Resources and Support

For help with developing your business plan or general small business guidance, check out the Small Business Development Centers. In addition to classes they have free counseling and mentoring. The Portland office is an offshoot of Portland Community College and is located in the Lloyd Center Mall. The phone number is (503) 978-5080, and you can visit them online at: http://www.bizcenter.org.

SCORE is an organization of working and retired business executives who volunteer their time to assist people in starting up new businesses or growing their existing small business. Their phone number is (503) 326-5211 and online at: http://www.scorepdx.org.

Mercy Corps Northwest offers a variety of services to individuals in all stages of Business Development and is one of the few potential sources of financing to entrepreneurs who are not "bankable" but nevertheless have viable business ideas. Visit Mercy Corps Northwest.

The City's Bureau of Housing and Community Development (BHCD) has an entrepreneurship program designed to help low income people. View more information or you can call (503) 823-2385.

The Portland Development Commission (PDC) has a variety of loan programs, but most (if not all) are "gap funding" to make up the difference between more conventional loans and the amount actually needed. A lot of their programs are also contingent on locations within Urban Renewal Areas. See an overview of their business finance programs.

PDC also has two great publications with collected information on the resources and assistance available to small businesses in Portland. See their Portland Business Handbook, Business Assistance Guide and Small Business Assistance Toolkit.