EPAP Plan & Updates

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING

EC.1 Develop and implement a comprehensive economic development plan and policy agenda

EC.1.1 Undertake a comprehensive assessment of East Portland's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for economic development, including work skills profiles.

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The EPAP Economic Development Subcommittee is working with the Portland Development Commission to create an East Portland Economic Development Assessment. The Assessment will produce a Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats analysis including:
* Commercial corridors and transit stations
* Industrial and employment lands
* Workforce
* Business support

The Assessment is to be completed in mid-2011.

Gateway Business Development Strategy Website:
http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway/membs-mins-notes/businessdev/bds-committee...

PDC leading Gateway Business Development Strategy, including a strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats analysis, demographic and workforce analysis, and strategies for growing jobs. This study is unique to the Gateway URA, not all of East Portland.

EC.1.2 Identify family-wage target industries and develop a plan to pursue such industries; identify partnerships, funding and timeline necessary to implement the plan.

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Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy Website:
http://www.pdc.us/bus_serv/ned.asp

Portland Economic Development Website:
http://pdxeconomicdevelopment.com/

PDC currently working on Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy that, in addition to looking for target industry job grownt, also focuses on job growth along commercial corridors and within all of Portland's neighborhoods.

PDC recently completed City's Economic Development Strategy, that includes an approach to attracting and growing target industries.

EC.1.3 Develop and implement marketing plans to recruit target industries.

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EC.1.4 Develop an advocacy agenda for promoting economic development in East Portland. Identify opportunities to influence public policy, planning, and funding decisions that affect economic development and investment in the area.

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EC.2 Promote key opportunity sites for economic development

EC.2.1 Inventory and prioritize developable and redevelopable industrial and employment lands for recruitment of target industries.

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http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway/membs-mins-notes/businessdev/bds-committee...

See Gateway Business Development Strategy.

EC.2.2 Identify and prioritize commercial nodes and commercial street frontages suitable for storefront and/or "main street" improvements; consider other design and infrastructure improvements.

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Division Midway Alliance (DMA) took advantage of as many neighborhood summer events as possible. We attended 7 different community events from July 21 to September 16 and grew our email list to over 150. Currently 237 community members and 87 businesses, neighborhood associations, civic & faith based organizations support DMA’s efforts. At community events we asked opinions of area residents regarding their choices for businesses they would like to see along Division Street; residents’ main concern was the commercial node of 122nd Ave and Division which has many empty storefronts.

PDC Storefront Improvement Grant Website:
http://www.pdc.us/pubs/inv_detail.asp?id=179&ty=46

PDC offers Storefront Improvement Grants in all of the Gateway URA and along commercial corridors in the Lents URA.

EC.2.3 Identify and promote opportunities for siting public institutions in the area, such as government offices and court houses.

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East County Courthouse groundbreaking at 185th and Stark St. Gresham, OR. Jan.7, 2011 --This facility represents an important partnership between a growing community, law enforcement and the Board of County Commissioners. It will provide easy access to the judicial system for many of our residents. The project also will help stimulate the economy by providing much-needed jobs during these tough times. County practices around sustainability will be supported as the new building is created. It will be completed early 2012.

EC.3 Promote and support small and independent Portland-based and -owned businesses

EC.3.1 Identify and develop strategy to remove barriers to small business development in East Portland.

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Saturday morning sessions are being offered in the NW Academy Garden to teach urban farming methods that can then be used to create vegetable gardens for people to utilize as an income flow.

http://www.pdc.us/bus_serv/ned.asp

See Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy.

EC.3.2 Conduct East Portland-specific workshops about business development and revitalization.

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The EPAP Economic Development Subcommittee recruited a team of 7 Portland State University students to assist with outreach to businesses. The PSU team is planning an East Portland Small Business Forum for early May 2011.

Gateway Business Development Strategy:
http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway/membs-mins-notes/businessdev/bds-committee...

