Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, working with former Mayor Sam Adams, has launched a series of Action Tables to accelerate Portland’s recovery. The Tables are headed by business leaders, not-for-profit managers, and involved citizens. Visit the City of Portland Action Tables website for more details and information on how to participate.

The Business Success and Job Creation Action Table, co-chaired by Peter Andrews of Melvin Mark and Monique Claiborne of Greater Portland Inc.
The Table is focused on economic recovery and retaining employers and their employees in the city. Workgroups under this Action Table include Coordinated Reopening Campaign, Child Care Solutions, Small Business Tools & Assistance, and Food Carts, to name a few.

Below is a re-cap of action items the Business Success and Job Creation Action Table committee discussed at the June 21, 2021 meeting.

• Seraphie Allen of the Mayor’s Office reports that City of Portland employees will begin returning to the office in July. The Mayor is now meeting with major employers to retain them in the city and encourage them to bring employees back.
• Cliff Allen, Dean of Portland State University’s School of Business, reports that the return of PSU’s 26k student body late summer will be a major boost to downtown businesses. A set of programs to welcome students back is in planning.
• The Oregonian will be returning employees to the office starting late summer.
• The Portland Bureau of Transportation reports that city parking utilization (SmartPark and street parking) is now beginning to recover, particularly street parking.
• The Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) is conducting a membership survey to provide information about which employers are bring employees back to the city and when. The goal is to share “reopening” activity and best practices between employers.
• Action Table work will be communicated to key city business groups (Portland Business Alliance, CREW, BOMA, NAIOP, SMPS etc.) on an ongoing basis. This update is part of that effort.