Welcome to feature:, a monthly look at what’s happening right now with PDC projects and services. You’ll find quick highlights ofmany of the key efforts under way to build healthy neighborhoods, a vibrant central city and business competitiveness– all corecomponents of Portland’s goal to build the most sustainable economy in the world. Looking for details on a project? Visit feature:online at www.pdc.us/feature, where you’ll find links to more in-depth information. And consistent with our commitment to sus-tainable practices, you can also opt out of receiving the print version of feature:. Just email feature@pdc.us to receive anelectronic link to the latest publication when it’s posted to the PDC website.

Kenton celebrates completion of milestones in streetscape project

Bright balloons marked the participating vendors at Kenton’s Third Thursday on March 18, as the neighborhoodcelebrated several milestones in the streetscape improvement project taking place in the historic Kenton busi-ness district. The new North Portland branch of the Multnomah County Library held its grand opening onMarch 13 at 8226 N. Denver. The Kenton Library building, originally Cyril S. Kenyon Hardware, was con-structed in 1951. The building was expanded to 6,000 square feet for the library, which features a barrelceiling, one wall made of reused wood from the original building, and art glass meeting room doors by artist

Marlene Bauer. The library meeting room is available at no charge for community meetings and events on afirst-come, first-served basis.

Phase I of the Denver Streetscape Project was completed in March,including :

• construction of wider, patterned sidewalks,

• the planting of new “business-friendly” trees,selected in part because of their light and airyleaf structure and less invasive root system tominimize impacts to sidewalks and pavers,

• a pedestrian street lighting system,

• stormwater planter boxes,

• and the installation of seven carvedstone benches, created by local artistMauricio Saldana.

Paul Bunyan, the giant statue which standsat the intersection of N. Denver and Inter-state Avenues, recently received newpaint and restoration due to the advocacyof the Kenton Neighborhood Association,which obtained a PDC CommunityLivability Grant for the project.

Phase II of the project, high-quality concretestreet surface improvements along Denver Avenue, will take place this fall.

Among the new businesses that the neighborhood has welcomed in recent months are Posies Café on Denver Avenue; and theHome Brew Exchange, Queen Mab clothing store, and The Black Door Gallery, all on Kilpatrick. The Kenton Commons CreativeSpaces, one block west of the business district on Kenton Park at Brandon and Willis, is home to Olivine Art Gallery; PortlandChiropractic Care and Natural Health, Skylight Massage, Stella’s Barbershop, Jasmine Photography, Intrinsic Marketing, Essen-tial Skin Therapy, Your Wisdom Worx, and Divina, a family-friendly pub. The Kenton Antiques shop on Denver is now undernew ownership. Artist collective and gallery Disjecta has moved to Kenton as well, at Interstate and Denver, and is presentingPortland 2010, A Biennial of Contemporary Art, a three-month array of exhibits by Portland artists at several local venues.

PPOORRTTLLAANNDDD E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I S S I O N

feature: Photos left to right: The Kentonneighborhood’s Paul Bunyan gets a face lift

and the new Kenton Library opens. A Storefront Improvement grant providedfunds for new signage for East India Co.Grill and Bar at 821 SW 11th Avenue.

The City of Portland, PDC, and PortlandBusiness Alliance are collaborating on

initiatives that will encourage local fashionand product designers to explore their

entrepreneurship potential.

A steer is one of seven different subjectscarved into the new stone benches along

N. Denver Avenue in Kenton.

feature:

Art and new energy in Kenton

Neighborhoods

www.pdc.us

Community center securesfunding

A project in the InterstateURA which PDC has been nur-turing for three years willmove into the constructionphase in the next month,thanks to a PDC loan and grantpackage approved in March. TheJune Key Delta Community Centeris not just an improvement to ablighted space, it’s a new facility– the transformation of a formergas station located at 5940 NorthAlbina Avenue into a communitycenter providing outreach servicesand programs to a broad range ofresidents. The project has beenchampioned for years by the Port-land chapter of Delta Sigma Thetasorority, a predominantly African-American women’s organizationcommitted to education and publicservice. The sorority will augmentits own investment in the esti-mated $900,000 construction costs withPDC’s Commercial Property Redevelopmentloan ($135,237), Storefront Improvement($20,000) and Community Livability

($279,421) grants to renovate and ex-pand the existing building into a com-munity center with a meeting hall,display space, kitchen and accessiblerest rooms.

