Please join!!! Governor’s Marketplace Statewide Editions throughout Oregon!

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 About Governor’s Marketplace Statewide Editions

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What is the Governor’s Marketplace?

The Governor’s Marketplace is where state, federal and local agencies and organizations gather to connect with business owners.  The purpose of this is to bring awareness of public contracting opportunities and to arm Oregon businesses with free or low-cost resources and services to help them start up, sustain their growth, and thrive.

Why should you attend?

 The State of Oregon spends billions of dollars annually on purchasing goods and services.  Let’s work together to keep those dollars in Oregon and get you a customer with a multi-million dollar checkbook.  Most likely, the State of Oregon can buy from you!

Who puts these on?

 The Governor’s Office has partnered with the Secretary of State’s Office of Small Business Assistance, Department of Administrative Services, the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity and other state, federal, and local agencies and organizations to bring an incredible wealth of resources to local businesses.

For more information and to register for an event near you, visit: gmp.oregon.gov

Transportation as Liberation

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Photo credit Ian J Whitmore

Transportation as Liberation

5:30-7:30pm Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Get ready to be informed and inspired during BBPDX’s 2019 transportation event taking place this year during Portland Design Week!
The evening will be a mix of networking, food, drink, interactive engagement, and a panel of transportation leaders including:
Hear big ideas about the regional design decisions that will affect our quality of life for decades to come.

Explore the role the business community plays in shaping transportation policy.

Imagine what an ideal transportation system would feel like.
Learn about specific local and regional government transportation policies.
Get your tickets here!
Tickets ($10 for BBPDX members/$35 for the general public) include a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres. Covered bicycle parking will be available. Scholarships will be considered and we are still looking for a few good volunteers! Please email Wendy for details.
Sponsored by:
    
If you aren’t a part of the Business for a Better Portlandcommunity of over 300 member businesses and organizations, you can find out more and join us here!

Scholarship Opportunity – UW Minority Business Executive Program

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Multnomah County, in partnership with Mackenzie, will sponsor a deserving COBID Certified Firm to the University of Washington, Foster School of Business, Minority Business Executive Program (MBEP).

The Minority Business Executive Program is a one-week residential program that takes place annually on campus at the University of Washington. The intensive curriculum grows business leaders from companies owned by individuals who are people of color, women, veteran, disabled, LGBTQ and other minority groups, helping them to position their companies for today’s global economy.

Participants learn to utilize financial tools to make better business decisions, develop strategic plans for growth and sustainability, identify new technologies to scale operations, learn how to market their products and services more effectively, explore strategies to access global markets, and develop their leadership acumen. They return (MBEP) to their business with enhanced knowledge, a renewed personal energy, and an invaluable network of fellow diverse business leaders.  The dates for this year’s MBEP will be September 15 – 20, 2019 on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

To qualify for the scholarship, a business owner must be COBID Certified, in business at least 3 years, be able to stay for the entire week long program, and submit their application by April 15, 2019.  

For more information about the MBEP Program, please visit  https://foster.uw.edu/executive-edu/executive-programs/minority-business-executive-program/ and/or contact Lee Fleming at lee.fleming@multco.us.

USDA Seeks Applications to Spur Economic Development in Rural Communities

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The deadline to apply is June 5 (online applications) and June 10 (paper applications)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to support economic development in rural communities. The grants are being made available through USDA’s Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Program in order to strengthen the rural economy.

The grants are not provided directly to businesses or individuals. Instead, qualified intermediary organizations receiving RCDI grants will provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facility, or economic development projects. USDA also encourages applications that will support efforts to combat substance use disorders, including opioid misuse, in high-risk rural communities by strengthening their capacity to address prevention, treatment, and/or recovery needs.

Grant amounts will range from $50,000 to $250,000. Nonprofits, low-income rural communities, and federally-recognized tribes are eligible to apply. Applicants must have capacity-building experience for these types of projects, and they must provide matching funds at least equal to the RCDI grant.

Grants are awarded through a competitive process. Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 9:00 p.m. PST on June 5, 2019. Paper applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. PST on June 10, 2019. In Oregon, applications should be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office:

USDA Rural Development
ATTN: Community Programs
1220 SW 3rd Avenue
Suite 1801
Portland, OR 97204

For more information, including details on how to apply, see page 11493 of the March 27, 2019, Federal Register.

For more information…

Questions related to USDA Community Programs in Oregon may be directed to a local Community Programs Specialist.

