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Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Source: PDF pp. 393-395 ↗ · raw: 393 · 394 · 395

Breadcrumb: Service Area Summaries > Community & Economic Development > Prosper Portland > Inclusive Entrepreneurship

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget Community & Economic Development > Prosper Portland > Inclusive Entrepreneurship Inclusive Entrepreneurship Budget Revenues by Fund 2023-24 Actuals 2024-25 Actuals 2025-26 Revised Budget 2026-27 Proposed External Revenues $3,174,420 $259,154 $1,344,026 $1,049,994 Grants Fund $3,174,420 $259,154 $0 $0 Recreational Marijuana $0 $0 $1,344,026 $1,049,994 Tax Fund Internal Revenues $3,744,510 $2,631,801 $3,303,787 $1,766,697 General Fund $3,744,510 $2,631,801 $3,303,787 $1,766,697 Grand Total $6,918,930 $2,890,955 $4,647,813 $2,816,691 Program Expenses by Major Object Program expenses only include personnel, internal materials and services, external materials and services, and capital. 2023-24 Actuals 2024-25 Actuals 2025-26 Revised Budget 2026-27 Proposed External Materials and $6,452,057 $3,029,038 $4,647,813 $2,816,691 Services Grand Total $6,452,057 $3,029,038 $4,647,813 $2,816,691 Program Description and Goals Prosper Portland manages several programs to support inclusive entrepreneurship and small business growth. These include the Inclusive Business Resource Network, Community Opportunities and Enhancements Program, Green Construction Contractor Development Program, and Mercatus. The Inclusive Business Resource Network (IBRN) is a citywide program that provides business development support and technical assistance through a partnership network to address documented disparities in business ownership and growth. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs at all stages, from idea to expansion, by targeting barriers that limit access to resources and opportunities. The goal is to ensure technical assistance contributes to closing wealth and opportunity gaps, so that all entrepreneurs can succeed and thrive. It is a multi-year support program, and expectations are that businesses take multiple years to stabilize, prepare for growth and implement growth strategies. 393

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget Currently, Prosper Portland funds 15 partners to deliver services through one-on-one support, peer-to-peer support, workshops, and specialized professional services, including bookkeeping and accounting support, access to capital advising and credit coaching. The Community Opportunities and Enhancements Program (COEP) is a City of Portland strategy intended to address disparities across construction contracting opportunities. Through grant agreements with five community partners, COEP provides business advising and industry specific training to construction-focused businesses, helping them prepare for and succeed in public contracting opportunities. COEP also provides workforce assistance, see the Adult & Youth Workforce Development program for more details. Prosper Portland convenes IBRN and COEP partners multiple times a year as a Community of Practice to share best practices and resources, learn from each other, and collaboratively problem solve for different areas where business success can be improved. The new Green Construction Contractors Development Program, funded through Portland Clean Energy Funds (PCEF), will provide technical assistance and direct financial assistance to businesses in the clean energy/green construction field. Funding will also be provided to community-based organizations to increase outreach efforts and ensure equitable access to opportunities and support is available through this investment. Mercatus furthers building an inclusive economy through the establishment of an online business directory (https://mercatuspdx.com/ ↗) and storytelling platform for Portland's small business community, connecting the city and region with local talent, businesses, services, and products. Each year Mercatus publishes new business features and business guides. Businesses listed in the directory are connected with growth opportunities through collaborations with My People's Market, Portland Means Progress, and local supplier initiatives. The Mercatus Connect Board provides a way for members to share jobs, contracts, and other purchasing or procurement opportunities. Services Business advising, business plan development, strategic growth planning, business accelerators, access to professional services, business financial planning, market research and analysis, industry-specific advising, capital access coaching, business foundations and regulations, bookkeeping management strategies. Equity Impacts IBRN and COEP services are directed toward addressing documented disparities in an individual's access to business development and contracting opportunities. Most partners in these programs have strong connections to communities where individuals have faced barriers to success. In FY 2024-25, the IBRN served 691 business owners; 70% identified as BIPOC and 70% identified as women or gender expansive, reflecting the reach of services to individuals most likely to be impacted by systemic barriers. Through COEP, 141 contractors received support; 95% identified as BIPOC and 33% as women or gender expansive, demonstrating progress in reducing barriers to participation in contracting. Mercatus connects its more than 1,700 members to local purchasing opportunities through supplier initiatives and procurement opportunities and provides avenues to learn about the State's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) processes. Changes to Program The Mercatus Digital Marketing Program and COEP are no longer being funded due to budget constraints. 394

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget Resources

  • General Fund: Prosper Portland's ongoing portion of the General Fund is projected at a similar level to FY 2025-26. Given the two outstanding decision packages, there is a possibility that up to 32% of this program's General Fund will be cut, eliminating services to 175 small businesses and cutting staff capacity to implement the program, provide partner support, and track outcomes.
  • Recreational Cannabis Tax: Prosper Portland's portion of RCT is projected to stay at current FY 2025-26 levels.
  • Community Development Block Grants: CDBG slightly decreased from FY 2025-26 levels. These are pass-through funds from the Portland Housing Bureau.
  • Community Opportunities and Enhancements Program: COEP has provided additional funding from several City bureaus to support construction diversification since FY 2020-21. Funding is not available for FY 2026-27.
  • Portland Clean Energy Fund: Prosper Portland has budgeted $1.4 million for FY 2026-27 that will be received through an Intergovernmental Agreement with PCEF. This investment will provide for industry specific supports that will promote equitable wealth creation while furthering the goals outlined in the Climate Investment Plan. Additional resources are forecasted out through FY 2028-29.
  • Enterprise Zone: Funds are meant to support programs during recessions and when there is insufficient funding from the City General Fund. Enterprise Zone resources are one-time in nature and are depleted as expenses significantly outpace new revenue in the current economic climate. 395

Parent: Prosper Portland · PDF: pp. 393-395 ↗