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, city staff, not-for-profit managers, and involved citizens, and each Table includes many workgroups. For details on how to participate click here.

To sign up to receive Action Table updates from the Mayor’s Office: City of Portland - Office of Mayor Ted Wheeler (list-manage.com)

 July Update - Business Success and Job Creation Action Table, Co-Chaired by Peter Andrews of Melvin Mark and Monique Claiborne of Greater Portland Inc.

• Cliff Allen, Dean of PSU’s School of Business, told how the university is planning events with downtown businesses as they prepare for 25,000 students/faculty to return. A new locally developed app (https://kuto.app/) for students to use at downtown businesses is planned, as well as a paid internship program for students to work at local merchants.
• Sam Diaz with the Mayor’s office gave an overview of proposed uses for first $62 million of city funding under the American Rescue Plan Act, focusing on houselessness relief, household stabilization, and small business support. City Council will vote on funding allocations July 28.
• Patrick Gihring with Worksystems Inc. announced another $100,000 in grant funding to prevent small business layoffs and/or encourage rehiring
• Herb Yamamoto with the Plywood Removal Workgroup reported rapid progress in removing downtown’s “plywood blight” and reducing vandalism, in coordination with the Police Bureau and PBOT. The group has seen the blight drop from 48% of the 6 blocks around Pioneer Courthouse Square to just 18%, with the goal of 0% plywood by September.

July Update - Coordinated Reopening Campaign Workgroup

• Justin Douglas of Prosper Portland provided links tied to downtown’s reopening/revitalization:
• Portland reopening events & amenities: https://hereforportland.com
• Grants for repairs to businesses: Local Small Business Repair Grant – Prosper Portland
• Strategies for returning to the office: Return to the Office Equitably & Effectively Tickets, Wed, Aug 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite
• Peter Andrews reported that downtown retailers and restaurants are seeing a boost in activity with the City’s “reopening” events in July. Some restaurants are back to full employment and plans are underway to reopen both the Porter and Zag hotels.
• Steve Fein, Regional Manager for Moss Adams, said the firm has renewed its lease and is in process of returning its 300 employees downtown, though some hybrid work will continue.
• Wade Lange of American Assets Trust, BOMA’s 2021 President, reported that BOMA Oregon surveyed members on bringing employees back into the office.  91% of respondents said employees had begun returning to the workplace. If employees were not yet returning, 68% of respondents said there was a set date for employees to be back.
• Jessica Curtis, GM for Brookfield Properties, reported that the Pioneer Place mall is in full reopening mode. She is eagerly filling vacant positions.