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Third round of grants
The third round of grants starts with an orientation on Tuesday, February 6th 7:00 - 8:00PM at Friendship Masonic Center, 57th and Sandy. The criteria have changed. Come learn about your expanded options.

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Stormwater Fee Discount
The City's Clean River Rewards program - the Stormwater fee discount - went live November 1. Separate forms are available for homeowners and businesses starting at How to Register. Registration is available by touch tone phone, in person, and on the internet. Workshops are available for commercial applications.

Trash cans on the sidewalks
The Bureau of Environmental Services (BDS) set up a work group, Containers on the Right-of-Way (CROW), to address the problem of the estimated 250 businesses that keep trash containers on the sidewalks in many business districts. The working group has agreed to:

1. Enact a requirement that all new construction and all remodels that trigger a seismic upgrade must provide adequate space for garbage and recycling collection on their property. The requirement would be in the Solid Waste and Recycling section of the City code and would be carried out by BDS with assistance from Office Of Sustainable Development (OSD).
2. Notify all businesses of the prohibition against storing waste permanently in the right of way. This would cause some businesses to voluntarily come into compliance.
3. Attempt to find a source of funding that will help smaller business handle the costs of renovation required to bring the containers on their property.
4. Have OSD enact a regulation prohibiting haulers and businesses from newly placing any containers in the right of way.

There is no consensus on how to enforce the current code or how long to delay implementation to give small businesses time to comply.

Community Watershed Stewardship Grants
Up to $5,000 grants are available to community groups and businesses that would like to do projects that improve watershed health. Several successful projects have been completed by local small businesses. Grant funds can be used for native plants, supplies, equipment, room rentals, transportation, and technical assistance toward any community-based watershed project in the City of Portland.

Applications are available at BES. Plan to attend one of the February workshops to learn more.

What do you think?
It's time to give your opinion about the monthly Business Voice newsletter, the weekly News Source, the web site, and APNBA's communication in general. Please take a couple of minutes and Click here to start the survey.

Disaster Planning
The city and the county worry about you! Their research indicates a large percentage of small businesses will fail if a disaster or a pandemic occurs. If small businesses fail, supply businesses and medium businesses suffer severe setbacks and not even large businesses are free from harm.

Their solution - create a disaster plan, keep it up to date, train your employees, educate your customers, find a way to survive. Without all of you, the road to full recovery is more problematic. If you want more information, send us an email and the APNBA can add this to the workshops at its annual conference.

2007 Events
February 2: First Friday Art Quest - 6:00 - 9:00PM Greater Brooklyn and Sellwood. Contact Madeline Janovec, 503-231-8346.

February 4: First Sunday, Old Town Chinatown, Children's program at The Monkey and the Rat, 1:00 PM 131 NW 2nd. Self-guided walking tour, 121 NW 2nd for brochure.

February 15: 3rd Thursday, 6:00 - 9:00PM Hollywood District.

Tell us about your event - Contact the Editor.

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