Relocations and expansions move ahead

PDC works closely with our regional part-ners to help relocation and expansion proj-

ects, in the city ormetro area, cometo fruition. Severalsuch projects, inthe works for thepast year or longer,have moved for-ward recently,among them Entrix,an environmentalmanagement con-sulting firm locatedin Vancouver whichhas opened a newdowntown Portlandoffice and is inter-ested in partneringwith PDC on indus-try development;Plas2Fuel, a reloca-tion from Kelso, WAto a facility inTigard for the man-ufacture of plastics

into fuel; and Abundant Renewable/Cas-cade Wind, a manufacturer of commer-cial scale wind turbines expanding toWilsonville from Newburg.

Wind power roundtable continuesPDC industry development efforts

Wind power company representatives at-tending PDC’s March 11 industry roundtableheld an engaged and enthusiastic discus-sion centered on regional advantages anddisadvantages, factors for industry growth,and future opportunities to make Portland’senvironment more supportive of the indus-try. Participating companies included Pacifi-Corp., Ibedrola Renewables, Horizon Wind,and Element Power. Staff will continue toseek input from these and other companiesunable to attend the roundtable, as well aswith potential partners like Oregon Manu-facturing Extension Partnership, Worksys-tems Inc., Oregon Business DevelopmentDepartment and others to share industryfeedback and further develop our respectiveroles in specific initiatives. In May PDC will at-tend WindPower 2010 in Dallas, Texas, lead-ing a regional effort among several public andprivate entities, including nine regional manu-facturers representing 2,500 employees, toidentify business development opportunities inthe wind supply chain.

The city has launched an integrated entre-preneurship effort to fuel innovation andnew firm growth, a new Main Streets pro-gram to strengthen neighborhood businessdistricts, and a new business website,www.portland4biz.com to keep you ap-prised of business developments and linkyou to citywide business resources. In addi-tion, we continue to provide loan and grantsupport to small firms to help businessesgrow and remain competitive.

In the inaugural edition of Small BusinessQuarterly we feature two fast growingsmall firms – Queen Bee and BridgetownNatural Foods – both located in Portlandneighborhoods. These firms exemplify Port-land’s commitment to recycling and re-use

as well as our passion for specialty foods.We hope you enjoy the Small BusinessQuarterly and look forward to keeping youup date on developments in the small busi-ness community.

PDC launches small business support program

A new small business assistance programwil l help create jobs, with an emphasis onthe clean technology industry. The SmallContractors Loan Insurance Program(SCLIP) is a credit enhancement programoffered by PDC that provides part ial insur-ance for l ines of credit offered by privatelenders to independent construction contrac-tors, particularly those specializing in energyefficiency and green development projects inthe city of Portland. PDC will guarantee half ofthe credit line provided by a bank or lender,up to $25,000, in the first year, with the in-surance percentage declining over time. AlbinaCommunity Bank is the first lender to sign onto the program.

The program demonstrates PDC’s continuingeffort to offer user-friendly financial prod-ucts to help small businesses grow andprosper. The Portland Economic Develop-ment Strategy’s emphasis on growing theclean technology industry, and the city’s re-cently-established Clean Energy Works Port-land (CWEP) program, both served as impetusfor the SCLIP. Contractors had identified a gapin the small business lending market as the pri-mary hindrance to their participation in CWEPand to sustained growth.

