Vibrant Districts Grant
The Vibrant Districts Grant provides grants to Portland-based business district nonprofits whose mission is to foster local economic development and strengthen businesses within their geographic service areas. Funding may be used to implement projects or events that increase district vibrancy, enhance visibility and promotion of the district, support staffing or operational improvement.
Who is the grant for?
To be eligible, the applicant must:
- Be an existing nonprofit business district organization.
Business district organizations include organizations that support their local commercial business districts, and include Business District Associations, Neighborhood Prosperity Network Districts, and Enhanced Services Districts. Neighborhood Associations are also eligible to apply when they have a business‑focused committee or similar body, and when no existing business district association operates within the same geographic area. - Have a defined service area geography located within the Portland City limits.
- Have a current City of Portland business license and State of Oregon business registration.
- Grant projects must align with the designated funding categories and be fully completed by June 30, 2027.
September 2026
14
Applications open Monday, September 14
October 2026
12
Applications close Mon, October 12 at 5pm
November 2026
6
Award notification on Friday, November 6
Previous Grantees
| Business District Organization | Grant Award | Fiscal Year |
|---|---|---|
| Division Clinton Business District | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Foster Area Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Greater Brooklyn Business Association | $6,000 | 2025-26 |
| Hawthorne Boulevard Business District | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Historic Mississippi Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Kernside Business Association | $5,000 | 2025-26 |
| Menlo Park Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Midway Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Montavilla East Tabor Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Multnomah Village Business Association | $6,000 | 2025-26 |
| Northwest Industrial Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Northeast Broadway Business Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Old Town Community Association | $10,000 | 2025-26 |
| Pearl District Neighborhood Association | $8,750 | 2025-26 |
| Soul District Business Association | $8,750 | 2025-26 |
| St. Johns Boosters | $7,500 | 2025-26 |
| Williams Vancouver Business Association | $7,840 | 2025-26 |
Grant Eligibility & Selection
Applicants may apply for one or more of the eligible funding categories listed below, provided the total requested amount does not exceed the maximum grant award of $10,000.
Public Space Enhancements:
Small-scale exterior permanent physical improvements that enhance community vibrancy and visibility for the public. Eligible projects include murals, public art, lighting, street furniture (benches, planters, bike, racks), wayfinding signage.
Award cap for this funding use: up to $10,000
Marketing & Visibility:
Development of printed or digital materials that promote the business district and its businesses. Eligible uses include website development or updates, business directory maps or brochures, logo/branding development, creation of digital assets.
Award cap for this funding use: up to $2,500
Business District Events:
Signature events that highlight district identity, support local businesses, foster community engagement, and activate public spaces. Events should be designed to bring people together and celebrate the unique character of the business district. Eligible uses include street closure permits, contractor and vendor fees (event planners, performers, security, cleaning services), event insurance, equipment rentals (tents, tables, chairs, sound systems, lighting) and marketing materials.
Requirements:
- Must be free and open to the public
- Must be inclusive of all ages
- Must take place within the business district
Award cap for this funding use: up to $5,000
Staffing & Operations:
Personnel costs associated with managing district operations, engagement with businesses, or implementing business district projects, programs or support general operations needs that strengthen the nonprofit’s capacity to serve the district. Eligible uses include personnel costs, contractor costs (bookkeeping, legal services, communications, Board development, or strategic planning), insurance premiums.
Award cap for this funding: up to $10,000
Ineligible funding uses:
- Food, alcohol or cannabis products
- Equipment purchases
- Office rent
- Projects or events located outside Portland city limits
- Religious or political projects or events
- The grant will not cover retroactive reimbursements for costs incurred or completed prior to the execution of the grant agreement.
Applicants are eligible for up to $10,000, capped at the following levels:
- Public Space Enhancements: up to $10,000
- Marketing and Visibility: up to $2,500
- Business District Events: up to $5,000
- Staffing & Operations: up to $10,000
- Grant funds are awarded annually through a competitive application process.
- Applicants must submit at least one bid to support funding requested for payment to third parties for goods, equipment, construction, or services.
- Applications must clearly demonstrate:
- Meaningful engagement with the business community, residents, and/or local nonprofits in the planning and implementation of the proposed project or event.
- How their project or event will contribute to local economic development and actively support the growth, visibility, or resilience of businesses within the business district.
- A demonstrated financial need, showing that the requested funding is essential to the successful execution of the proposed activities.
Funds are available citywide to business districts located in the city of Portland.
Nonprofit business district organizations include organizations that support their local commercial business districts, and may include Business District Associations, Neighborhood Prosperity Network Districts, Enhanced Services Districts, and Neighborhood Associations with a business-focused committee or body.
- Awardees must complete, sign and submit a W-9 and ACH form prior to execution of the grant agreement.
- Grantees must maintain insurance as set forth in the grant agreement for the duration of the project. Below are the insurance requirements:
- Grantee must provide Prosper Portland with certificates of insurance satisfying the insurance requirements in this section.
- Insuring companies or entities are subject to Prosper Portland’s acceptance and must be licensed to provide insurance in the state of Oregon.
- Grantee’s insurance must be primary insurance, and any commercial insurance or self-insurance maintained by the City of Portland and/or Prosper Portland must not contribute to it.
- Grantee must carry, at a minimum, insurance coverage in the following amounts:
- (a) Workers’ Compensation Insurance in compliance with ORS 656.017, which requires subject employers to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their subject workers if the Grantee has one or more employees and is not exempt under ORS 656.027;
- (b) General Liability insurance with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000 each occurrence, $2,000,000 general aggregate, on an occurrence basis, for bodily injury and property damage, which must provide contractual liability coverage for the indemnification required under this Agreement and must name Prosper Portland, the City of Portland and each of their respective officers, agents and employees as Additional Insured with respect to Grantee’s Project activities under this Grant Agreement; and,
- (c) Automobile Liability insurance with a combined single limit of not less than $500,000 each accident, for bodily injury and property damage, including coverage for owned, hired, or non-owned vehicles, as applicable.
- Awardees must submit at least one bid to support funding requested for payment to third parties for goods, equipment, construction, or services.
- Grantees must comply with the requirements outlined in their organizational bylaws.
- Grantees are required to retain records and may be audited.
- Grantees must submit required reporting and documentation of incurred costs
- Grantees are required to obtain any required City permits for grant funded work when applicable.
- Grantees must remain in good standing with all Prosper Portland programs and contracts prior to award and throughout the grant period and, when applicable, must not be delinquent on loans, rent, or service delivery agreements.
Submit your application online by Monday, October 12, 2026 at 5pm.
Let's get started
Applying is easy. Submit your application online.
Questions? Contact DistrictSupport@ProsperPortland.us
