Kimberly Schneider's blog

Portlanders Weigh in on How to Spend Stimulus Tax Rebate

Kimberly Schneider — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:33:00 -0700

Whatever one thinks of the federal government's plan to stimulate the national economy, tax rebate checks are in the mail for nearly anyone who filed a 2007 tax return. The Oregonian reports that many of us will pay down debt or increase savings. The president of Parkrose neighborhood business district reminds us to "buy local" if we're going to make purchases. Click above for the full articles or finds excepts below.

"Use rebate from Uncle Sam wisely, readers say"
By MICHELLE ROBERTS -- The Oregonian

Here are some scenarios to make the most of the dollars coming your way:

Pay down credit cards

Thanks to the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cuts over the past few months, the average credit-card rate last week dropped to 13.01 percent on cards that don't offer rewards, according to IndexCreditCards.com, a consumer-focused credit-card research company.

Even at that lower interest rate, making minimum payments every month will keep you mired in debt for decades.

If you have a credit card balance of $5,000 and pay only the industry standard minimum payment of 2.5 percent ($125) a month at that interest rate, you'd need 19 years, 2 months to pay off that debt -- and you'd spend about $3,700 in interest before you were done.

So, for a family that gets a check for $1,800 (the maximum for a household with two adults and two children) paying off a credit card debt that extracts 13 percent interest compounds the windfall. If a couple with two children pays down a 13 percent credit card debt of $5,000, and continues to make monthly payments of $125, they would have a zero balance in just 31 months and would spend about $600 in interest.

With an interest savings of $3,100, that means a family could increase the power of their rebate from $1,800 to $4,900.

If you want to figure out your own savings, check out the free debt calculators at www.bankrate.com.

Invest in your kids

College 529 plans are a great way to boost the value of your federal rebate checks.

If you're a parent to a newborn, setting up a tax-free 529 college-savings plan will allow you to turn $300 (the rebate amount for each child under age 17) into $948 in 17 years, or by the time little Austin or McKenzie is ready for Harvard. That's based on a conservative return estimate of 7 percent.

Throw in another $1,300 a year (this is easier than it looks -- it's the same you'd spend on one venti Starbucks Caramel Macchiato a day), and your babe's college fund bubbles to $39,740 by the time you're sweating SAT scores.

"It's amazing how much it adds up," says Michael Parker, executive director of the Oregon 529 College Savings Board. "People get frightened at the cost of college. Yes, college is expensive, but the cost is manageable. If you can save a little now to defray it, coupled with work study and a little debt, you're well on your way."

Invest in Retirement

Where to invest a little bit of found money? Especially when the stock market is more topsy-turvy than Paula Abdul on a typical "American Idol" episode? Let's stick to the basics. Plunking your federal tax rebate into a traditional or Roth IRA can pay off big time. (The following calculations assume a 9 percent return on Roth IRAs and 8 percent on traditional.)

If a couple in their mid-30s with two children invests their $1,800 stimulus check in a traditional IRA, they could be sitting on a $15,396 nest egg (after taxes) by the time they turn 65 -- without ever pitching in another penny.

The math is good for those who get a $600 rebate, too. If a 29-year-old sticks that money in a traditional IRA, that $600 could turn into $8,144 (after taxes) by the time the office manager orders his or her retirement party sheet cake.

In a Roth IRA, the couple who invests $1,800 could have a $23,882 nest egg, and the individual who puts in $600 could have $13,351 without ever putting in more money.

Michelle Roberts: 503-294-5041; michelleroberts@news.oregonian.com

"Local Business" By Michael Taylor, Parkrose BA President - Statistics from ILSR

There are good reasons to support your local businesses. Not only do they offer variety, unique goods, and employment opportunity, they:

Support the Economy

Every $100 spent with a local firm leaves $68 in the local economy; $100 spent in a chain store leaves $43. For every square foot occupied by a local firm, the local economic impact is $179, versus $105 for a chain store. Dollars spent at an independent business deliver twice the economic impact of those spent at national chains.

Support the Community

Small firms give an average of more than two and a half times the amount per employee than do medium or large firms (small firms give $789 per employee, medium firms $172. and large firms $334).

Support Themselves

Wal-Mart has received more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from state and local governments across the country. Taxpayers have helped finance not only Wal-Mart stores, but also the company's huge network of distribution centers, more than 90 percent of which have received subsidies.

While we can be friends with our "big box" neighbors, we should remember that the small, medium, and local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. Next purchase, make it local! Make it count!

Oregonian: Tech Firms Flock to City's Core

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:53:26 -0700

By Jonathan Brinkman

It turns out that empty-nesters with excess discretionary income are not the only ones who gravitate to Portland's urban core. To attract top talent, software companies are briskly filling large, open spaces in older downtown Portland buildings with fresh faces, ideas and energy.

In the past two years, dozens of software companies have taken root or expanded in downtown. Some have kept adding space in the district even amid worries of a broad economic slowdown. The trend has
gradually given downtown a burgeoning tract of the tech scene, traditionally concentrated in Portland's western suburbs.

Two crucial factors are driving the trend: Software companies -- particularly those focusing on social networking, online advertising and finance -- are thriving. And a hip office in a central location can be a
competitive edge in attracting top-notch staff. "Software companies have always tended to go toward these types of creative spaces, but this is now a fullgrown phenomenon," said Harvey Mathews, executive director of the Software Association of Oregon. "I get calls from people from all over the place, and all of them want this Old Town, downtown, brick funky
space."

The spate of downtown activity also supports the recent conclusion of new economic development group Greenlight Greater Portland, which lists the software industry among the metro area's most promising job engines.
The biggest recent deal came in February, when Jive Software announced it was taking three floors and 38,000 square feet of the vacant former Federal Reserve building at Southwest Ninth Avenue and Stark
Street. The move is slated for this summer. Jive, formed in 2001 in New York City, came to Portland in 2004. It has 145 employees at its current
location at Southwest Third Avenue and Alder Street.

The new building "has the potential for a lot of creativity," said Dave Hersh, Jive's chief executive. "We would kill the company in one fell swoop if we tried to move out to the suburbs."

Among other software companies expanding in Portland:

Galois Inc., specializing in computer security, is moving July 1 from a 12,000-square-foot space in Beaverton to a 19,000-square-foot space at 421 S.W. Sixth Avenue.
PreCash Inc., a Houston financial software company, moved its 40-person technology team from a 17,000-square-foot space on Southwest Broadway to a 20,000-square-foot office in the same building that Galois is moving into, called the Commonwealth Building.
An e-mail marketing software and Web company, eROI, moved Dec. 1 from a 6,200-square-foot-space inthe Albers Mill building at the west end of the Broadway bridge to a 10,000-square-foot spot in a renovated building on Northwest Fifth Avenue in Old Town. It plans to pick up an additional 7,500 square feet in the building early next year.

"This is a very important evolving industry," said Sandra McDonough, chief executive of the Portland Business Alliance, the city's chamber of commerce. "For them to see the central city as the place they want
to be is great for Portland."

The state's tech bubble burst in 2001, and it's only been in recent years that the industry has gained new steam. Statewide employment in the software industry grew by 16 percent from 2004 to 2006, the most
recent year for which data is available.

Chris Elsenbach, a managing principle for corporate real estate adviser CresaPartners, said that's partly due to the tech bust survivors.
"Software firms struggled through 2002, 2003, 2004, but the good firms are coming out of that," he said. "The companies that survived the tech downturn are now profitable. They are selling their products, making
money, adding desks."

The hard part is getting good employees to fill those desks, said Joe Cortright, a Portland economist who co-wrote "The Young and the Restless," a study of the so-called creative class.

"The chief asset of a software company is the talent it attracts," he said. Being centrally located -- easy to get to by public transportation -- and having coffee shops, good restaurants and cultural amenities nearby
help attract creative young workers, he said.

That's what convinced Jay Haladay, owner and chief executive of Coaxis Inc., to move last April from Tigard into a 50,000-square-foot space in a converted warehouse in inner Southeast Portland. "I wanted to create a recruiting magnet," he said of the LEED-certified building at 1515 S.E. Water St. he helped develop. "Being downtown lends itself to the kind of people we're looking to attract."

Jill Bruhn, a Web developer at eROI, lives by the Lloyd Center -- just across the Willamette River from work. She moved from Ashland six months ago.
"I moved here to work in a company like this in the city center," she said. "I didn't want to work in the suburbs. This is kind of the lifestyle I want."

Update on the BLF/BIT Reforms: Next Installment of Reform Rolls out this Summer!

Kimberly Schneider — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:53:03 -0700

In 2007, the City of Portland and Multnomah County approved extensive reforms to the city business license fee (BLF) and the county business income tax (BIT). The reform effort sought to ease the tax burden on small businesses and to improve the economic competitiveness of our city and county.

The changes made in 2007 doubled the annual gross receipts exemption from $25,000 to $50,000 and raised the owner's compensation deduction by 30% to $80,000. The changes were the first installment in a plan to raise the owner's compensation deduction to $125,000 over a five-year period. In addition, a $100 minimum payment for the BIT was adopted in order to better align with the BLF and to increase stability in the tax system. The City Council and County Board also agreed to make the minimum payments progressive by implementing tiers for the minimum. The additional revenue generated by a tiered minimum structure will be used to offset a portion of further increases in the owners' compensation deduction.

The City's Revenue Bureau, who administers both the City's and Multnomah County's tax codes, is now collecting some additional data from business tax filers which will help with implementation of these reforms. The Revenue Bureau, which is currently immersed in tax season, will release a five-year-plan this summer outlining next steps in implementation of the BLF and BIT reform package.

Local Downtown Retailer Celebrates New Home

Kimberly Schneider — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:37:37 -0700

Congratulating the TeamYesterday Sam joined Victoria and Mayor Potter for the opening of the Mercantile's new location downtown at the corner of 7th and Alder. Owner of the Portland's own classic specialty boutique, Victoria, thanked PDC for the storefront improvement funds she received and applauded Sam for being the City's champion for small businesses: "I'm a beneficiary of Sam's support - and the store's a testament to it." Sam commended Victoria and her team for taking on a location that required serious seismic upgrades and their commitment to remaining in the heart of Portland.

The beautiful new location, immediately off Broadway, features cutting edge and classic fashion choices for women. Go check out this great example of a local small business that represents the best in local retailing and world-class architecture and design. Whether you are shopping for hip, sophisticated, fun, or special occasion dressing, you will undoubtedly discover something special at Mercantile!

Portland Tribune: Region Needs Strong Workforce & System

Kimberly Schneider — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:46:40 -0700

Following The Tribune's ReThinking Portland series of articles that highlights key challenges to our region's workforce development system and Sam's role in pushing to address them , Forest Grove News released the following editorial (for the Tribune articles click here):

Oregon is known for many things when it comes to work: A leader in high-tech innovation. A producer of finely crafted wood products. A source of diverse and plentiful agricultural bounty. And a center of manufacturing growth that is the envy of the nation.

But as illustrated in the latest edition of "Rethinking Portland," included in today's News-Times, Oregon soon may be known for something else: a work-force crisis of either challenging significance or treacherous proportions.

It is estimated that the state's economy will create 250,000 new jobs over the next decade and that another 400,000 jobs will open as baby boomers retire. As the economic engine of the state, the Portland region can expect to see at least half of those jobs created in this region.

Employers already are having serious trouble finding qualified applicants to fill these new positions or replace retirees. Many employers are reaching out of state to recruit for manufacturing positions and even some low-tech jobs. Others are letting many positions go unfilled.

In fact, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, who serves on the regional Workforce Investment Board, estimates that there currently are 20,000 unfilled jobs in the Portland area - approximately one-third of which pay $20 or more per hour.

This work-force crisis is not occurring in a vacuum, and not without many well-intentioned people trying to make a difference.

Regionally, there are numerous educational, employer- and government-aided programs, but their results are mixed and disconnected.

A study conducted by ECONorthwest says that 80 different organizations, including community colleges, are spending close to $150 million in Washington and Multnomah counties in work-force development. High school and higher education programs represent yet another layer of investment and job-training activity.

But while there are many programs, there is no fully integrated work-force system. In addition, there is little to no tracking of workers as they are hired, and no guarantees for employers that they will have qualified workers when they need them.

Change is needed on many fronts, but here is a short list of our recommendations:

• Create a unified work-force development system.

• Establish and follow measurable results.

• Re-establish a greater sense of pride in work.

• Invest in public infrastructure.

• Prioritize.

The creation and retention of family-wage jobs should be Oregon's No. 1 policy.

NYT: Higher Education Gap May Slow Economic Mobility

Kimberly Schneider — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:44:24 -0800

By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: February 20, 2008

Economic mobility, the chance that children of the poor or middle class will climb up the income ladder, has not changed significantly over the last three decades, a study being released on Wednesday says.

The authors of the study, by scholars at the Brookings Institution in Washington and sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, warned that widening gaps in higher education between rich and poor, whites and minorities, could soon lead to a downturn in opportunities for the poorest families.

