EUGENE, Ore. -- Lane County is investigating the possibility of securing state funding for the purchase of a Eugene hotel in hopes of turning it into shelter space for those impacted by the Holiday Farm Fire.
According to the county, officials are considering purchasing the Red Lion Hotel on East Broadway in Eugene for $5.5 million.
The cost of the 55-room hotel would be funded by the state's Project Turnkey. Last week Oregon's Legislative Emergency Board approved $35 million to fund the project in addition to another $30 million approved last month for communities impacted by wildfire and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds are being administered by the Oregon Community Foundation, which released a request for application on Friday.
Officials said the county is going through application materials for the funds to decide if they can pursue the opportunity. If approved, officials said the Red Lion could be operational for wildfire evacuees in 90 to 120 days.
