Prosper Portland awards more than $1.8 million in community livability grants
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Shawn Uhlman, Prosper Portland, 503-823-7994
Significant projects include the expansion of classroom space at Childworks Learning Center in Gateway; gallery expansion at the Oregon Jewish Museum, upgrades to the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, and new space for the Homeless-to-Work program at Central City Concern, all in Old Town; and tenant improvements for the Mental Health Association of Oregon office in Lents Town Center.
The agency will award $1,805,738 in Community Livability Grants for fiscal 2022-23 to 32 projects in five tax increment districts or neighborhoods, leveraging more than $6.6 million in private investment. Two projects in Gateway Regional Center, four projects in Central Eastside, five in Lents Town Center, eight in Interstate Corridor, and 13 in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood will receive funding.
Prosper Portland Executive Director Kimberly Branam said, “Our assistance to community-serving projects is more critical than ever in the face of the challenges presented by the current public health and economic crisis. We’re grateful to be able to continue helping community organizations fulfill the aspirations of their neighborhoods and better serve diverse populations throughout the city with this year’s awards.”
The evaluation committees for each area included representatives from community organizations, neighborhood and business associations, and non-profit organizations as well as individual business owners and Prosper Portland staff.
The Community Livability Grant Program gives funding priority to projects that improve access to jobs and workforce development services; support wealth creation opportunities for small business owners; honor and enhance the neighborhood’s cultural diversity and history; deliver a community asset tailored to the community’s expressed priorities and opportunities; and advance goals of area-specific action plans.
Since 2006, Prosper Portland has awarded more than $13 million to more than 230 community livability projects across multiple neighborhoods and TIF districts.
The full list of 2022-23 recipients is below.
Project Description TIF District Fiscal Year Award
Paper Route Academy Business and Multi Resource Hub: Focus on both structural and interior improvements to support programs. Gateway Regional Center 2025-2026 $91,944
TVW Inc. - Sustainable Cleaning Systems Building Accessibility Improvements for Workforce Training Center: Install elevator to 2nd floor, ADA restroom improvements, and security art panels. Gateway Regional Center 2025-2026 $120,839
Billy Webb Historic Building Restoration: Ballroom restoration includes lighting, ceiling & wall finishes, electrical, insulation, and flooring. Interstate Corridor 2025-2026 $50,000
Black Parent Initiative (BPI) Soulful Sips Coffee Shop & Community Center: Kitchen build-out. Interstate Corridor 2025-2026 $9,006
Cascade AIDS Project Prism Health Clinic: Security upgrades. Interstate Corridor 2025-2026 $27,000
POIC Historic Albina Arts Center Build-Out: Includes replacing HVAC, security fencing, painting, restroom updates, signage. Interstate Corridor 2025-2026 $36,000
REACH Albina Corner Property Rehab: Tenant improvements to activate a long vacant space for Proud Ground, a community-serving nonprofit, to expand operations in the space. Interstate Corridor 2025-2026 $30,000
Ethos Music Center Community Hub: Café build-out to provide expanded music education for youth by serving as a cultural gathering space for youth, artists. Interstate Corridor 2025-2026 $48,280
Human Access Project Cottonwood Bay Park: Removal of concrete debris to create new public access beach. North Macadam 2025-2026 $65,000
International School of Portland ADA-accessible playground & Outdoor Classroom: Converting parking lot to nature-based accessible playground. North Macadam 2025-2026 $300,000
OHSU Food Resource Center: Activating vacant ground floor retail space to offer groceries, hygiene items, and community space in the South Waterfront campus to students of OHSU, PSU, and OSU. North Macadam 2025-2026 $200,000
The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science Social Justice Mural: As part of an outdoor garden classroom, this project will be a collaboration with local artists and students. North Macadam 2025-2026 $32,400
