A community-driven approach to creating thriving commercial areas, successful neighborhood businesses and equitable access to quality jobs throughout Portland.

Contact: Tory Campbellemail or 503-823-3231

Guided by Prosper Portland’s Strategic Plan, our community work focuses on economic development, community outreach and business support to build public and private sector relationships that advance startup and small business opportunities and growth. We strive to be on the cutting edge of developing and implementing industry best practices that foster vibrant small businesses ecosystems throughout the city, with a focus increasing business know-how, access to capital, new markets, and mentorship for underserved entrepreneurs.

We identify and implement programs to support business growth and wealth creation in priority neighborhoods and among priority populations, by connecting individuals to business technical assistance providers, private and non-profit lenders and developing relationships with neighborhood-based anchor institutions to grow business opportunities.

The work builds on the five-year implementation of  the Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) Strategy which articulated how community partners, business leadership and public partners could use focused neighborhood-level actions to collectively foster economic opportunity and neighborhood vitality throughout Portland

 

Programs and Resources

Given Portland’s key demographic and geographic challenges and areas of opportunity, our community economic development work focuses on communities of color and priority neighborhoods.  A job creation and equity lens guides every action, investment, and program.

Prosper Portland currently offers an array of programs supporting community economic development: