Welcome to the Business Voice - the newsletter for Portland's Business District Associations. To unsubscribe, use the link at the bottom of the page. To forward, use the Send to a Friend Box.

---

Holiday marketing grants APNBA is offering grants up to $1,500 to business district associations to assist their holiday marketing projects. The grants must be matched 1:1 with donations of time, goods, services, and/or cash. Applications are due September 28th. For an application, email info@apnba.com or call 503.234.7642.

---

Portland Business 2.0 - How to do Business in the 21st Century Join fellow businesses on October 23, 2007 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Oregon Convention Center. Sessions include Spiffin Up Martin Luther King Jr Blvd – Collaboration at Work, Web 2.0 Marketing Strategies for Small Business, and Accounting for Professional Business Groups. For more information, contact Eva Schweber at eva@cubespacepdx.com. To register, print the application and mail it with your check.

Anti-graffiti ordinance
The city council heard testimony from hardware, auto parts, and art supply stores stating their objections to Commissioner Randy Leonard's anti-graffiti ordinance on August 15th. On August 29th, Commissioners Leonard, Adams, and Sten approved the ordinance in the absence of Commissioner Saltzman and Mayor Potter.

The next step is the appointment of a committee to write the administrative rules for the ordinance, the nuts and bolts of how it will work. Commissioner Leonard stated he wanted members of the affected businesses to serve on the committee and his offer has been accepted. If you are interested in dealing with the details of this ordinance, contact Commissioner Leonard at rleonard@ci.portland.or.us>.

Corridors vs. Centers
Get a ringside seat for a lively debate of different strategies for implementing the 2040 growth concept featuring heavy-weight professors Patrick (“Corridors”) Condon, University of British Columbia, and Gordon (“Centers”) Price, Simon Fraser University. Refereed by Metro Councilor Robert Liberty.

The tongue-in-cheek event occurs at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 26th in the Council chamber at Metro Regional Center, 600 SE Grand Avenue. The event is free and no reservations are required. For more information, call (503) 797-1685 or visit the Metro web site at: www.metro-region.org.

Ornamental Tree Lighting
The City Council quietly passed this ordinance sometime in July. The APNBA received a copy of the Letter of Guaranty in mid August and is reviewing it.

To light street trees either for the holiday season or permanently, each business district must apply for a $35 permit, pay an additional amount per tree, provide the location of each tree so it can be inspected, and follow the Tree Lighting Task Force policy guidelines to install, operate, and maintain the trees.

To obtain an application, please contact City Nature Urban Forestry at 503.823.4489.

New Equity Loan
The Portland Development Commission introduced a new small business loan, created to fill the gap between working capital and private financing. The Near-Equity loan, up to $50,000, is citywide and meant for direct business support for small businesses with 20 or fewer employees in the city’s targeted industries including bioscience, creative services, distribution and logistics, footwear/apparel/equipment, high tech, metals and transportation equipment, specialty foods and sustainability.

For more information on the Near-Equity program contact Alan Stubbs at 503.823.3321 or stubbs@pdc.us.

Thank you Members
The following business districts have contributed dues for 2007 to APNBA.

Belmont Area, Division/Clinton, Foster Area, Greater Brooklyn, Hawthorne Blvd., Hillsdale business and Professional, Historic Mississippi, Hollywood Boosters, Midway, Montavilla, North Portland, Pearl, Woodstock, Westmoreland.

A copy of the dues statement is available from info@apnba.com.

Taggers arrested
A list of taggers who have been arrested in the past three months is available to the public. No juveniles name are published. To obtain a copy of the report, contact Graffiti Abatement Coordinator Marcia Dennis.

visionPDX update
Portland's long overdue vision report will be introduced to City Council on September 19th at 6:00 PM. The final vision will be available for review a week before the meeting and the action plan sometime that day.

Business District Events
There are still plenty of weekend events to experience Portland's unique districts before the rain settles in.

August 31 - Sept 2: Art in the Pearl, NW Park Blocks, Adele Nofield, 503.223.0070.

September 6: First Thursday, Pearl District, 5:00 - 9:00 PM, http://www.firstthursday.org.

September 7: First Fridays
Multnomah Village, 5:00 - 9:00 PM, Joan Steinbach, 503.245.3936.
Division/Clinton, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Rin Carroll Jackson, rinzart@spiritone.com.
Greater Brooklyn, 5:00 - 9:00 PM, Madeline Janovic, 503.231.8346.

September 8: Belmont Street Fair, SE Belmont, John Barker, 503.231.9118.

September 12: Business Emergency Preparedness Fair, 10am-2pm Montgomery Park, 2701 NW Vaughn Street, angel@nwnw.org or 503-823-4211.

September 13: Second Thursday, Hawthorne Blvd, Justin, 503.963.8200.

September 15: Foster Street Fair, SE Foster, Nancy Chapin, 503.774.2832.

September 15: Fall Fest NW 2007, Wallace Park, Noon - 8:00PM, Peggy Anderson, 503.706.6532.

September 15 - 16: Under the Autumn Moon, Old Town Chinatown, Gloria Lee, glee@portlandchinesegarden.org. Saturday starts with a parade at 10:00 and ends with fireworks at sunset followed by a movie. Enjoy family entertainment, visit the booths, and view the Chinese garden either day after 11:00 AM .

September 20: Third Thursday, Hollywood District, Jeffrey Baird, 503.331.7650.

September 27: Last Thursday, 13th - 30th NE Alberta, Allan Oliver, 503.493.1909.

Sept 30: Farmers Market, 7700 SE Stark, 10 - 2 PM, Alema McCrea, 503.318.5741.

Tell us about your event - Contact the Editor.

Top of Page