The researchers found that Hispanic and black Americans were falling behind whites and Asians in earning college degrees, making it harder for them to enter the middle class or higher...[Read the rest at NYT.com]

Vanport Square Opens on MLK

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:14:18 -0800

Commissioner Adams joined developers Ray Leary and Jeana Woolley, PDC Commissioner Charles Wilhoite and Carl Talton to celebrate the grand opening of Vanport Square - located on NE Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd & Alberta. Sam's remarks follow:

Thank you Ray for that introduction. It's wonderful to join you all here today on this brisk morning for a project opening that warms the heart.

As a resident of North Portland's Kenton neighborhood - who uses MLK daily -- I'm excited about this development and what it means for our City.

MLK is a critical boulevard in the City of Portland. It connects the Oregon Convention Center, the Central Eastside, the Lloyd District, Emanuel Hospital, PCC's Cascade Campus, Trail Blazers Boys and Girls Club, the Skanner, Observer and Asian Reporter newspapers, and numerous parks, churches and schools. The boulevard provides a connection through Portland's most diverse neighborhoods.

Studies show that 28,000 cars drive along MLK Boulevard each day. Now that's a tremendous opportunity for businesses located along MLK, but it's also an opportunity to get people out of their cars and onto the Streetcar system.

I hope you can envision with me a time in the not too distant future when the Streetcar line will extend from downtown to the Central Eastside and Lloyd District all the way up MLK. This will help reduce the congestion on the Boulevard, and will also make it a more walkable street, which is what retailers along here need to grow and thrive.

But today we are gathered for the opening of the Vanport project and there is much to celebrate about this project.

Vanport Square is a hard-fought triumph for Ray and Jeana, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Blouvard and for PDC - and we're grateful to them for that fight. We would not be here today if it weren't for their perseverance, vision and creativity.

The result is a project that will support 75 jobs - and 16 businesses that have the opportunity to own a business AND build equity in their property on MLK. At the same time, the large plaza will be a gathering place for the entire community.

With this success, this project sets the stage for new commercial activity, new vitality and new development on this Boulevard.

Ray and Jeana's tribute to the City of Vanport and the residents who lived there also sets the tone for any new development: the past is not forgotten; the past remains with us today.

I'd also like to acknowledge former Mayor Vera Katz - for her involvement in this project - and Mayor Potter - who could not be here today but sends his congratulations - for all the support he has shown in this effort.

So, to Ray and Jeana, to all the citizens who volunteered their time at countless meetings, to the City staff involved - a big thank you.

I look forward to joining you along MLK for other celebrations of this great boulevard.

Thank you.

Visiting Leatherman Tools

Kimberly Schneider — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:50:16 -0800

CEO Jake Nichol and Commissioner Sam at Leatherman Tools: It was love at first sight for Sam and Leatherman Tool's new gardening shearsSam visited Leatherman Tools' recently renovated headquarters and manufacturing center in NE Portland to hear about what the famously innovative folks are up to. Sam got a chance to talk about his work with workforce development, support of Manufacturing 21 and other ways the City of Portland is working to support our local economy.

Sam heard about athe company's adoption of "lean" -- efficiency -- techniques and toured the state-of-the-art facility. He also had a chance to hear about the company's commitment to the community. Leatherman has promised to keep its manufacturing in Portland - saying it's both the smart and the right thing to do. As part of the commitment, Leatherman focuses their outreach locally by sponsoring a local elementary school, and supporting Mercy Corps, the Mt. Hood chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and the Big Brother Big Sister program among other investments.

Visit to Columbia Steel

Kimberly Schneider — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:59:53 -0800

Sam & Mr. H.M. Bird -- Owner and Chairman of the BoardSam visited Columbia Steel and had a chance to hear about the company's strengths and the challenges it faces. Located in North Portland, Columbia Steel is America's leading manufacturer of steel alloy and iron alloy impact and wear resistant replacement parts for basic industry.

Columbia Steel managers shared their experiences with workforce development and system efficiencies that help them to maintain the company's competitive edge. They also shared Sam's interests in improving the transportation system and workforce pipeline -- issues they cited as crucial to the continued success of their unique business.

Downtown Retail Advocate Keeping City's Core Vibrant

Kimberly Schneider — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:11:28 -0800

With the Mall expansion project on its way, three organizations came together to create the "Downtown Retail Advocate" position. Sam, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) and the Portland Business Alliance (the Alliance) understood the strong correlation between retail and overall downtown health when creating this single go-to source for retailers.