See Gateway Business Development Strategy. PDC also leading Lents Business Development Strategy that focuses on Lents Town Center.

EC.3.3 Fund the Economic Opportunity Initiative for micro and small business development.

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EC.3.4 Develop a centrally-located small business resource center.

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EC.3.5 Expand outreach for the Economic Opportunity Initiative (EOI) for small business development throughout East Portland.

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EC.4 Increase and promote workforce training and employment opportunities for East Portland residents

EC.4.1 Promote East Portland as opportune location for trade/technical schools and other educational institutions.

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Through the generous funding from the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP), this summer, Impact NW's Urban Opportunities operated the Blue Lake Concession Stand at Blue Lake Park and employed students from East Portland and the Parkrose School District. Students were able to gain work experience, references and wages. The youth also engaged with community and team members that created a lasting positive experience!

PDC leading the Gateway Education Center effort, a collaboration between Mt Hood Community College, David Douglas School District, Parkrose School District, and Portland State University. Concept would provide for both unique and shared space for these institutions and other private partners in a site located close to the Gateway Transit Center, that would improve workforce development skills for East Portlanders.

EC.4.2 Develop and build relationships between business community and other community organizations for mentoring, skill building, fundraising and development.

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At summer events, Division Midway Alliance (DMA) was successful at planting a seed in the minds of many East Portland residents that culturally diverse economic development would be on the rise in our communities.

DMA is making financial grant requests, creating fundraising events, and asking for donations from local businesses in order to raise $30K that PDC will match to further the Division-Midway Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative.

Maxaction is working with Trimet and other community partners to develop, train members, and implement an Adopt a Station program at the Max stations.

The Growing Entrepreneurs program at Fir Ridge Campus connected with community organizations and businesses to teach students about financial literacy, business development, marketing and the local food system.

The video produced by the Building Cultural Bridges project interviews key members of the Portland city council,minority business organizations, and explores the dynamic between workforce realities and the Bhutanese cultural community. By creating a film about the obstacles and realities of the Bhutanese community with relation to work, we have created a lasting reference for business owners to understand the situation of the refugees and have more cultural understanding. Second, by inviting members of OAME, the Neighborhood
Business Alliance, community organizations, as well as members of the Bhutanese community to the film screening, we have attempted to create direct dialogue between the groups, by facilitating the space and conversation starters by which communication can happen.

The MHA swim team and DDHS students learned the skills to hold a job, teach by example, and mentor younger children. It provided the opportunity for a high school junior to co-write a grant and understand both the fiscal issues and how important volunteers are in balancing a project budget. In addition, an eighth grade student volunteered twice a week to assist with registering the swimmers. This was equal or better to any internship in customer service and job skills.

This project is staffed by senior swimmers from Mt. Hood Aquatics (MHA)and David Douglas High School students. Action plan item EC.4.2 is addressed because the lessons provide part-time jobs for teenagers in a safe environment while building skills for future employment such as commitment, working in groups, leadership, mentoring, working with children of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and teaching.

EC.4.3 Develop clearing house/program to connect East Portland residents with workforce training and education programs that lead to career track, living wage jobs.

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Portland YouthBuilders (PYB) expanded upon its Fields to Forks program, providing low-income youth with workforce training, career development skills, and subsidized hands-on work experience in an intensive summertime program. Students worked in the fields at Zenger Farm during the week and worked at local farmers markets on the weekends.

During the summer of 2011, an EPAP grant helped Fir Ridge Campus and Multnomah County SUN Schools offer a program called Growing Entrepreneurs. During this summer-long course, students participated in job skills workshops and ran a small produce stand on SE 122nd and Powell. Students learned about money management, customer service, profits and expenses, marketing and cashiering.

EC.4.4 Develop a comprehensive plan to train, place and advance East Portland residents in career track, living wage jobs.

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EC.4.5 Connect East Portland residents to family-wage employment outside of the area by identifying and removing barriers, such as limited transportation options.

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