Business Voice A Publication of the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations, Inc. www.APNBA.com
	December 2005

Welcome to the Business Voice - our monthly e-newsletter for Portland's Business District Associations. To stop receiving this, use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the page. Send a copy to your email list by using the Send-A-Friend box below. Public Safety Project Stakeholders Meeting Multnomah County and the City of Portland have begun to develop a joint planning and budget process for their Public Safety systems and are inviting up to 3 APNBA representatives to a half day stakeholder forum on December 13, 2005. A year ago last October this was the top issue identified by the majority of BDAs. The APNBA Executive Committee and several of you sent letters to both City and County informing them that we (the small businesses) regard this as a priority for livability and our success. This is our opportunity to serve on the committee being formed to solve the problem that we brought to the attention of both City and County. It mattered in October, 2004, and it still matters. Email Nancy Chapin or call her at 503-774-2832 for more information and to let us know who from your business district is going to help move this project forward. APNBA Brochure The APNBA has created a brochure that explains what the APNBA is and what it does for business districts. Lavishly illustrated with business district association logos, and containing an insert explaining the responsibilities and benefits of board membership, the brochure will be available at the January 23, 2006, general meeting. New board members are elected in April. Grant Requests The APNBA has received 13 grant requests for the 2006 BDA grant cycle. Requests total $40,800 and offer over twice as much in cash and in kind match. Requests include marketing summer events, creating web sites, a new mural, more banners, and streetscape improvements. Decisions will be made by December 23, 2005, and grants awarded at the board meeting on January 23, 2006. Franchising commercial haulers The Bureau of Environmental Services is researching the possibility of franchising the commercial garbage haulers. They are considering reducing the number of haulers, restricting the selected haulers to defined areas, charging a franchise fee, and changing the hours the haulers can work. Their first focus group was not enthusiastic. The APNBA is monitoring any new activity and will report it in the Voice. Coming Events December 1 - 31: Tannenbaum Madness- A walking tour of whimsical artistic and unique trees created by the artists and businesses of NE Alberta Street and the Fox Chase Corners. Visit www.artonalberta.org or www.albertaartsdistrict.com for details. December 1 - 31: "What a walk a wreath will make!" Hawthorne Boulevard decorated wreaths from 12th to 50th. Watch "All I Want for Christmas" at 2pm on December 10 at CineMagic. Admission is 2-3 cans of food. www.thinkhawthorne.com. December 1 - 24: "Donations & Dividends" SE Division and Clinton Streets - Over 40 Division/Clinton merchants offering discounts in exchange for a $10.00 donation to disaster relief. December 2,3, and 4: Lights on NE Broadway! 32 merchants & restaurants offering Special Discounts. December 4: "First Sunday" site visits, exhibits, workshops for kids, shopping and food in the Heart of Portland. www.oldtownchinatown.com. December 8: "Second Thursday" Shop, dine, unwind to great music on North Mississippi Avenue between Skidmore and Fremont. December 10: FIREMAN SANTA PHOTOS: Kids get their photos taken (just $5) plus a bag of treats and a red fireman's hat! Belmont Fire Station Learning Center, SE 35th & Belmont, 10 am - 3 pm. www.belmontbusiness.org. Mention your event here - Contact the Editor for more information. Photo credits: Multnomah images - Luna Jaffe Top of Page Multnomah Days Thinking Big The garden club Bicycle built for two People on Parade Multnomah Village Logo Volume 13 No. 12 The Business Voice is published 12 times a year by the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations P.O. Box 5123 Portland OR 97208-5123 E-mail: info@apnba.com Web site: www.APNBA.com Editor: Jean Baker Subscribe to the monthly Business Voice. Subscribe to the weekly News Source. Support your Business District Association - Join the board!