Small businesses to benefit from increased financing opportunities

Working closely with the mayor’s office, PDC has finalized an agreement with Cascadia Revolving Fund and Mercy Corps to provide financial and technical assistance in support of small business loan programs. An infusion of dollars from PDC’s general fund will be used to establish loan loss reserves, enabling both organizations to increase the size of their loan portfolios. Cascadia’s primary focus is to lend to businesses owned by low-income individuals, women, minorities or immigrants, as well as to childcare businesses and businesses located in distressed communities. Mercy Corps lends to entrepreneurs who are not bankable but nevertheless have “entrepreneurial spirit” and viable business ideas; and works with diverse individuals including, but not limited to women, refugees, immigrants, low-income, previously incarcerated, people with disabilities.

For more information: contact Cascadia at (503) 235-9635 or visit www.cascadiafund.org; Mercy Corps at (503) 236-1580, ext. 6 or jhaines@mercyenterprise.org.

Looking for office space? PDC Business Services can help

Whether you’re looking for industrial, commercial, office or retail space in the Portland metropolitan area, PDC’s searchable online database and customized real estate search assistance offer solutions for your site selection needs. The Portland Prospector online database represents a sampling of available real estate in the metro area. PDC staff can also provide more comprehensive real estate information and a customized site search based on your exact specifications, such as building type (industrial/flex/office), square footage, locations, sale or lease, and vacant land. Visit www.pdc.us/sitesearch or contact Lynne Boussi at PDC, 503-823-3342.

Non-profit entrepreneurship grant to be awarded

The Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum has created a new award recognizing entrepreneurship within non-profit organizations. The award will be presented at OEF's Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 22, 2005. The award will be made solely on the entrepreneurial nature of how the organization approaches its management and activities, not on the merits of its “good works.” Judges will consider the organization’s unique, creative, entrepreneurial ways of operating that help it to achieve its mission and become more sustainable. Only 501 (c)(3) organizations are eligible.

Completed nomination forms are due to OEF on Thursday, July 21. The nomination form is available for downloading on OEF's website, www.oef.org.

Film industry labor rebate bill passes

The Oregon Film & Video Office has announced the passage of HB2191, the Greenlight Oregon Labor Rebate Fund, which establishes a wage-based incentive for film production in Oregon. The bill now goes to the governor for signature.

The Greenlight Oregon program will offer productions a rebate of approximately 6.2% of wages paid from which Oregon income tax is withheld. The withheld amounts will go to a suspense account at the Department of Revenue, and will be rebated to the production company after they wrap, and after they turn in certain accounting records to the state film office. Productions must spend at least $1 million to qualify. Commercial production companies can qualify if they spend at least $1 million on production expenses over the course of a single year.

The bill goes into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.

For more information: www.oregonfilm.org or email Veronica Rinard at the Oregon Film & Video Office.

Spark your next meeting with help from the PDC Speakers Bureau

Program committees take note: the PDC Speakers Bureau offers an excellent opportunity for your group to bring a stimulating, fact-filled and relevant subject to life in an upcoming meeting. Topics include PDC’s Vision for the Future, PDC Yesterday and Tomorrow; and overviews of PDC’s Housing and Economic Development programs. Presentations are aimed at neighborhood associations, business associations, non-profits, commercial and housing developers, contractors, homeowner groups, service clubs and chambers of commerce. To schedule a speaker contact Christine Egan by email or call 503-823-3759, or complete the online request form.

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