Village by village,Business Districts arebuilding a better Portland

How members of theAlliance of Portland NeighborhoodBusiness Associations are increasing livability and a sense of community in their 36 neighborhoods

2008 Report

Commissioner Randy Leonard gets dunked raising mon-ey for scholarships at the Parkrose Festival & Cruise-in.

The St. Johns Jazz Festival attracts thousands to this North Portland community each year.

The Hollywood Boosters host the city’s grandest patriotic event, the annual Veteran’s Day Parade.

Multnomah Village welcomes all to its home-style celebration.

“Art in the Pearl” attracts artists and visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest.

Welcome to the36 Villages of Portland

The grandeur of Portland’s skyline, reflected in the Willamette River, is a breathtaking sight for those who visit our city.

But the real charm of Portland is its villages.

The “36 Villages of Portland” – also known as Neighborhood Business Districts – surround the City’s core. Each district has its own, dis-tinct personality; each village provides a sense of community for the neighbors who live, work or shop in the district.

Historical perspectiveOver half a century ago, civic-minded busi-

ness people started organizing groups to sup-port the growth and wellbeing of their neigh-

borhoods’ commercial areas. And, for the past thirteen years, the business district associations have been able to expand their efforts, thanks to City of Portland grants administered by the APNBA.

The grants improved neighborhoods by in-stalling trees, benches, banners, and murals. They helped the districts create an identity us-ing sign caps, shared parking areas, and group advertising programs. As the districts matured, grants have helped to increase membership, create green spaces, upgrade their technology and provide community-accessible art.

Community building eventsMany villages coordinate efforts among

business districts, merchants, and neighbor-hoods to provide events that draw their com-munities more closely together.

Month by month, see the events that make the villages of Portland feel like “home” for its citizens.

Memorable celebrations in 2008

MarchAPNBA HQ Ribbon Cutting

APNBA celebrated its first office with an opening ceremony that included a ribbon cut-ting and congratulatory speeches from Mayor Adams, the East Portland Chamber of Com-merce, and representatives from many of the business districts it serves.

With a permanent home and staff, APNBA now offers printing, copying, and composing services, a database of active businesses by business association, and meeting and training space.

April82nd Ave. of Roses Parade

82nd Avenue of Roses continues to blos-som with its Rose Festival sanctioned parade. It starts at historic Eastport Plaza at SE Holgate Blvd. and travels north to SE Yamhill in the Montavilla/East Tabor district.

The parade draws participants and viewers from East Portland neighborhoods and business associations including many area ethnic groups.

MayGateway Fun-O-Rama

It’s a traditional event celebrating the spirit and character of the Gateway Area, with a pa-rade including the Gateway Keystone Kops, marching bands, classic vehicles, Rose Festival Princesses, and civic organizations.

The Community Fair that follows features patriotic ceremonies, representatives from local businesses, police and fire safety demonstra-tions, food, and fun for all.

JuneMidway Business Association Open House

The young and growing Midway Business Association hosts a luncheon for neighborhood and business people to get better acquainted and to start a conversation about partnering, cooper-ating, collaborating, and supporting east Port-land on and around 122nd Avenue.

JulyInternational District Fair

The International Business Association cov-ers Sandy between 52nd and 82nd, is one of the most diverse commercial districts in Portland.

Their annual Fair celebrates cultural simi-larities and differences through food, dance, music, a play commissioned for them, and wel-coming open businesses.

St. Johns’ Jazz FestivalFolks from all over the greater Portland area

travel to St. Johns’ Jazz Festival every year.

This festival attracts the finest jazz musi-cians playing all styles of music, from tradition-al to modern tunes.

People come because they know they’ll en-joy great jazz music, eat good food and cele-brate their community in an awesome setting of Cathedral Park, with the iconic St. Johns Bridge as the backdrop for the event.

