November 16, 2015

On Friday, Nick was proud to visit one of Portland’s great new cultural hubs: the Portland Mercado.

The Mercado is a grassroots economic development project of Hacienda CDC. Located in Southeast Portland, the Mercado provides a wonderful space for minority-owned small businesses. It also celebrates Portland’s Latino cultural heritage with delicious foods, entertainment, and diverse art.

Hacienda CDC, the Mercado’s parent organization, is a local nonprofit focusing on strengthening local families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, and economic and educational opportunities.

The Mercado is a unique public-private partnership. The Portland Development Commission was proud to invest more than $1 million in bringing the Mercado to life, including providing the land on SE Foster.

The Mercado is an important part of Portland’s great neighborhood small business community. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy – they strengthen our city and support good causes. For every dollar spent at a local small business, about 70 cents stays in our community.

Check out the Portland Mercado’s website for more information.