Linn County, OR. — Five more Linn County businesses will receive grants to help cover wages for young, first-time employees under a program funded by county Video Lottery proceeds.
Commissioners Roger Nyquist and Sherrie Sprenger approved the First-Time Youth Wage Grant applications during their Sept. 9 meeting. The additions bring the number of participating businesses in 2026 to 14, with approximately 30 young people benefiting from the program.
The newly approved businesses are Sweet Home Figaro’s Inc., David C. Malpass Warehouse, Koos Seed Company, Berkey’s Blueberries and Pacific Bellwether, which operates the Sweet Home Dairy Queen.
Under the program, Linn County provides employers with $4 per hour toward each eligible worker’s wages, up to $2,000 per employee. A qualifying small business may receive assistance for as many as three young workers at one time.
Businesses must have no more than 35 employees to participate. Eligible workers must be between 14 and 19 years old, legally authorized to work in the United States and working for the participating business for the first time.
The seasonal program runs from May 1 through Sept. 30 and is now in its 20th year.
Administrative Assistant Amanda Giles told commissioners in April that 168 businesses and 786 young people had participated during the previous decade.
Program employees worked a combined 47,000 hours in 2025, while the county paid $28,145 in wage stipends. The largest payout during the past decade was $56,434 in 2018, followed by $56,264 in 2016.
The grants are intended to lower the cost of hiring inexperienced workers while helping teenagers obtain their first jobs and begin developing workplace skills.
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