USDA Rural Development Oregon Invests $2M in Emergency Communications in Rural Oregon

(Portland, Ore., September 4, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Oregon State Director Jim Carmack announced today that the agency is investing $2 million dollars in emergency communications in Lane County, Oregon.

"As we've seen over recent years, rural Oregon is exposed to severe wildfire and other natural risks that require communities to know about and respond to emerging situations as quickly as possible," said Carmack. "Today we announce USDA is investing in emergency communications improvements with Lane County to protect the rural economy and way of life in its cities and towns."

Lane County will use a $1 million grant to fund a new Bear Mountain Communication Tower. The project will replace the aging tower with a modern, resilient structure, enhancing communication reliability for law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works and other essential services. Funding will also provide multi-band radios to rural fire agencies, improving emergency response capabilities.

Through a second award, the community will use a $1 million grant to provide new emergency communications equipment across several rural locations in Lane County. Replacing outdated radio systems and deploying advanced network technologies will strengthen regional connectivity, significantly improving system reliability and ensuring uninterrupted emergency communications for rural fire agencies.

These projects are funded through USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Programs, which provide affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.

USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov/or .

###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.