Washington County Recovery Partnership Unites Local Governments

Hillsboro OR

30 March, 2022

12:45 AM

Description

Press release from the Washington County Government: 03/24/2022 The governments of Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Washington County have worked out an agreement to to help each other make pandemic relief more equitable. The deal was reached don March 15. Under the deal, the three governments will work in partnership to: Advance culturally responsive engagement with community-based organizationsIdentify community engagement policies and best practices for consistency across governments Ground pandemic recovery strategy in the needs of marginalized communities This groundbreaking project will strengthen government-community relationships, ensure replicable methods that allow for long-term analyses, and reinforce decision-making processes with lasting impacts beyond pandemic recovery. Three Local Governments, One Approach To kick off the collaboration, the three governments are hiring a shared community engagement consultant (or consultant team) to co-design the engagement strategy with culturally specific community organizations and directly fund their capacity-building efforts. To kick off the collaboration, the three governments are hiring a shared community engagement consultant (or consultant team) to co-design the engagement strategy with culturally specific community organizations and directly fund their capacity-building efforts. The collaborative has an active Request for Proposals (RFP). "The City of Beaverton commits to viewing our work through an equity lens and making adjustments where needed," said Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty. "This collaboration will enable us to multiply our efforts across the region to better hear from and serve our communities." "The City of Beaverton commits to viewing our work through an equity lens and making adjustments where needed," said Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty. "This collaboration will enable us to multiply our efforts across the region to better hear from and serve our communities." "Washington County's partnerships with community-based organizations set the foundation to establish our original COVID-19 Racial Equity workgroup in 2020," said Washington County Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. "We have re-designed our COVID-19 response, and we are proud to expand its breadth and depth, along with our city partners, for equitable COVID-19 recovery." "Washington County's partnerships with community-based organizations set the foundation to establish our original COVID-19 Racial Equity workgroup in 2020," said Washington County Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. "We have re-designed our COVID-19 response, and we are proud to expand its breadth and depth, along with our city partners, for equitable COVID-19 recovery." Washington County and the cities of Beaverton and Hillsboro are investing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in this collaborative work. Washington County and the cities of Beaverton and Hillsboro are investing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in this collaborative work. The Federal government allocated ARPA funds to ensure local governments can respond to the public health needs and economic impacts of the pandemic, with special attention to addressing disproportionate impacts to marginalized populations. The Federal government allocated ARPA funds to ensure local governments can respond to the public health needs and economic impacts of the pandemic, with special attention to addressing disproportionate impacts to marginalized populations. For more information about how each local government is using American Rescue Plan Act funds, visit their dedicated webpages: City of Beaverton: Federal American Rescue Plan Act Fund City of Hillsboro: American Rescue Plan | City of Hillsboro, OR Washington County: American Rescue Plan: Investing in Washington County This press release was produced by the Washington County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.