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С��è��ý chosen to help small businesses in Portland

Photos and story by James Hill

С��è��ý and its partners are helping small businesses build their business in under-served areas of Portland and Multnomah County.

The Small Business Development Centers at С��è��ý and Mt. Hood Community College as well as the Micro-Inventors Program of Oregon and the Oregon Microenterprise Network, have been selected by the Portland Development Commission to bring technical assistance and training to small businesses in underserved Portland-area neighborhoods.

In October, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen and Portland Mayor Sam Adams announced the Portland Development Commission initiative to grow and strengthen existing small businesses through technical assistance and training. A total of $450,000 will be allocated among five non-profit organizations, which includes С��è��ý’s CLIMB, to support assistance for approximately 150 to 200 businesses during the course of the next year.

“This shows how critical С��è��ý’s services are to the health and wealth of the small business community in Portland,” said С��è��ý District President Preston Pulliams. “We are pleased that we have this grant funding from the Portland Development Commission to extend our services to businesses that have been historically underserved.”

The initiative is a non-credit, 10-session business training program that combines 30 hours of training with 20 hours of business advising – a $1,600 value. The consortium is targeting businesses in Northeast 42nd Avenue, Southeast Division and 82nd Avenue, Northeast Cully Boulevard, Southeast 124th to 148th Avenue, Parkrose and Rosewood. Others small businesses outside these areas may be eligible as well. The small businesses will receive training on how to build and formalize their business, and gain professional development.

“This is a win-win on so many levels,” said Mayor Adams at October’s press conference. “This is about providing financial and technical assistance, and if you are a street level business, it’s also about providing you with the kind of investments and grants that make your businesses more competitive.”

To get the scholarship application, visit , or call (971) 722-5081. Applications are due by 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13.