JulyDivision/Clinton Street Fair

This event starts with the Division Street Pa-rade, leading off with the Last Regiment Drum Corps. It invites all the community that wants to participate and ends with more band music and a serenade. Participants have included a full church pew, a horse drawn trolley, a brigade of mopeds, the trick bicyclists, classic cars, politi-cians, and a police chief.

The following Street Fair offers vendors and entertainment venues along the side streets from SE 50th Ave. westward. In the evening, the community gathers for the Clinton Street Dance.

Hillsdale Pancake Breakfast and Benefit Book Sale

Why would people come to an event where the parking is scarce, the serving line is long, the tables are crowded – and men do the cooking?

The answer is: The blueberry pancake break-fast is delicious and the home-town atmosphere is magnetically inviting! After breakfast, guests can search through the adjoining Benefit Book Sale for bargains, or stroll a block up to the Hill-sdale Farmer’s Market for local produce.

AugustFreemont Fest

During Fremont Fest, Beaumont Village businesses celebrate their loyal customers from the surrounding neighborhoods. A kid- and pet -friendly parade kicks off the day and the fes-tivities continue into the evening.

Local artists and vendors line the streets, a horse drawn carriage offers rides to youth, and area bands and musicians beckon passersby. It’s a regional attraction that celebrates the tastes, sounds, and shopping specialties of Beaumont.

AugustParkrose Festival & Cruise-in

This event started as a way for the Parkrose Business Association to raise scholarship funds. It has grown from a classic car cruise-in on the the high school lawn into a spectacular street fair in downtown Parkrose, along NE Sandy Blvd.

The fair, with hundreds of vehicles on dis-play attract visitors from far and wide – even a group of guests who saw it, from the air, when flying into Portland International Airport!

Sellwood/Westmoreland Treasure Hunt

More than merely a district-wide sale, this event provided fun incentives for neighbors to “explore” their village and discover all it has to offer. The event grows every year.

Hawthorne DaysThe bronze markers planted by the Haw-

thorne Boulevard Business Association at either end of the district unite businesses and commu-nity groups -- from SE Grand to SE 50th Ave for the popular event featuring sales, information, food, drink, and entertainment.

Multnomah Village DaysOne of the most spectacular community cel-

ebrations is the annual Multnomah Village Days Parade and Fair.

Thousands line the street to enjoy a parade, complete with marching band music, vehicles of all description, and participants promoting organizations ranging from serious to silly! The main street of their village is transformed into a community bazaar featuring a wide variety of local food, music, and entertainment.

AugustArt in the Pearl

Taking advantage of the North Park Blocks, Pearl District businesses showcase their vil-lage by putting on a big party showcasing art in many forms:

Dance, pottery, painting, weaving, glass-work, poetry, wrought iron, stone, jewelry, and a wide variety of music. A few, select artists from throughout the Pacific Northwest are also invited to appear at the show.

SeptemberBelmont Street Fair

For several blocks, historic SE Belmont Street becomes a marketplace filled with food, electric cars, children’s entertainment, music, and vendors offering wares guaranteed to entice the young, idiosyncratic residents and visitors.

Alberta Street Fair and ParadeAs the last street fair of the season, the Al-

berta Street Fair and Parade marks the end of summer. The parade features eclectic entries such as March Forth and The Sprockets.

Along the street is an ever-changing show featuring Alberta’s creative, artistic view of life. Musical acts, tucked into spaces between buildings, provide an auditory backdrop for the visual feast of art, food and people – all enjoy-ing a real-life show.

Fun on FosterAlong storied Foster Road, young families

are finding a village suited to their needs. This fledgling event encourages locals and visitors to browse the wares of street vendors, shops, and artisans. All along the road, from stores at SE 50th Ave. out to the Lents International Farm-er’s Market at SE 92nd Ave., folks find food, fun, and music in abundance.

September

Nob Hill Neighborhood FairProviding a more defined “sense of place”,

the Nob Hill Neighborhood Fair at Wallace Park provides area businesses the opportunity to greet and thank local citizens for their pa-tronage by hosting this event with food, fun, and music.