The new program also includes technical as-sistance to help contractors deal with thedemands of managing multiple projects inthe CWEP program. Marshall Runkel, a part-ner in local service provider Green Home byEcoTech, applauded PDC’s quick recognitionthat small businesses need help accessing

Business & Industryfeature:

Job creation, smallbusiness support,

industry development

PDC’s latest publication, theSmall Business Quarterly Report, highlights the city’s re-cent work with small business.Portland is a city that is trulypassionate about its smallbusinesses. From new, soft-ware start-ups to multi-gener-ational, family-run firms --small businesses are thebackbone of Portland’seconomy. Since last sum-mer’s roll-out of the city’seconomic developmentstrategy and subsequentSmall Business TownHall, the city and PDChave worked activelyto support the small

business community and deliver onthe goals outlined in the strategy.

Photos – Above, WindPower2009 displays: Vestas and Iberdrola Renewables are both wind power companieswith North American division headquarterslocated in Portland.

www.portland4biz.com

GET INVOLVED:Information and meetingdates for the Future of Urban Renewal in both

the Central City andNorth/Northeast Portlandare posted on our website:

www.pdc.us/four.

capital to carry out ambi-tious local and nationalclean energy goals. “PDChas put together an inno-vative financing mecha-nism in record time,”Runkel said. “It’s going tohelp dozens of small busi-nesses like mine buy theequipment that we need toput people to work.”

Interested applicantsshould contact ScottBossom at Albina

Community Bank, 503-285-0224, orsbossom@albinabank.com for more infor-mation.

PDC introduces first activewear directory

The first comprehensive directory of out-door gear, footwear and apparel designers,manufacturers, vendors and suppliers spe-cific to Oregon and southwest Washingtondebuted March 18 as an online publica-tion, thanks to a public/private collabo-ration between PDC, Greenlight Greater

Portland, the Oregon Business De-velopment Department, PortlandState University and the OregonBusiness Council. The directoryadds to our collective understandingof the industry and its potential asa source for significant job creationand economic growth in Oregon,and will l ikely serve as a resourcefor workforce talent seeking oppor-tunities in the metro region and thestate. Leaders of regional active-wear and gear companies were in-strumental in the creation of thedirectory, which is one of the ele-ments of the City of Port land's jobcreation work. The activewear in-dustry is identif ied in the Port landEconomic Development Strategy asa cr it ical dr iver of business and jobgrowth in the metropolitan region.The directory represents a col labo-rative effort to support Port land

and Oregon’s lead posit ion as a hub of theoutdoor gear and apparel industry.

PDC explores fashion entrepreneurship downtown

The City of Portland, PDC, andPortland Business Alliance are

collaborating on initiatives that will encour-age local fashion and product designers toexplore their entrepreneurship potential indowntown Portland. These initiatives sup-port the 2009 Portland Downtown RetailStrategy, which serves as the plan to createa strong, signature retail core. During the2009 holiday season, four temporary “pop-up” stores opened for six weeks in down-

town and generated $98,000 in salesleveraged by $10,000 in investment forpainting, lighting and utility expenses.Shops carried merchandise from 45 localartists/designers and supported six tempo-rary sales positions. Based on sales figuresand a post-event survey, participants werehappy with the project outcome and wouldparticipate again. Designers benefitedfrom direct customer feedback in orderto improve and refine their product lines.The partners are looking to further de-velop the relationships from the successof the initial four shops and create moreopportunities for local designers to show-case their products downtown, which willbenefit the existing retail anchors andfurther the city’s goals for job creationand economic development.

Art Media sports new awning and more

Venerable downtown business Art Media,located at 902 SW Yamhill, is sporting anew look with a bold new awning andexterior paint made possible throughPDC’s Storefront Improvement Programand Signage Lighting Incentive Program.Art Media was founded in 1974 by Uni-versity of Oregon grads Gail Vines, Kath-leen Christian, and David Mosher.

