APNBA

	Business Voice A Publication of the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations, Inc.
	September, 2004

Welcome to the first issue of the new Business Voice! This email version of the Business Voice will be published monthly to business association leaders and members who agree to accept it. If you don't want to receive the Business Voice by email, go to the bottom of the page to remove your name. Mark your calendar! The APNBA Quarterly meeting is October 25th at 5:30 pm at the Ambridge Center, 300 NE Multnomah Street. Read this story	APNBA Grant Projects!
According to our Organizational Assessment, the most important services APNBA provides the small business community are acting as liaison to the City, creating networking opportunities among ourselves, and providing information, education and technical assistance. Read this story A fantastic opportunity for small business owners or those who dream of being small business owners to get free counseling on topics critical to their success. Read this story	Grant applications are available! Call Nancy at 503-774-2832 or email Nancy Chapin. You have until October 29th to apply. The maximum amount granted is $5,000 and must be matched with goods and services. For more information, see Grants.
Quarterly Meeting Networking begins at 5:30, dinner, catered by Ambridge Center, is at 6:00, and the meeting starts at 6:30 pm. At 7:00 pm ?? will speak on the topic ??. Contact Nancy Chapin at 503-774-2832 to reserve your space. Dinner is $15.00 and reservations are required. Top of Page	Ambridge Event Center
APNBA's Organizational Assessment The APNBA did a self assessment to discover what part they might play in the City's new Small Business Prosperity Strategy. The question was, "Is the APNBA the best organization to represent Business Associations as part of the Small Business Improvement Strategy?" While 44% agreed, 44% said they didn't know, and 12% named other organizations. Over half (52%) think the APNBA does a good job supporting business associations, while nearly a quarter think it needs improvement. Newsletter, web page, and email communications were an important service members felt needing improvement. They also wanted an up-to-date image, better funding, a sharper focus, and more member involvement. In the future, they asked for conferences and training to provide more education and technical assistance, and a unified voice to the City, Metro, and other political areas. Twenty-seven APNBA and community stakeholders participated in the assessment interviews. Top of Page	Prosperity Strategy The Small Business Prosperity Strategy was created in 2003 in an effort to address the problems facing small businesses in Portland. The group consists of the Portland Development Commission (PDC), the Portland Business Association (PBA), the City of Portland, and representatives from the APNBA and the Small Business Advisory Council. Their goal is to improve the visibility of small businesses and give them better access to resources.
Small Business Fair The 11th Annual Small Business Fair is a free event, Saturday, September 18th from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., at Portland Community College's new campus, 2305 SE 82nd Avenue, on the corner of 82nd Avenue and SE Division Street. Representatives from almost every government agency and other organizations that work with small businesses will be available to answer questions and provide printed information for later reading. Workshops cover everything from how to turn your dream into a business through staying out of legal hot water, hiring employees or contractors, paying taxes, and selling on the web. Here is the link to the Small Business Fair brochure, showing all the free workshops available, as well as a map to the fair. Top of Page
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