NovemberHollywood Veteran’s Day Parade

There is no event, in all of Portland, with a more patriotic theme. This annual parade, a tra-dition of many years, brings participants and crowds of onlookers together to honor Ameri-ca’s veterans. From the Color Guard, to school and Scout groups, to politicians – and veterans of all wars – the Hollywood Veteran’s Day Pa-rade reminds all to honor our men and women in the armed services.

DecemberHillsdale Chili Feed

Hillsdale’s Chili Feed is their end of the year annual event to bring together their businesses and neighbors.

Mississippi Public SingHistoric Mississippi decorated the street

trees, featured caroling by Boise Elementary students, offered food and live music to enter-tain their neighbors and boost local sales.

Santa visits BelmontOne weekend in December, children flock

to have their pictures taken with Santa Claus, a fireman dressed in red underwear, suspenders, and an antique Santa beard.

Even more community connections

Grants, leveraged with matching funds, con-tinue to help Portland’s small business commu-nity grow in many ways:

Midway Business Association works with neighborhood associations to build community identity and spirit.

Lutheran Community provides small busi-ness education covering high quality financial literacy and micro-enterprise training.

Somali Community Services Coalition of Oregon helped 12 women start and operate home-based seamstress businesses.

Pearl District street sign caps provide busi-nesses and residents with a sense of identity as the area transitions from commercial to mixed use.

Montavilla/East Tabor is being revitalized with new merchants, sidewalk amenities, and a bustling Farmer’s Market.

Woodstock Community’s banners, flowers, landscapes, gateway signs, trash system, and festivals have added spirit and identity to this classic neighborhood.

Central Eastside Industrial Council’s “end caps” now distinguish this historic area – marketing materials inform neighbors, govern-mental leaders and potential new businesses to the area’s offerings.

Interstate is pulling their district together thanks to a new website they use to invite busi-nesses and neighbors to become more involved in their reviving district.

Multnomah Village leveraged a grant to help them turn a wasteland into a green space that welcomes people to their community.

Multnomah Village Park

Montavilla Farmers Market

Agency Total # Com-

mittees

Volunteers Estimated Hours

Value @ $30.00 per

hour*

2006 APNBA Board, officers 678 $20,340

2007 APNBA Board, officers 653 $19,590

2008 APNBA Board, officers 720 $21,600

Total 2051 $61,530

2006 Portland 12 Board, BDA leaders,

BDA members 1222 $36,660

2007 Portland County

City Council

18 2

Board, BDA leaders,

BDA members, Individual busi-

nesses 2105 $63,150

2008 Portland County Metro City

Council

25 2 3

Board, BDA leaders,

BDA members, Individual busi-

nesses 2057 $61,710

Total 5384 $161,520

By the numbers ...Since the grant program began in 1995, 249 projects have been

awarded a total of $736,839. The recipients leverage their funds on a 3-to-1 basis, putting $2,111,395 in cash, in-kind services and volunteer time into their community support programs.

And during the past three years, the APNBA board and members have contributed hundreds of hours of their time to supporting their in-dividual business districts, the APNBA, and the City’s many commit-tees, advisory councils, and working groups as well as attending City Council meetings both to testify and to show strength in support.

And consider this ...Small businesses and solo entrepreneurs are an extremely generous

group. One of the findings from the Philanthropy Study was that nearly 80 percent of small businesses that earned between $150K and $1M generally give a share of their profits to charities.

*Using the City’s assigned value for volunteer time at $30.00 per person per hour, small business can be counted on to donate back to the city more that the city provides them for grants. This improved method of estimating and verifying volunteer time was initiated in 2007.

Grant recipients leverage their funds on a 3-to-1 basis

Produced by the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations

Jean Baker, PresidentJon Turino, Executive Director

Photography, concept, layout, design by David F. Ashton© 2009 Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations,

All Rights Reserved