David Mosher approached his landlordwith the idea of making the improve-ments. The timing seemed right as thecity was completing Director Park andmaking improvements to SW 9th Avenue- which runs along the east side of thebuilding. Of course that also meant itwas a trying time for the business whichhad to weather street closures and con-struction during both the park and thestreet improvements. “I very much ap-preciate PDC and the building ownercoming forward to help us complete theimprovements,” said David Mosher. “Nowthat the park is finished and the streetwork done, I hope the shoppers comeback. Downtown was really compromisedduring construction. Our business reallysuffered and customers told us theywould not come downtown and face theparking problems and confusing streetclosures. It took a total of three yearsand now I hope the city and PBA put anew focus and emphasis on downtown,”Mosher added.

Art Media sells all manner of art suppliesincluding brushes, framing and matting,pens and ink, paints, sculpture supplies,paper, tapes, adhesives and more. Thestore was launched in downtown Portlandbut has grown with locations in HappyValley and Beaverton. In 1989 Art Mediawas named Downtown Retailer of the Yearby the Downtown Retail Council.

Congratulations to Art Media on their won-derful improvements and for their legacy in

downtown Portland. PDC Public Affairs hasbeen ordering graphics supplies from ArtMedia for about 25 years. If you haven’tbeen there, you’re missing out – inside,there is something for everyone.

Photos – Above, hand-dyed scarf and quilted bag by one of

Portland’s many talented fabric artists.Lower right – Art Media now occupiesthe corner space shown in a photo takenin the early 1900s of the Pythian Build-ing; below is Art Media’s new storefront

facing SW Yamhill at 9th Avenue.

Printed on 100% recycled stock (50% postconsumer), Processed Chlorine Free and a

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certifiedpaper and ancient Forest Friendly.Printed

using soy-based inks.

feature: Fresh opportunities–

fashion and fiber

Central City

No city in the U.S. isas ready as Portland to launch acitywide or scaled testbed forultra high speed open platformbroadband. Portland has thehistory, broad community support, willing businesses,committed local government,and cost-effective, year-roundconstruction metrics. Visit

www.pdxheartsgoogle.com tofind out more about the city’sproposal to collaborate withGoogle’s visionary ultra high-speed broadband project.

Earth Day Every Day was PDC’s theme forthe 40th anniversary of Earth Day onApril 22. For the last 40 years, EarthDay has been a local and global rallyingpoint for honoring our fragile planet,volunteering at local events, and learn-ing more about what each of us can to

make a difference. Here at PDC, talentedstaffers created original artwork in poster formto draw attention to upcoming events. Special

speakers and films were also part of the day’sagenda, and related volunteer opportunities in-cluded the salvage of building materials; com-munity gardening; and restoring urban wildlifesanctuaries. Beyond Earth Day 2010, PDCplays an ongoing strategic role in encouraginggreen development and clean technology inno-vation – visit www.pdc.us/sustainability or www.pdxcleantech.com for details.

PDC was created by a vote of Port-land citizens in 1958 to serve as thecity’s urban renewal agency. In 2008,PDC celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Throughout the years, PDC hasplayed a key role in keeping Portlandone of America’s most livable cities.Our mission is to achieve Portland’s vision of a diverse, sustainable community with healthy neighbor-

hoods, a vibrant central city, a strongregional economy and quality jobs

and housing for all. Today, PDC is internationally recognized asa model for urban renewal success

and sustainable practices.

222 Northwest 5th AvenuePortland, Oregon 97209

www.pdc.us

Special Projectsfeature:

40 years of Earth Day

youtube.com/pdxdevelopmentcom

m

spotlight: PDC

OREGON SUSTAINABILITY CENTER Photos – Above

right, as part of Earth Day activities, PDC staff sold veggie

starts to earn money for Dawn ofthe Bed – an event organized by

local non-profit Growing Gardens. PDC is one of seven

teams that will build and plant avegetable garden for a low-

income Portland family to bringhealthy, nutritious veggies to their

table. Right, is an artist’s rendering of what could be theworld’s first high-rise Living

Building. The Oregon Sustain-ability Center proposed site is onthe corner of SW Fourth Avenue

and Harrison Street.