Retail directly impacts the downtown's street level and is the bell weather for overall downtown success. Furthermore, a healthy downtown drives the rest of the regional economy as downtown businesses employee nearly 85,000 people.

The Downtown Portland Retail Strategy Update, a plan developed by public and private sector partners, also called for a focus on retail recruitment and retention. Sam, the PDC and the Alliance saw this position - now Allyson Reed's -- as a way to help move the strategy forward and strengthen downtown as a retail destination.

According to Reed, "Downtown Portland is at the cusp of a great renaissance. We have new retailers such as Brooks Brothers opening, local retailers such as Michael Allen expanding their space, and long-time retailers such as Kathleen's of Dublin and Carl Greve relocating and staying downtown. The new Macy's store and the upcoming The Nines hotel will also be a fabulous anchor for downtown."

Much of this activity stems from the investment the local and state government have made in transportation, street improvements and assistance to retailers, and also by people's desire to live, work and play downtown. The Mall Expansion project, connecting downtown to outlying areas, will only increase downtown's accessibility and demonstrate to prospective retailers that access to downtown is convenient and easy.

Community Partners

Media Mentions

Council Passes Oregon's first Small Business Bill of Rights

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:54:21 -0800

Sam and the Portland City Council unanimously passed the Small Business Bill of Rights, a resolution to make sure small businesses have a voice in the decision making process, making Portland more business-friendly.

The resolution brought forth by the Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC) was co sponsored by all five commissioners and marks a philosophic change in how the small business community and City government work together.

According to the Bill of Rights, small businesses have the right to expect City Council to:

Work with the business community to develop, promote and maintain education, training and informational programs and resources that assist the start-up, operation and/or expansion of businesses;
Support and promote programs that provide access to capital, financing and city incentives for small business start up, survival and/or expansion;
Establish and maintain a fair system of taxation and fees that encourages small businesses to start, survive, grow and remain in Portland; and
Actively seek and expand opportunities for small businesses to provide products and services to the City.

The resolution recognizes the importance of Small Business in Portland. In the Portland Metro region we know that 95% of all firms are small businesses (less than 50 employees) and that they employ more than 250,000 people.

At the hearing, Sam said, "We know that small businesses are particularly vulnerable to economic and policy fluctuations." Acknowledging the clear commitment to the success of Small Business in our community that the resolution establishes, Sam urged everyone to "breathe life" into the bill.

Sam urged a two-way relationship: "We agree to work with the business community when developing policies and to consider their particular needs in the process. For businesses, this is an opportunity to step into a closer relationship with the public sector. We are committing to working with you - and so we will need you there to work with us."

"I think this is a good indication and true testimony that government and business can work together and sustain this great state we are so proud of," said Ken Turner, Vice Chair of SBAC. "It's a great day for all of us."

Based on Portland 's success at being the first city in Oregon to formalize a working relationship with the small business community, the Governor's Small Business Council is looking to Portland as a model of collaboration between the private sector and government and may introduce similar legislation at the state level next year.

Transportation SDC Update Relieves Small Restaurants

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:53:44 -0800

City Council approved the Ordinance Sam sponsored to adopt the Transportation System Development Charge (TSDC) updated rate study. The ordinance establishes the new fee schedule and updates the City Code. All of the changes will become effective January 1, 2008, save one - the use of the Miscellaneous Retail rate for small restaurants - which became effectively immediately.

Under the current TSDC fee schedule, there are two land-use fee categories for restaurants: Quick Service (drive-through restaurants only) and (low turnover) Restaurant. With the new fee TSDC fee schedule, a third category will be used to calculate the rate charged small restaurants: Miscellaneous Retail. Rather than wait until January 1, 2008 to apply that fee, staff began to do so immediately.

The changes to the City's TSDC program, as well as the list of improvement projects, reflects the direct involvement of several hundred stakeholders over the course of the TSDC Update study. The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) -- representing a broad spectrum of Portland's residents, business community and interest groups -- oversaw the project from its inception.

The Council considered the following CAC- endorsed TSDC program changes during the public hearing:

• Phase out an existing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) discount over four years.

• Apply the principles of geographic equity - make sure projects are spread throughout the City - when determining a list of TSDC-qualified improvement projects, while also supporting projects that have identified leverage and/or are regional in nature.

