The nonprofit business district development organization Venture Portland is currently accepting applications for its 2011-2012 grants program.
The nonprofit business district development organization Venture Portland is currently accepting applications for its 2011-2012 grants program.
Out of more than 50 respective business districts in the city, 34 are members of Venture Portland. With the recent addition of Economic Development grants, which allow business districts to apply for up to $6,000, another annual component has been added to the group’s prospective output. The monies dispensed are carefully calibrated to maximize the success of centers of commerce in the city, emphasizing online presences, organizational efficiency, increased foot traffic, promotional events, and the improvement or elimination of vacant storefronts and other physical blights in promising areas.
One representative of recent recipients of Venture Portland funds was in dire straits when she started out. “We were just two people,” says Jesse Burke of the Kenton Business Association. “We used the grants to revitalize our organization. We were able to organize the Kenton Street Fair and a series of banners celebrating local history and points of interest.” Burke is the owner of Posies Bakery and Café at 8208 N Denver Ave. She describes the events that Kenton was able to put on as a result of Venture’s contributions as “better than any print advertisement” in which she can remember investing.
