Portland City Council considered a resolution Wednesday, March 30 (no word on outcome yet) which will allocate $100,000 of city funds, to be administered by the Portland Development Commission Office of the Small Business Advocate, to business districts provide greater assistance to small businesses and contribute to community economic development support. Already, there is a $25,000 small business grant program that already leverages hundreds of thousands of dollars in private-sector matching funds.
"This grant is important to our small business community, the backbone of Portland's economy," said Mayor Tom Potter. "It will help such organizations as the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Native American Business Network, the African American Chamber of Commerce, MercyCorps and others give even greater help to our small businesses.
"This grant will remove restrictions that slow creativity. For instance, it will allow districts and organizations to provide more direct technical assistance that helps small business owners succeed than our current programs allow. And it strengthens the business districts that bring job stability and growth to our neighborhoods and our city."
With the exception of $5,000 to produce an annual conference, these funds in the form of grants go directly to small and neighborhood business associations rather than individual businesses. The small business workshop funding will support APNBA's ability to build capacity and draw in "select outside expertise" familiar with the challenges of urban neighborhood business districts. The annual conference will provide citywide education of best practices, advocacy organization and a forum for government and private sector discussion of key issues.
Commissioner Sam Adams stated: "By strengthening our partnership with business associations, we help address the issue of Portland being an unfriendly place for businesses. Small and neighborhood businesses are more likely to succeed if they belong to an active neighborhood business association. This resolution will improve business associations, help businesses to succeed and get people back to work."
Through the proposed city funding, small business districts and associations can market their summer fairs, and newly established or underdeveloped districts and associations can begin the groundwork necessary for a successful, self-sustaining Neighborhood Business Association.
"This is a great initiative on behalf of the city. Neighborhood business associations are vital to Portland's economic development efforts. This is a great step forward for our neighborhood businesses," commented Rob Mawson, President of APNBA.
In Multnomah, 94.2% of all firms are small businesses, with that percentage increasing to 95.2% in the Portland Metro

area. In Multnomah alone, there are 20,654 small businesses that employ 125,032 people with a payroll of $1.1 billion. Over half of the small businesses, almost 13,000, are micro-enterprises with five or less employees.
The $100,000 to boost the Business District Grant Program will come from PDC's Creative Services Fund. Prior to its transfer to PDC last year, this fund was called the Portland Economic Recovery Investment Program Fund.
Once the resolution passes, grant applications and criteria will be made available through the Portland Development Commission, APNBA and the City of Portland website.

Thursday, April 7, 5:30pm to 7:30pm .
Benson High School Cafeteria, 546 NE 12th Avenue
Portland Development Commission Budget Forum
To Review Priorities and Proposed Projects for Fiscal Year 2005-2006
The Portland Development Commission (PDC) is hosting a public forum to give members of the community an opportunity to review and provide public comment on priorities and proposed projects for PDC's Fiscal Year 2005-06 Budget in the city's eleven urban renewal areas and city-wide housing and economic development programs. PDC staff will provide a short presentation on PDC's mission, budget process and funding structure at the beginning of the event.
Participants will be encouraged to visit various "budget priority" stations attended by PDC staff to provide feedback on the information provided.TriMet Bus line: #70 to NE Irving Street and NE 12th Avenue MAX station at Lloyd Center.
Christine Egan, Strategic Partnership Coordinator
Portland Development Commission
222 NW Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97209
Direct line: (503) 823-3795  eganc@pdc.us

The Portland Public School District is losing nearly $34 million in local property taxes this year and the Multnomah County income tax will end next year. The District is considering cutting as many as 335 staff positions from Portland schools over the next two years. Jefferson High School has about one staff member for every 10 students. Under preliminary plans, a reconfigured Jefferson would have about one staff member for every 19 students. No money has been set aside to remodel the 96-year-old Jefferson High School, but the District is considering shutting down two middle schools and moving their students to Jefferson.