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PDC M/W/ESB Assistance
Minorities, Women & Emerging Small Businesses (MWESB)


Contracting & Training Opportunities

PDC may have opportunities for women and minorities and emerging small businesses (MWESB) on our construction projects.

Whether you are a contractor with your own business or an individual interested in the construction trades, we welcome your interest and encourage you to learn about working with PDC-funded construction projects.

For more information, contact PDC's MWESB team. Email or call Patricia Weekley at 503-823-3309.

Diversity in Contracting Reports

PDC’s Business & Workforce Equity Programs

The Portland Development Commission is dedicated to labor diversity and minority,woman-owned, and emerging small business contracts on our construction projects. To promote these opportunities PDC has adopted the Business and Workforce Equity Policy. The Business and Workforce Equity Policy encompasses two programs: The Business Equity Program (formerly the Good Faith Effort program) and the Workforce Equity Program (principally, the Workforce Training and Hiring Program).

  • PDC's Business Equity Program is a commitment of outreach to the minority, women and emerging small business communities. The purpose of the program is to ensure that PDC contracts provide business opportunities for minority, women and emerging small businesses in order to promote economic growth, to increase capacity and to expand competition in the marketplace.
  • PDC's Workforce Training and Hiring program requires training on PDC-funded construction projects to ensure that PDC-funded projects offer equal opportunity in employment and that those who have been historically underused in the construction trades have access to jobs through training programs. Both of these programs have specific requirements.

PDC is committed to expending public funds in a manner that benefits the entire community. Qualified Minority Business Enterprises/Women Business Enterprises and Emerging Small Businesses (M/W/ESB) are determined by certification criteria established by the State of Oregon Office of Minority, Women, & Emerging Small Business (OMWESB), which administers the certification programs. These programs are designed to promote targeted economic opportunities for small businesses in the state.

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Minority Evaluator Program

PDC invites people of color to participate in the Minority Evaluator Program, designed to ensure Portland’s diverse communities are represented on PDC’s evaluation committees for Requests For Proposals (RFPs).

As a person of color in the community, you bring a diverse perspective and experience, and will provide valuable input to the City of Portland and PDC Contract Award Process. For more information please visit the Minority Evaluator Program website where you can apply to participate online. For additional assistance, contact PDC's MWESB team. Email or call Patricia Weekley at 503-823-3309.

Opportunities in the Construction Trades

If you are interested in working in the construction trades, it is important that you contact a trade organization or union to learn more about apprenticeship training programs and requirements for participation.

Information on the construction trades and the current status of apprenticeship programs is available at the Bureau of Labor & Industry's (BOLI) website. You can listen to a recorded message with updated information on openings in the Portland area by contacting BOLI's Apprenticeship and Training Division at 503-731-4200, ext. 3, then dial 5001.

For individuals considering work in the trades, PDC's Workforce Training and Hiring program requires training on PDC-funded construction projects to ensure that PDC-funded projects offer equal opportunity in employment and that those who have been historically underused in the construction trades have access to jobs through training programs. This program does have specific requirements for participation.

MWESB Community Resources

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