Road improvements will help expand and create more local jobs, thanks in part to Lottery dollars. A short and not particularly busy road may not seem like a worthwhile improvement project to many of us, but to family owned SnoTemp, a 60-year-old Oregon company based in Albany, it’s a big deal. A grant of $1.9 million was recently awarded to upgrade Lochner Road, improving access to SnoTemp’s cold food storage and transportation facility.

For more than 100 years, generations of Oregon families have relied on Coos Bay’s maritime and rail commerce to make their living. Lottery dollars are helping renew the rail system in southern Oregon, creating jobs and sparking life back into this once-neglected resource. Back in the 1800s, logging trains along the Southern Oregon coast worked near remote forests, bringing logs into rivers and over to the harbor in Coos Bay. The trains also moved coal from local mines to sailing and steamer ships bound for San Francisco. The Coos Bay Rail Line was built to span from Coquille to Eugene, delivering goods up and down the 134-mile stretch of track. But as coal and timber dwindled, activity on the rail lines slowed and the Coos Bay Rail Line deteriorated. In 2007, the line was abandoned. The immediate impact on Southern Oregon counties was severe. So Oregonians in this area did what they do best: come together. The local community approached the Port of Coos Bay about buying and operating the rail line. The port agreed and with help from an Oregon Lottery funded grant, a series of nine tunnels along the tracks were repaired. The tunnels are vital to keeping the tracks open so the line could run trains once again. Restoration of the tunnels are complete and trains from the Coos Bay Rail Line once again serve Coos, Douglas and Lane counties, boosting the economic success of the area. This vibrant and renewed rail supports 10 shippers and 1000 family wage jobs. But the ripple effect also includes jobs for local vendors, contractors and other Oregon companies. As Oregon’s economy grows and changes, southwest Oregon’s regional prosperity continues to depend on the port and rail line. Lottery dollars are helping keep these jobs in rural Oregon and creating new opportunities in the national and international marketplace.

The Coos County Historical Society had the opportunity to purchase the Central Dock from Coos Bay. This dock was located in an ideal spot for a waterfront museum. But taking it from its dilapidated condition to something that could serve the public would take a lot of work. The property had originally been tidal wetlands that had been filled-in prior to 1900. Since then it had a long history of commercial and industrial use, which meant metal and petroleum contamination needed to be addressed. With a Lottery funded grant, the Historical Society removed contaminated materials and implemented environmental controls to ensure the land and buildings met all requirements. In 2014, the museum opened its doors to the public. The museum features exhibits, a research library and space for classes. It also serves as a community center, even hosting the annual Winter Farmers Market. It stands as a centerpiece in the restoration of Coos Bay’s historic waterfront district.