Corvallis e-News | March 2025

In this issue: The Aquatic Center re-opens, community grants return, and more!

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Two Popular Community Grant Programs Open on March 1

Applications are now being accepted for two popular community grant programs, offering two separate funding opportunities for community projects in Corvallis.

  • The Empowerment Grant Program provides small cash grants to fund projects and initiatives that improve neighborhoods and forge partnerships to address community issues. Examples of past projects include landscape improvements, neighborhood social events, public art installations, education programs, and training services. Read more about the Empowerment Grant program here. 
  • The Green Grant Program offers funding for community-centered projects that move the dial on climate change and promote the actions of the Corvallis Climate Action Plan (CAP). Read more about the Green Grant program here. 

APPLY TODAY - Use this handy online form to start an application for either of these two programs. 

Applications for both programs will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 31, 2025. Both programs are competitive opportunities with distinct grant objectives and evaluation criteria. Community members are encouraged to review the objectives and criteria before applying.

Info Session on March 12

The City will host an informational session to answer questions about both grant programs at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12. The session will take place over Zoom and will be recorded for anyone who can't attend. 

Osborn Aquatic Center Re-Opening Outdoor Pool on March 3

Great news — Osborn Aquatic Center will be re-opening the outdoor pool for limited programming on March 3, 2025. City staff have been working diligently over the past few weeks to prepare for a phased reopening.

Starting March 3, lap swimming and swim team practice will be available. The current plan is to evaluate these outdoor-only acitivities and then gradually expand hours and programs as we are able in the coming months, keeping the community informed through emails and website updates.

These modified hours and outdoor operations are temporary. We expect that the facility will need to close again when major repairs are scheduled. However, we anticipate continuing modified operations through the summer.

Showers & Locker Rooms

Indoor locker rooms and lockers will not be available for use. The lobby restrooms, four private changing rooms (with showers) and outdoor restrooms/private changing room (with a shower) will be available. Lockers are located by the private changing rooms and will be day use only. There will be bleachers and tents available outside for use.

Business Resiliency Workshop Scheduled for March 11

Business owners in Corvallis and Benton County are invited to a FREE half-day resiliency workshop hosted by the Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Office. The event will be led by Sierra Anderson, the Emergency Planning Manager in the Corvallis Fire Department, as well as several guest speakers.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 SW Madison Ave.

This is a great opportunity for local business owners to get some practical advice about how to build more resiliency into their operations, from day-to-day preparedness to long-term issues. 

Lunch will be provided. Please register online to attend.

If you have any other questions, please contact Lily Bender at lily.bender@corvallisoregon.gov.

Share Your Input on the Van Buren Bridge Interpretive Display

Our friends at Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) are seeking public input on how and where to build an interpretive station for the Van Buren Bridge. The turning mechanism and pony truss, saved from the old bridge, are waiting patiently in ODOT's maintenance yard for their new home. 

To get started, take a look at the photos and graphics below, then visit this online comment form to share your ideas about what the display could look like. Planners would like to hear your thoughts on: 

  • The location for the interpretive exhibit.
  • How to showcase the bridge's turning mechanism.
  • How to present the timeline and pieces of the pony truss.

ODOT is interested in your feedback into the display in a way that is safe and can be enjoyed by the Corvallis community for years to come. 

Building Safer Streets Together: Join Us for the Transportation Safety Open House on April 3

The City of Corvallis and Benton County are working together to improve transportation safety in our community. Through the federally funded Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program, both the City and the County are creating Transportation Safety Action Plans (TSAP), using data to identify where crashes happen, understand their causes, and develop community-driven safety solutions. We are interested in your input to help create an effective and inclusive plan.

Join Us at the Open House
We invite you to attend our upcoming joint open house on Thursday, April 3, from 5-7 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. This is your chance to learn more about the projects, explore crash data, and share your thoughts on how we can make our streets safer for everyone. The event will feature interactive stations where you can pinpoint safety concerns, suggest improvements, and discuss the challenges you face as a road user. Whether you use transit, walk, bike, drive, or roll, your voice matters in shaping the future of transportation safety in Corvallis and Benton County. Light refreshments and family-friendly activities will be provided, and bilingual staff will be available to support Spanish-speaking attendees.

Share Your Safety Concerns Online
Can’t make it to the open house? You can still contribute to the project by sharing your transportation safety concerns through our safety comment map at https://publicproject.net/map/benton-county-corvallis-tsap. This interactive tool allows you to flag locations around Corvallis and Benton County where you feel unsafe or suggest improvements. Your feedback will be combined with collision data to pinpoint potential problem areas, inform safety improvements, and help shape our plans.

Planning Today for a Safer Tomorrow
This is the first step in a long-term process to make Corvallis' and Benton County’s roads safer for everyone. These plans will identify community needs and prioritize key projects operational strategies that can be funded and implemented over time. By aligning with the SS4A program and regional and statewide safety goals, both jurisdictions will be eligible for future funding to support these critical improvements. These TSAPs are more than just a plan, however—they represent a shared commitment between the City and the County to creating a safer, more inclusive transportation system for everyone.

Learn more: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/safe-streets-all-ss4a-project 

Community Quilt at the Corvallis Museum

Be sure to visit the Corvallis Museum and take a look at the community quilt that was produced in January at our outreach event on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A big thank you to our friends at The Sandpiper Project for doing the legwork to produce this lovely quilt created from individually decorated squares. We're grateful to everyone who came out to the Corvallis Museum to take part in the event and create some artwork with us. This community quilt will be on display in the lobby at the Corvallis Museum.

Upcoming City Council Meetings

Catch up with your elected officials at their regularly scheduled meetings and work sessions. Upcoming meetings are listed below, along with links to calendar entries with more information. You don't have to attend to share feedback on any topic that's important to you. Feel free to use the Public Input Form to get in touch with the Council anytime, anywhere. 

Upcoming Council Meetings and Work Sessions
Date Meeting
March 3, 2025 Regular Meeting
March 6, 2025 Work Session
March 17, 2025 Regular Meeting
March 20, 2025 City Council and Budget Commission Joint Work Session

 

Government Comment Corner at the Library

Meet your local government officials and chat about whatever's on your mind at Government Comment Corner. Each two-hour session takes place at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon each Saturday. A rotating cast of elected leaders from Corvallis and Benton County will be available for open, honest, one-on-one conversations with anyone who wants to stop by. Bring your questions about public services, and learn more about how to volunteer and get involved!

Here's the schedule (subject to change):

Upcoming Government Comment Corner Dates
Date Name
March 1, 2025 Carolyn Mayers, Ward 8 Councilor
March 15, 2025 Alison Bowden, Ward 6 Councilor
April 5, 2025 Jim Moorefield, Ward 3 Councilor

 

FYI: Council Three-Month Calendar

The City Council's three-month calendar is a good way to track topics and learn about upcoming business items. The three-month calendar is available on the City website.

The schedule is subject to change, so be sure to contact your City Councilor to learn more about any particular topic you see on the calendar.

What's New at the Library this Month?

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