Ready To Say “I Do” To Your Boo? Lane County Clerk’s Office Will Host Halloween ‘scaremonies’ For Couples Looking To Tie The Knot With A Twist - 09/01/26

The Lane County Clerk’s Office will help couples celebrate their marriages in spooky style on Halloween again this year. Couples can begin registering now for a Halloween “scaremoney”. 

There are 35 slots available to schedule on a first come, first served basis. Ceremonies will be conducted in 30-minute intervals from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, at the County Clerk’s Office at 125 E. 8^th Avenue, Eugene.

The Clerk’s Office will perform marriage ceremonies in costume. Couples are also encouraged to dress in costume.

To schedule a scaremony, couples must first obtain a valid marriage license from the Clerk’s Office (125 E. 8^th Avenue, Eugene). To obtain a marriage license, couples fill out the online Marriage License Application and then must visit the Clerk’s Office at least three days before the ceremony to complete the license process.

The marriage license fee is $60 and a marriage officiated by the County Clerk’s Office is $117. Additional details, including license requirements and scheduling information, can be found on the Lane County Clerk’s website.

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Lane County Seeking Applicants For Open Property Value Appeals Board Seat - 08/20/26

The Lane County Property Value Appeals Board (PVAB) is accepting applications through Friday, September 25, for a minimum of one open seat.

The PVAB is responsible for hearing appeals from taxpayers about the value of their property. It holds hearings where taxpayers present their evidence of incorrect value and then issues decisions about the value. The PVAB is authorized by law to hear appeals of the value of property, including real market, maximum assessed, specially assessed, or assessed values – it does not hear appeals of the amount of property tax paid. 

Qualified applicants:

• must be residents of Lane County.
• should have an interest or background in real property appraisal, finance or real estate.
• cannot be employed by Lane County or any other taxing district within the county.

Members of the PVAB receive a $15.00 per hour stipend, and paid training ahead of the first hearings is provided. The PVAB can meet up to 40 hours per week between February 1, 2027 and April 15, 2027.

Applications and more information about the PVAB are available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/appeals and can be returned to PVAB@LaneCountyOR.gov or in-person to the Lane County Administration Office and Lane County Deeds & Records, both located at 125 E. 8^th Avenue, Eugene.

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Road Closure: Dean Avenue (Santa Clara) - 08/17/26

Road Name: Dean Avenue

Road Location: Santa Clara

Closure Location: Dean Avenue where it meets the east side of River Road

Dates and Times: Full closure Monday-Friday between August 25 and September 9. The road will reopen each weekend during construction from Friday evening through Sunday night.

Reason for Closure: Sanitary sewer line connection

Alternate Routes:

• River Loop 2
• Greenwood Street

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Road Closure: Stagecoach Road (Swisshome) - 08/17/26

Road name: Stagecoach Road

Location: Swisshome

Begin closure: Milepost 6.6

End closure: Milepost 9.7

Dates and times: August 24 and 25 between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day

Reason for closure: Culvert installation

Alternate route: None

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Lane County Announces 2026–2027 Community & Economic Development Grant Applications - 08/17/26

Beginning August 19, Lane County will begin accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Community & Economic Development (CED) Grant Program. This competitive grant opportunity is designed to support high-impact projects or programs that increase wages or jobs, provide business assistance, support business innovation, and revitalize Main Streets, downtowns or commercial districts across Lane County.

To support applicants in creating strong proposals, Lane County will host a virtual informational webinar on Wednesday, August 26, at noon. Staff will explain the grant and answer questions from attendees. A recording of the presentation will be made available on the CED Grant website.

The CED Grant Program is soliciting applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in Lane County and cities serving Lane County residents. There is $200,000 in funding available to provide grant awards between $5,000 and $30,000. Priority will be given to proposals that foster inclusive economic growth and align with the County’s strategic development goals.

“The Community and Economic Development Grant is a helpful resource that we are proud to offer,” said Jason Harris, Lane County’s Community and Economic Development manager. “We are always so impressed with the ways our cities and community partners leverage these funds to increase prosperity and support our business community throughout the region.”

Program objectives include:

• Increasing employment or wages in targeted sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, food and beverage manufacturing, biosciences, technology, and childcare.
• Facilitating industry or business innovation, engagement or business development which may include supporting accelerators, incubators, or apprenticeship programs.
• Providing business technical assistance, training or support services to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses.
• Improving Lane County downtowns and Main Streets by revitalizing physical and visual assets to create a business-friendly environment.

Application Details and Timeline 

• Applications will be available to download on Lane County’s procurement site, Bid Locker, starting August 19, 2026.
• A virtual informational webinar will be presented Wednesday, August 26, at noon at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/CEDgrant.
• Submissions must be sent via email to CED@LaneCountyOR.gov.
• Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026.
• Only one application per organization will be accepted.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications will be screened for completeness and then evaluated using four core criteria: economic development impact, outcomes and performance, program clarity, and budget and funding. Bonus evaluation points are given to programs or projects that address under-represented or underserved populations, add value to our economy, and for applicants who have not received CED grant funding previously.

Learn more by visiting www.LaneCountyOR.gov/CEDgrant or by contacting CED@LaneCountyOR.gov.

Las solicitudes y aplicaciones también están disponibles en Español.

About Lane County Community and Economic Development
Lane County Community and Economic Development is your Oregon Video Lottery dollars at work! Community and Economic Development programs support building vibrant communities by partnering with local business, supporting organizations, cities, special districts and economic development agencies to facilitate community development and create economic prosperity. This program fosters economic opportunity across Lane County with a specific focus on rural and unincorporated communities.

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Lane County Technology Services Recognized As 2026 Digital Counties Survey Winner For Fourth Year In A Row - 08/17/26

Lane County Technology Services received 10^th place in this year’s Digital Counties Survey – making this the fourth year in a row in the top 10 counties with populations between 250,000 and 499,999.  

Lane County Technology Services’ recent accomplishments include supporting the implementation of a new online public records request portal and a new board agenda management solution, establishing a data-sharing partnership with the State of Oregon for parole and probation, and securing a grant to bring broadband to four previously unserved communities. Lane County is also very active in AI planning and adoption. It is setting up an AI Center of Excellence to guide standards, promote best practices and coordinate collaboration regarding use AI technology.

“We continue to see rapid advancement in how technology can be used to support a wide swath of government services, and I am proud our staff at Lane County is on the forefront of using emergent technology for the benefit of our residents,” said Lane County Chief Information Officer Michael Finch. “We need to be poised to support our programs and services in a way that enhances our overall efficiency and protects sensitive data and systems.”

Conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), the survey evaluates counties across the nation, recognizing those that demonstrate excellence in the strategic use of technology to address local challenges, increase government efficiency, and enhance citizen engagement.

"One of the clearest trends this year is that leading counties are moving beyond individual technology projects. They are connecting their investments, priorities, and building the governance, leadership, and organizational capacity needed to sustain over time. Through responsible AI, stronger data practices, and workforce investments, this year's winners are creating foundations that will help their organizations adapt and serve their communities better into the future,” said Rob Lloyd, executive director of the Center for Digital Government.

About the Digital Counties Survey

The survey was developed in partnership by NACo and conducted by CDG to identify the best technology practices among counties in the United States. NACo unites counties, serving nearly 40,000 county elected officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking. CDG is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. 

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