federal payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.

A release from the senators said the funds are for schools and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. These funds are allocated from the U.S. Forest Service, with more expected from the Bureau of Land Management soon. Oregon receives the most SRS funds of any state in the country.

Wyden said, “The Secure Rural Schools Act has helped rural communities in Oregon and across the nation to be even better places to live and work”. Wyden co-authored the original SRS law in 2000 and secured three additional years of SRS funding in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Wyden said, “This direct investment in Oregon counties will help create opportunities for young Oregonians, generate jobs and economic growth and promote public safety”.

Merkley said, “Secure Rural Schools payments are critical for our rural communities here in Oregon and across America because these investments provide essential support for our schools, key infrastructure projects, public safety and wildfire mitigation efforts”. Merkley said, “These USFS investments in rural Oregon counties with federal forest lands will help secure the resources they need to stay safe and strong, and I’ll keep fighting to uphold the federal government’s promise to continue this vital program”.

Douglas County received the second largest amount of SRS funds with a payment of over $6.6 million. Lane County topped the payments, receiving over $7.7 million.