East Multnomah County small businesses awarded CARES Act grants, more than 420 small businesses set to receive $2,500 in the New Year
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More than 420 small businesses located in East Multnomah County will each receive $2,500 in grant funding in the next few weeks as part of the recent distribution of CARES Act funds to Multnomah County.
In total, $1,052,500 in grants will be disbursed to qualifying small businesses in the cities of Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale and Wood Village, as well as in surrounding areas of unincorporated East Multnomah County over the next several weeks.
Businesses in this region that were most impacted by Governor Brown’s public health closures and restrictions were prioritized.
BY THE NUMBERS:
All businesses who applied for funding in December were notified on or by Dec. 31, 2020 and those awarded will receive checks after final paperwork is received in the next few weeks. Funds are being prioritized for distribution and are expected to be completed by March 31, 2021. (Grant details.)
Selection of the 421 awardees was voted and approved by the Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of a community-based, grant advisory committee which included:
"These focused investments to assist East Multnomah County businesses, especially for women-owned and BIPOC business owners, sends a strong signal that East County matters," said Commissioner Lori Stegmann, Multnomah County District 4.
“The urgency felt from small business owners in our region was made evident during this grant process,” said Andrew Hoan, president, Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute. “Our region's small businesses, the ‘mom and pop shops,’ are in desperate need as they weather the storm of COVID-19, economic downturn and the usual slowdown that winter brings. We have heard from hundreds of business owners that see these funds as the vital lifeline to keep their doors open and their employees paid. Many have shared stories of personal sacrifice and the struggles they have made. We know that this is a small amount of money but for many just enough to keep their business viable while more help is on the way.”
"My thanks to the Multnomah County Commissioners for making sure that East Multnomah County small businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic closures receive CARES Act funds," said Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick. "I was impressed with the attention given to the applications to see that funds were distributed to not only minority-owned, but businesses in each of the East Multnomah County cities."
The East Multnomah County Small Business Relief fund is part of a $7.6 million allocation Multnomah County received from the State of Oregon in Nov. 2020.
In addition to grant funding, awardees will also receive a complimentary small business memberships to the Portland Business Alliance, Greater Portland's Chamber of Commerce for one year.
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The Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)3 of Greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce. Since 1982, the Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute has provided fiscal sponsorship, administrative and human resource services for organizations that align with the mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region. Visit PortlandAlliance.com for more information.
In total, $1,052,500 in grants will be disbursed to qualifying small businesses in the cities of Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale and Wood Village, as well as in surrounding areas of unincorporated East Multnomah County over the next several weeks.
Businesses in this region that were most impacted by Governor Brown’s public health closures and restrictions were prioritized.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Total Number of Applications Received: 1,158
- Total Number of Applicants Screened and Eligible: 890
- Total Grant Awards: 421 ($2500 per business); 50% are minority-owned.
- City of Gresham: 324
- City of Troutdale: 53
- City of Fairview: 27
- City of Wood Village: 12
- Unincorporated East Multnomah County: 5
All businesses who applied for funding in December were notified on or by Dec. 31, 2020 and those awarded will receive checks after final paperwork is received in the next few weeks. Funds are being prioritized for distribution and are expected to be completed by March 31, 2021. (Grant details.)
Selection of the 421 awardees was voted and approved by the Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of a community-based, grant advisory committee which included:
- Chair Deborah Kafoury, Multnomah County
- Commissioner Lori Stegmann, Multnomah County District 4
- John Wasiutynski, Office of Sustainability Director, Multnomah County
- Rebecca Stavenjord, Chief of Staff, Commissioner Stegmann, Multnomah County
- Mayor Brian Cooper, City of Fairview
- Mayor-elect Travis Stovall, City of Gresham
- Mayor-elect Randy Lauer, City of Troutdale
- Mayor Scott Harden, City of Wood Village
- Councilor Shirley Craddick, Metro
- Raihana Ansary, Metro Region Coordinator, Office of Governor Brown, State of Oregon
- Shea Flaherty Betin, Entrepreneurship and Community Economic Development Manager, Prosper Portland
- Andrew Hoan, President, Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute
- Vanessa Sturgeon, Chair, Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute
- Mari Watanabe, Executive Director, Partners in Diversity
"These focused investments to assist East Multnomah County businesses, especially for women-owned and BIPOC business owners, sends a strong signal that East County matters," said Commissioner Lori Stegmann, Multnomah County District 4.
“The urgency felt from small business owners in our region was made evident during this grant process,” said Andrew Hoan, president, Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute. “Our region's small businesses, the ‘mom and pop shops,’ are in desperate need as they weather the storm of COVID-19, economic downturn and the usual slowdown that winter brings. We have heard from hundreds of business owners that see these funds as the vital lifeline to keep their doors open and their employees paid. Many have shared stories of personal sacrifice and the struggles they have made. We know that this is a small amount of money but for many just enough to keep their business viable while more help is on the way.”
"My thanks to the Multnomah County Commissioners for making sure that East Multnomah County small businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic closures receive CARES Act funds," said Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick. "I was impressed with the attention given to the applications to see that funds were distributed to not only minority-owned, but businesses in each of the East Multnomah County cities."
The East Multnomah County Small Business Relief fund is part of a $7.6 million allocation Multnomah County received from the State of Oregon in Nov. 2020.
In addition to grant funding, awardees will also receive a complimentary small business memberships to the Portland Business Alliance, Greater Portland's Chamber of Commerce for one year.
###
The Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)3 of Greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce. Since 1982, the Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute has provided fiscal sponsorship, administrative and human resource services for organizations that align with the mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region. Visit PortlandAlliance.com for more information.