For projects outside of Oregon…

Those with project proposals outside of Oregon should contact USDA Rural Development in the corresponding state.

USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Support Household Water Well Systems

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The deadline to apply is May 27, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for grants to support household water well systems in rural areas.

USDA’s Household Water Well System Grants are not provided directly to individuals. Instead, qualified private nonprofits will use the grants to establish lending programs to help homeowners finance the construction or repair of individually-owned household water well systems. The revolving loan fund may provide loans of up to $11,000 per household at a one percent fixed interest rate over 20 years. The wells installed or repaired with this financing must serve existing homes in a rural area with a population of 50,000 or less.

Applicants must have expertise in household water well systems and lending activities, and they must provide matching funds of 10 percent.

The deadline to apply is May 27, 2019. Applications may be submitted online through grants.gov or mailed to the following address:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development, Rural Utilities Service
Water and Environmental Programs
STOP 1570, Room 2229-S
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-1570

For additional information, including details on how to apply, see the Funding Opportunity Announcement RDRUS-19-01-HWWS.

For more information…

Questions related to USDA’s Household Water Well Grant Program in Oregon may be directed to Ella Nichols, (503) 414-3354.

USDA is Seeking Applications for Technology Grants to Expand Access to Healthcare and Education in Rural Areas

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The deadline to apply is May 15, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to use broadband technology to improve access to healthcare and educational services in rural communities.

Rural Development will award grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 through its Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. The grants can be used to finance telecommunication equipment, computer networks, and advanced technologies to support job training, academic instruction, or access to specialized medical care in rural areas.

Most state and local government entities, federally-recognized tribes, nonprofits, for-profit businesses, or a consorita of these are eligible to apply.

Proposals for projects whose primary purpose is either to provide opioid use disorder treatment and counseling services or to offer access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses will receive up to 10 priority points.

The application deadline is May 15, 2019. Grants are awarded through a national competition.

Each application must provide evidence of consultation with the Rural Development State Director. When requesting evidence of consultation, applicants should provide an executive summary of the project, as well as the proposed grant and match amounts. Applicants in Oregon should contact the state office as early as possible in the application process at erin.mcduff@or.usda.gov or at the following address:

USDA Rural Development
ATTN: Erin McDuff
1220 SW 3rd Avenue
Suite 1801
Portland, OR 97204

Prior to applying, applicants are encouraged to review the 2019 Traditional Application Guide. For additional details about the program and how to apply, see Funding Opportunity Announcement No. RUS-19-02-DLT.

Request for Proposals: 2019-2020 AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership

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The Mercy Corps Northwest VISTA Program is currently recruiting organizations that are interested in hosting an AmeriCorps VISTA member for the service year of August 2019- August 2020. VISTA members build the capacity of organizations, delivering new innovations to end poverty in Oregon. We hope to recruit between seven and nine organizations for this cohort.

Our RFP is now open for proposals (attached). We anticipate closing our RFP on Monday, April 15th and recruiting VISTA members from mid-May through mid-July. However, organizations are encouraged to apply early, as we will accept sites and recruit members for accepted sites’ positions on a rolling basis. You will find all application materials and instructions attached. Organizations are strongly encouraged to contact me prior to submitting a full application to discuss the potential project and determine its suitability.

We’re able to support projects that are focused on Economic Opportunity including:

  •  Housing access & affordable housing, job skills training, microenterprise, IDA programs, financial literacy, and other community development initiatives.

Projects must meet the following criteria, at minimum:

  • Must be focused exclusively on low-income populations
  • Must be indirect service only (focused on capacity building rather than meeting immediate needs)
  • Must develop or expand programs or initiatives

Organizations must, at minimum:

  • Hold 501(c)(3) status, or be a tribal or governmental entity, or be a non-profit educational institution.
  • Provide office space and supplies, supervision, and staff support for the member.
  • Assign a dedicated supervisor able to provide at least five hours of mentorship and guidance to the member per week. Organizations must have staff capacity of at least 1 FTE, though we prefer at least 3 FTE.
  • Meet a cash match of between $7,000 and $9,000. This amount will vary depending on the number of sites who join.
  • Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and retaining the member.
  • Maintain full compliance with federal polices (training and support will be provided to supervisors on these matters).

If you have any interest in hosting an AmeriCorps VISTA member at your organization or questions about the process, please reach out. I’m happy to answer all questions and talk through project ideas. More information on our program can be found here:http://www.mercycorpsnw.org/community/vista/.

