400+ businesses committed to strengthening the fabric of our city
Business for a Better Portland is focused on advancing forward-thinking solutions to address our city’s biggest challenges and improve the lives of Portlanders. Over 400 member businesses of all sizes and industries have come together because we know that civic engagement makes Portland a better place to live, work, and run a business, and we feel a responsibility to do our part to increase shared prosperity in our city. Our organization continues to grow because we are committed to collaborative solutions rather than finger-pointing or divisive rhetoric.
We work to ensure people and businesses thrive in our city by supporting great public spaces, high-quality education, affordable choices for housing, an effective and sustainable transportation network, reliable access to capital, and more. These are assets that businesses require to succeed but cannot create on their own. Progress on these big issues can take months, and more often years, but with intention and tenacity, we know we can build a lasting legacy of inclusion and prosperity in Portland.
Working toward a vision of shared prosperity
Business for a Better Portland contributed to the once-in-a-decade development of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy alongside our region’s culturally specific chambers of commerce and community, economic development, entrepreneur support and business organizations. Collectively, we pushed to ensure the plan included actions that will foster upward economic mobility for individuals; prosperity for businesses; and substantive opportunities for Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, women, under-represented, and other under-resourced members of our community.
We also strengthened key partnerships and deepened our policy advocacy work at the local, regional, and state levels. For example, in the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session, we succeeded in passing two important bills to build a stronger and more inclusive economy with our partners at Oregon Small Business United:
HB2266B increases access to capital for rural, veteran, female and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color entrepreneurs
HB2966A extended the grace period of commercial rent repayment to avoid pandemic evictions
This is a critical moment in Portland, and a shared vision is needed to navigate our current and future challenges.
Business for a Better Portland will continue to rise to meet these needs as we expand our board of directors, grow our roster of member businesses, and explore new ways to support our city.
Learn more about what we have accomplished together this year:
“BBPDX has been an invaluable resource for our small business community since its inception and more recently with Covid in the backdrop of our daily lives. We’re proud to be a member of an organization that elevates the needs of small businesses like mine facing access to capital challenges. I know as a first generation American that small business, especially for immigrants and people of color, is the quickest way to raise people out of poverty and get into the middle class. This is true not just for individuals but for entire families. The Bambuza team is incredibly grateful for the connections we have made through BBPDX and look forward to continuing our time with an organization dedicated to generational wealth building and the wellbeing of all Portlanders.”
— Daniel Nguyen, Bambuza
“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of and work alongside BBPDX over the last year. Their support of both Prosper Portland and Hacienda CDC has been an invaluable partnership to small businesses like mine. BBPDX has a commitment to progressive business principles that go beyond maximizing the bottom line. The organization is dedicated to being an active member of addressing community-wide challenges that impact the well-being of all businesses. BBPDX knows that in order for Portland to thrive, it’s essential to lean into advocacy for the small businesses that define the Portland brand and have been such a critical magnet for high wage talent and tourism.”
– Peter Platt, Andina
“As a developer of affordable housing communities, we’re impressed with the ways in which Business for a Better Portland shows up in the housing advocacy arena. It’s clear that BBPDX understands that affordable housing is key to a thriving, active, and sustainable city for neighborhoods across Portland.”
— Jessica Woodruff, Community Development Partners
“BBPDX’s advocacy for the small business community has been admirable. I’ve been impressed to see how BBPDX connects businesses of all sectors with our elected officials. Thanks to BBPDX, businesses like mine have been able to organize and share concerns with officials who have helped us get needed support during this crisis.”
– Gordon Feighner, Jam on Hawthorne
“We really appreciate that BBPDX takes an entrepreneurial approach to its role as an innovative chamber of commerce. They take the time to learn from their members and adapt that knowledge to be better advocates for them. As a B Corp certified company, we at Green Drop Garage also value that BBPDX advocates for policies that align with our Triple Bottom Line values.”
— Farhad Ghafarzade, Green Drop Garage
“BBPDX is a breath of fresh air. It’s so encouraging for me as a legislator to be able to work with a business organization that approaches challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset. Through their advocacy, they’ve shown time and again that they understand how the success of businesses are intricately tied to the well-being of the state and our communities.”
— Representative Barbara Smith-Warner
Your support will make us a stronger voice for the community. Business thrives when Portland — and our entire region — thrives.
Join us.
Unable to join, but want to support our work? Donate to Friends of BBPDX!