• Keep TSDC rates charged to new development comparable to current 2007 rates

Council also approved a list of 43 proposed capacity-increasing transportation projects. Besides 41 projects recommended by the Citizen Advisory Committee, the project list includes a Twenties (Avenue) Bikeway project and a proposed Flanders Bike/Pedestrian Bridge to serve areas with high potential for future non-motorized trips. (The full list can be viewed on the project's web site.)

The TSDC project list was developed to maximize funding opportunities from local, state and federal sources in order to fund as many projects as possible.

Related Documents

Media Mentions

Blog

Milestones

September 5, 2007: CAC Presents Recommendations to Council
September 26, 2007: TSDC Update Ordinance goes to Council
October 3, 2007: Council Approves Update with Amendment for Immediate Implementation

Anatomy of a Dollar, Part I: Report Maps Workforce Development Resources

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:53:01 -0800

As the City of Portland's elected official on Worksystem's Board of Directors, Sam had a simple question: How many of the resources devoted to "Workforce Development Services" get to clients? In other words, what percent of every dollar is actually spent on services in our region - and what percent is used to administer those funds?

The answer, it turns out, is complex. Worksystems Inc. hired ECONorthwest to inventory funding sources and providers of workforce development services Multnomah and Washington counties and to reveal resource allocation across key strategic areas. ECONorthwest completed the first part of their report - the "resource map" -- in April of this year.

Among the findings:

Nearly 80 organizations -- including community colleges, state and local government agencies, and nonprofits -- provide services in the region.
Over $150 million go towards workforce development services
Worksystems Inc. provides 11% of the total resources
Of the total investment, 72% come from federal dollars, 34% from the State, 37% from local jurisdictions and 6% from all other (including private foundations and fund raising efforts).

ECONorthwest will build upon this foundation -- or "resource map" -- to create a visual "anatomy of the workforce dollar." The anatomy will trace workforce investments as they flow from high-level funding sources (e.g., Workforce Investment Act, State General Fund) through fiscal intermediaries (e.g., Worksystems, Inc.) to direct expenditures by service providers (non-profits, human services agencies, and others).

The resource map identified the source and destination of workforce investments in Region 2. The anatomy builds on this work to give policymakers a valuable reference with which to better understand the complexity of the Region 2 system and the way that disparate funding streams overlap and compliment each other.

Related Documents

PowerPoint Presentation of Resource Mapping Report

Community Partners

Milestones

April 2007: ECONorthwest Presents Findings to WSI Board of Directors

Liaison Program Expands to Support Every Active Business District Association

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:51:56 -0800

By June of this year Sam completed the second phase of an effort to strengthen the connection between city government and the city's Business Districts Associations (BDA). All 28 active BDAs were assigned a liasion from one of his city bureaus.

In late 2005 Sam launched the pilot phase of a liasion program within his city bureaus with 11 Business District Associations (BDA). Each BDA was assigned an employee each from the Bureau of Environmental Services or the Portland Office of Transportation.

The liaisons provide "one-stop shopping" for business district members by providing information about city issues or by directing questions and concerns through city channels. They also represent the business district's interests within their bureaus.

"They look out for us, they answer our questions, these new liaisons are great," said Yola McGant, Chair Foster Business Association.

Related Documents

City-community liaison description

Matrix of business district associations involved in pilot program

Community Partners

Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations

Media Mentions
Adams creates liaisons for businesses, Business Journal of Portland, September 20, 2005

Web blogs
Sam Starts Community-City Liaison program, September 27, 2005

Sam Visits Neighborhood Business Districts

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:50:00 -0800

J Cafe - Lloyd WalkaboutSam visited business districts such as Parkrose, Gateway, NW 23rd and Lloyd this year. He heard their unique histories and learned first hand about some of their main concerns. Parkrose businesses mentioned traffic safety and speed concerns. Lloyd district wants to encourage its growth as a sports entertainment district and hoped for easy access via all modes of transportation. He also saw thriving businesses in the districts such as Ambridge Event Center, Parkrose Hardware, American Cowgirls, AR Moss Floral Design, J Café, Quick Key, and Bob Brown Tires.

Community Partners

Blog

Milestones

January 6, 2007: Commissioner Adams visits Multnomah Village
January 9, 2007: Commissioner Adams visits Gateway Area
April 27, 2007: Commisioner Adams visits Parkrose
June 17, 2007: Commissioner Adams visits NW 23rd Ave.
September 21, 2007: Commissioner Adams visits Lloyd District