OCF Scholarships for Native American Students

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The Oregon Community Foundation annually awards over $9.9 million in scholarships to Oregon students through our statewide scholarship program.  Two of these scholarship programs are targeted specifically to Native American students.

VERL AND DOROTHY MILLER NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP

Eligible students include Native American residents of Oregon attending or planning to attend an accredited school in Oregon to study a career and technical (CTE) field (i.e., dental hygienist, nursing assistant, x-ray technician, etc.).  The awards are for $3,000 / year and are renewable for up to four years but students need to reapply each year.

HOWARD VOLLUM AMERICAN INDIAN SCHOLARSHIP

Eligible students include Native American residents of Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties seeking post-secondary education or training in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at an accredited school in the United States.  The awards are for $3,000 / year and are renewable for up to four years but students need to reapply each year.

 

Criteria for both scholarships

* Participation in school or community activities

* Personal accomplishments or achievements

* Preference given to students who have a demonstrated commitment to and involvement in the Native American community

* Open to students with a Certification of tribal enrollment or descendants of enrolled members

 

How to Apply: Applications and instructions are available on OCF’s website at http://www.oregoncf.org/receive/scholarships/scholarship-opportunities

Deadline: Scholarship applications are due March 1, 2019 for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Questions: Call OCF scholarship staff, Oleya Pearsall, at 503.227.6846 or email opearsall@oregoncf.org.

For additional scholarship opportunities, please check http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/.

Increase Project – Open Info Session

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Accelerate your business!

Get the executive education, management know-how, and business support system you need to grow your established small business through this intensive, cohort-based program. No previous degree required, just the willingness to work on your business, not just in it!

Now accepting applications at http://increaseproject.interise.org/

Increase Project  – Open Info Session
Monday March 4, 10am-2pm (drop by any time)
Portland Mercado – main room
7238 SE Foster Rd.
 
Program Start Dates: May & Sept 2019
(updated flier attached)
 
Ideal Candidates – Increase Project

  1. business is at least 51% owned by a person of color
  2. 2+ years in business
  3. $100k+ annual business revenue (up to $2.5 Million)
  4. 1+ employees
  5. Established bookkeeping system with standard reports
  6. Owner is ready to grow their own skills in order to grow their business

2019 Coaching UNconference in Portland

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MARCH 23, 2019 | PORTLAND, OR

Your exclusive invitation to attend the 2019 Coaching UnConference in Portland, OR.

WHO: The Coaching UnConference is designed for those who are Professional Coaches, those who seek to work with Professional Coaches, and those who are interested in becoming Professional Coaches. This is an unprecedented opportunity to teach, to learn, and to collaborate with the brightest minds in the coaching community.

WHAT: A relaxed yet focused and productive format that allows you to interact with peers, to share stories and successes, float ideas, network, catch up with old friends, and forge new relationships.

WHY: We call it the UnConference for a reason. If you have ever been to a business event that was UnProductive, UnFun, and UnCool, we feel you. So we designed this event to the total opposite. Fun. Cool. Productive. Inspiring. Relaxing. Invigorating. Why? Because YOU set the agenda for this conference: as a team, you will set the agenda for the conference – whether you are interested in improving your coaching skills, exploring a specific niche of coaching, or learning the business aspects of coaching, we have you covered. Interested in becoming a coach? Learn from the best here in one room, and connect with amazing coach trainers as well. Interested in working with a coach? Mingle and collaborate with the best coaches Portland offers, and discover the best fit for you.

WHEN: March 23, 2019
9:00 am to 3:00 pm

WHERE: NedSpace Broadway
707 SW Washington ST #1100 Portland, OR 97205

HOW: To reserve your spot now, click HERE

HOW MUCH: $65 ($85 at the door) – covers breakfast, an awesome lunch, and a whole lotta fun and inspiration.

WHAT NOW: Look for more details in the upcoming weeks – we will be in touch.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Pull out your smartphone, block out March 25th, and REGISTER before your calendar fills with up with pesky meetings and due dates!

HOSTED BY: Portland’s very own Annie Weller. Annie has over 15 years experience as a serial “social-preneur” working with passionate and emerging leaders who look to create an exceptional life, business, and community. As a business and non-profit coach, author, founder of the Leadership Lab, she specializes in helping her clients create and sustain greater profitability and efficiency in their small businesses and nonprofits. Truly living the belief that everyone should have access to coaching, she runs several state-supported programs that offers quality coaching to the under-served communities throughout the Northwest.