Advancing opportunities for prosperity
We support property ownership and real estate projects that build wealth in communities of color and historically underserved neighborhoods. We focus on growing small and promising businesses, including minority and women-owned businesses and those in low-income communities.
Portland’s growing ethnic and racial diversity can and should be a competitive advantage in a globally connected economy; making our economy more inclusive is not just good social policy, but vital to the long-term economic success of our communities. This is the foundation for Prosper Portland’s goal to Foster Wealth Creation within Communities of Color and Low-Income Neighborhoods.
Prosper Portland supports the growth of innovative startups and scalable, fast growing companies in Portland. Recognizing that companies that start and grow in Portland are key drivers of the city’s economic and job growth, we seek out pioneering ways to foster the next generation of successful Portland companies and lead innovation for decades to come. A priority of this work is to improve access to startup and small business resources – capital, mentorship, and networking – for under-represented populations, particularly women, communities of color, and entrepreneurs from low-income neighborhoods.
Prosper Portland is dedicated to increasing the diversity of high-growth firms, improving the success rate and growth trajectory or local small businesses, increasing opportunities for property ownership among underserved populations, and ensuring that our construction and redevelopment projects support the growth of minority-owned firms.
Desired Outcomes
Inclusive Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem – Portland is nationally recognized as a leader in supporting and cultivating high-growth entrepreneurs from under-represented populations.
Business Growth – Thriving businesses provide wealth creation opportunities for Portlanders of color and within or adjacent to low-income neighborhoods.
Property Owner Development – Commercial and residential property ownership provides wealth creation opportunities for Portlanders of color and within low-income neighborhoods.
Equitable Construction & Contracting – Prosper Portland’s construction and contracting business practices support equitable wealth-creation outcomes from projects and programs.
Projects & Programs
These are just some of our projects and programs that help advance opportunities for prosperity:
Equitable Food Economy Collaborative
Equitable Food Economy Collaborative Contact: Thalia Martinez, email or 503-823-4736 The Equitable Food [...]
Portland Means Progress
This initiative provides connections for businesses to hire local underrepresented students, purchase from businesses owned by people of color and create diverse and vibrant workforce and company cultures.
Williams & Russell Project
The Williams & Russell project is a collaborative effort between a community-based Williams & Russell Project Working Group (PWG), Prosper Portland, Legacy Health and the City of Portland. The project involves Legacy Health returning to the community a 1.7-acre vacant block at North Russell Street and North Williams Avenue. Historically, the site once was part of a thriving community that housed the majority of African Americans in Portland and Oregon.
10Y Leasing Opportunities
Prosper Portland will offer the Affordable Commercial Tenanting Program at 10Y, a full block of commercial space in the prime West End area of downtown Portland at SW 10th Avenue and SW Yamhill Street. The revitalized building will offer a variety of spaces to create a cohesive and complementary mix of tenants.
Alberta Commons Affordable Commercial Tenanting Program
Prosper Portland offers the Affordable Commercial Tenanting Program at Alberta Commons, a unique opportunity for small minority-owned businesses to gain a foothold in the retail mix of the area, provide needed goods and services to the neighborhood and create lasting, beneficial relationships with the Northeast Portland community.
Lents Town Center Affordable Commercial Tenanting Program
Prosper Portland offers the Affordable Commercial Tenanting Program at two sites in the heart of the Lents Town Center.
Affordable Commercial Tenanting Program
This program reduces barriers to entry for underrepresented businesses, preserves small business vitality, and advances our goal to build an equitable economy.
Prosper Portland Business Finance Programs
Prosper Portland works with Portland businesses to identify business needs and eligibility for either our assistance programs or those of our partners.
Commercial Property Redevelopment Loan Program
The Commercial Property Redevelopment Loan Program provides financial assistance for property development or rehabilitation that furthers economic development in commercial areas or on commercial corridors.
Industry Support
We want to ensure inclusive growth by supporting competitive industries that provide high-quality job opportunities and working to fill those jobs with people of color and low-income residents.
A&O Peer to Peer Program
This program designed for small and medium sized Athletic and Outdoor (A&O) product companies provides an effective learning forum.
Youth & Adult Workforce Partnerships
Prosper Portland's workforce partnerships create better access for Portlanders to connect to job training and opportunities.
Workforce Training & Hiring Program
Our goal is to ensure that Prosper Portland projects offer equal opportunity in employment and that those who have been historically underused in the construction trades have access to jobs through training programs.
Business Equity Program
Prosper Portland is committed to providing business opportunities for minority, women and emerging small businesses.
Tech Diversity Pledge
Increasing the hiring of women and communities of color in the tech industry is a challenge we're taking on collectively through TechTown Portland - a collaboration among our technology communities.
Increase Project
The Increase Project is a pilot program that provided minority-owned small businesses with tools for growth and expansion.
Startup PDX Challenge
The Startup PDX Challenge (2013-2015) focused on supporting entrepreneurs with diverse founding teams and the ambition to scale to a national or international market.
Inclusive Startup Fund
The fund provides early-stage investment capital and mentoring to local high-growth companies founded by underrepresented groups across a variety of industries.
N/NE Community Development Initiative Action Plan
The Action Plan guides the investment of $32 million in the Interstate Corridor urban renewal area to align with strategic goals that benefit the community.
Alberta Commons
Alberta Commons, anchored by Natural Grocers, is at a high-traffic corner and will bring new excitement to the neighborhood, offering small, minority-owned businesses the opportunity to participate in the retail mix.
Lombard Investment Strategy
Prosper Portland has $2 million budgeted for infrastructure improvements on the 2.2-mile stretch of North Lombard Street (from North Chautauqua Blvd. to North Rodney St.).
The Portland Mercado
Prosper Portland's assistance to the Portland Mercado included grant funding and help with concept development and the business plan, representing a total investment of more than $1 million.
Community Economic Development
Prosper Portland takes a community-driven approach to creating thriving commercial areas, successful neighborhood businesses and equitable access to quality jobs throughout Portland.