Overview
Funding supports new Major Impact Grants and increases Venture Portland’s staffing to serve the Catalytic Investment Initiative (CII) districts, which include St. Johns, Williams, Foster, Lents, and Midway.
Venture Portland also launched an Events Hub to help business districts and organizations with large-scale events. Services include event planning, vendor and resource connections, social media, and sponsorship recommendations. Venture Portland will also work with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) for road closures, traffic control, etc.
Who does this program serve?
The focus of this program is to support business districts and organizations.
Timeline
December 2021: Increase in staffing hours for the Catalytic Investment Initiative (CII) districts
December 2024: All funds must be spent
How do I apply for this program?
If you are a business district looking for Events Hub assistance or are interested in learning more about the Major Impact Grants, please contact Venture Portland at info@ventureportland.org
How is this program funded?
The Venture Portland Catalytic Investment Initiative program is funded by Portland’s $208 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan – a federal relief and recovery program enacted in 2021. City of Portland investments span three key priorities:
- Homelessness Response and Household Stabilization
- Small Business and Commercial District Stabilization
- Community Health and Safety
This program supports Small Business and Commercial District Stabilization.
Read more about these investments in this article: American Rescue Plan: Investing in Portland
Who manages this program?
Venture Portland means business. Since 1986 Venture Portland has invested in the smart, strategic growth of Portland’s unique neighborhood business districts. These dynamic districts, which together make up most of the city’s businesses and nearly half of its jobs, play a vital role in Portland’s economic prosperity and collectively represent local, regional, national, and international demand for goods and services.
Venture Portland is funded through Prosper Portland. Prosper Portland is the city’s economic development agency with a mission to create economic growth and opportunity for Portland.
Results
We want to be transparent and accountable with how the City of Portland is spending American Rescue Plan money. Explore the different projects at our Rescue Plan Open Data website.
For more information
- Sign up for Venture Portland’s eNewsletter here.
- Prosper Portland’s Economic Recovery Investments Funded by the American Rescue Plan – Prosper Portland