November 8, 2013

On Monday, join us for the 39th Annual Ross Hollywood Chapel Veterans Day Parade.

Nick is honored to be marching this year with housing nonprofits JOIN and Street Roots.

The parade begins at 9:45 am on Northeast 40th Avenue and Hancock Street, and continues down Sandy Boulevard. This year’s Grand Marshals are the staff from USO Northwest.

This Veterans Day - and every day - we thank the servicemen and women who serve to protect our freedoms and make this country great.

Photo by David Nguyen

November 12, 2013

Nick was proud to join his colleagues tonight to present the 2013 Spirit of Portland awards.

The Spirit of Portland recognizes individuals and organizations who have demonstrated an outstanding dedication to positive change in our community.

This year, Nick was proud to name two award recipients: Steve Weiss and Briggy Thomas.

Steve is a respected community leader. He works every day to improve the quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities in our community – from serving on Boards to volunteering his time at nonprofits.

Portland Water Bureau employee Briggy Thomas is our "Bull Run Watershed Ambassador." For 15 years, Briggy has engaged thousands of Portlanders, from Kindergarteners to retirees, on tours of the Bull Run – ensuring future generations understand and respect one of our greatest natural resources. 

Nick was also pleased to present Spirit of Portland Awards to the Friends of Gateway Green, and Operation 305.

Friends of Gateway Green were given the award for Outstanding Organization. The Friends are working to build a park from an unused 38-acre parcel of land in East Portland. Together, they have raised over $123,000 for the park.

Operation 305 was honored with the Outstanding Partnership Award. Operation 305 is a unique public-private partnership focused on securing homes for homeless veterans. They streamlined the process, provided additional resources, and secured local funding to supplement HUD VASH vouchers so 305 veterans would have a safe, decent, and permanent place to call home.

In all, 21 Portlanders and community groups received awards tonight. Congratulations to all!

December 12, 2013

Small Business Saturday

This morning, Nick was proud to read a Proclamation in honor of Small Business Saturday on November 30.

Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 to help bring in more customers to local businesses. The Saturday falls on the weekend after Thanksgiving – between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Local group "Little Boxes" is also encouraging Portlanders to "shop small." Visiting a little box and making a purchase gives you a 10 percent discount at another little box. The more stores you visit, the more entries you gain in the raffle giveaways – from trips, to an iPad, to shopping sprees.

The business holiday has become nation-wide, and we are proud to support our local businesses here in Portland. We hope you will join us and shop small on November 30!

Business License Law

Small businesses are the engine that create jobs and drive our local economy.

City Council has set a long-term goal of increasing the business owner’s compensation deduction to $125,000. Increasing the deduction frees up money to expand payroll, create jobs, and invest in business growth.

Today, Nick was pleased to join City Council in unanimous approval for an Ordinance which will increase the deduction for our small business owners from $90,500 to $100,000. The change goes into effect in January 2014.

Celebrate the City!

Want to celebrate these great business milestones with us?

Join us at the Moda Center on Thursday, November 14 beginning at 6pm for Venture Portland’s second annual Celebrate the City! event. 

Learn more about Portland’s 50 unique neighborhood business districts, and bid on exclusive experiences around Portland – including picking up a new favorite local wine for only $10. You can even enter to win 52 or 12 "meal for two" gift certificates, and discover your new favorite restaurant!

Tickets are $50, and are available online or at the door.  We hope to see you there!

Portland wants to direct some surplus to soften tax burden for small business owners
Andrew Theen in The Oregonian

Portland OKs $100K tax deduction for business owners
Malia Spencer in the Portland Business Journal

Small Business Saturday Proclamation 

Little Boxes enters third year of imploring Portlanders to shop locally
Andy Giegerich in Sustainable Business Oregon

From small idea, Little Boxes grew big
Jessica Morkert on KOIN.com

'Little Box' Stores Vie for Black Friday Shoppers
John Tozzi on businessweek.com

'Little Boxes' band together for holiday attention
Joe Smith on KGW.com

Rosemary Reynolds interviews Commissioner Fish about 'Little Boxes'   

Portland Black Friday Event: Little Boxes l Get Rewarded For Shopping Locally, holiday Gifts, 175+ Participating Shops
On pdxpipeline.com

Little Boxes
On Albertamainstreet.com

Doing It! Little Boxes
on upsweptcreative.com

Small retailers fight for Black Friday business with big-box stores
Erica Nochlin on KATU.com

On Small Business Saturday, welcome to the neighborhood
The Oregonian Editorial Board

Portland small box stores attract new customers
on KGW.com

November 13, 2013

Nick was pleased to join Commissioner Fritz, Portland Parks & Recreation, Legacy Emanuel Hospital, and the Portland Development Commission at the construction kick-off for the Dawson Park Improvement Project.

Dawson Park has served a historically African-American neighborhood since 1921. Public and private partners are investing $2.6 million to restore the park as a community gathering space.

Legacy Emanuel Hospital, which neighbors the park, generously donated $200,000 to add a water feature to the makeover of Dawson Park. Nick was proud to partner with leadership at Legacy to make the fountain a reality.

The interactive water feature was envisioned by neighbors during extensive public involvement. Other renovations to the park include a large central lawn area, a new playground, flowering plants, new picnic areas, barbeque grills, and much more.

The park will also include art panels by local artists that tell the history of the park as an important center for the African-American community.

We hope to finish construction and welcome the neighborhood back to Dawson Park next summer!

Dawson Park construction begins; park will close for a year

Casey Parks in The Oregonian

Rendering courtesy of 2.ink Studios.

November 14, 2013

Join Nick at the Moda Center tonight beginning at 6pm for Venture Portland’s second annual Celebrate the City event.

Learn more about Portland’s 50 unique neighborhood business districts, and bid on exclusive experiences around Portland – including Alberta, the Pearl, Midway, and more.

Local businesses have donated some of their best wines for the event, too. Pick a bottle and take it home to unwrap and enjoy for only $10 per bottle. You can also buy raffle tickets online and win 52 or 12 "meal for two" gift certificates, and discover your new favorite restaurant! Winners will be announced at tonight’s event.

Tickets for Celebrate the City are $50, and are available online or at the door.

Small businesses drive our local economy.  Nick was proud to present an Ordinance at Council this week to increase the Business Owners Compensation Deduction to $100,000 – putting more money back in to our neighborhood small businesses.

November 30 marks "Small Business Saturday" - the day after Black Friday - where Americans show their support for our local small businesses. After learning more about our local business districts at Celebrate the City, we encourage you to "shop small" this holiday season!

Portland OKs $100K tax deduction for business owners

Malia Spencer in the Business Journal