Portland, Oregon

C-W City
Portland, Oregon

The city of Portland, Oregon has enjoyed an economic boom that was largely supported by growth in high technology industries. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, its population as of 2010 exceeded 583,000. The city's population is predominately white, but does have significant minority populations. Portland's population includes 9.4% who are Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% who are Asian American, 6.2% who are African-American and 1% who are American Indian.

Portland's first CDC, REACH Community Development, was founded in 1982. Portland also has a wide range of other forms of community wealth-building institutions. Today, Portland's community development industry is widely seen as a model for comprehensive community-wealth-building efforts.

Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Hacienda CDC

http://www.haciendacdc.org

Founded in 1992 in North Porland, Hacienda CDC has developed more than 380 units of housing serving over 1,200 residents. It also helped develop a healthcare clinic serving the uninsured. The CDC continues to pursue a wide range of programs, including financial and computer literacy training, homeownership counseling, community center development, and micro-enterprise business support. Read more about Hacienda CDC...

Housing Development Center

http://www.hdc1.org

The Housing Development Center (HDC) is a nonprofit project development organization that provides technical assistance to community development corporations in the metro Portland region. Since incorporating in 1993, HDC has completed work on over 3,000 units of affordable and special needs housing, ensuring that these projects move smoothly through the complex process of acquisition, financing, and construction management. Read more about Housing Development Center...

Reach CDC

http://www.reachcdc.org

Portland's oldest CDC, REACH serves seven inner southeast neighborhoods and provides affordable housing for over 1,000 people. Among its achievements, REACH has built, renovated and preserved over 1,300 housing units. These units include apartments and homes for rent or home ownership, including apartment buildings with on-site services for formerly homeless people, mentally disabled adults and the elderly; It has also provided no-cost home repairs for over 500 low-income home owners, led tenant leadership development programs and, supported local business district renovation. Read more about Reach CDC...

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

Albina Community Bank

http://www.albinabank.com

Formed in December 1995, Albina's investors include large local nonprofit organizations as well as hundreds of individual shareholders who live throughout the city. In its first decade, the bank grew to have over $100 million in assets and four branches. Since 2002, over 6,800 jobs have been created or maintained as a result of bank lending. Read more about Albina Community Bank...

Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Food Front Co-op

http://www.foodfront.coop

Since its formation in 1972, Food Front has grown to include over 6,000 members and more than 90 employees. The co-op emphasizes local, organically produced food and offer an extensive selection of organic produce, organic and natural grocery items, organic dairy products, bulk items, perishable foods, fresh deli foods, vitamins, herbs, cruelty-free body care, and aromatherapy products. Read more about Food Front Co-op...

People's Food Co-op

http://www.peoples.coop

Founded in 1970, People's Food completed an expansion in 2002. The store has over 3,100 active members, employs 30, with annual sales of roughly $4.5 million. As part of the 2002 expansion, People's implemented a number of design features that aim to maximize energy efficiency and sustainability. As part of its sustainability effort, it also delivers food to customers by bicycle. Read more about People's Food Co-op...

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

Miller Paint

http://www.millerpaint.com

Founded in 1890, Portland-based Miller Paint now operates throughout Oregon and Washington. In 1999, employees purchased the company through an employee stock ownership plan. Now, there is 100% employee ownership by the firm's 250-plus employees. Read more about Miller Paint...

New State & Local Policies

City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/

Created in 2000, the Portland Office of Sustainable Development is responsible for overseeing the City of Portland's effort to lower carbon dioxide emission levels and oversee the City's recycling, transit-oriented development, energy conversation, green building, and related sustainability efforts. To date, Portland has been successful at reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels and aims to continue to reduce these levels.  Read more about City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development...

Social Enterprise

Central City Concern

http://www.centralcityconcern.org

Begun in the late 1970s to provide homeless support services, Central City Concern has expanded to directly provide employment, health care, and housing for the population it serves. In addition to public funding, the agency receives income from rents and business enterprises. Businesses include a janitorial service company, an interior/exterior painting service, a property maintenance company, and a second-hand furniture store. In terms of housing, the nonprofit owns or manages approximately 1,500 units of housing within 23 buildings. Read more about Central City Concern...

PHC Northwest

http://www.phcnw.com

Founded in 1951, PHC operates a number of businesses, including janitorial services, a manufacturing business, and others that employ a total of 1,100 people with disabilities and provide the organization with 96% of its operating budget. Read more about PHC Northwest...

University & Community Partnerships

Center for Academic Excellence, Portland State University

http://www.pdx.edu/cae

With a motto of “Let Knowledge Serve the City,” Portland State has become a national leader in developing a model of the “engaged” urban university. More than 400 faculty and over 7,800 students a year participate in service learning courses and engage with over 1,000 community partners, as well as many of the school's other community engagement programs, including a minor program in civic leadership. Read more about Center for Academic Excellence, Portland State University...

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

Albina Community Bank

http://www.albinabank.com

Formed in December 1995, Albina's investors include large local nonprofit organizations as well as hundreds of individual shareholders who live throughout the city. In its first decade, the bank grew to have over $100 million in assets and four branches. Since 2002, over 6,800 jobs have been created or maintained as a result of bank lending. Read more about Albina Community Bank...

University & Community Partnerships

Center for Academic Excellence, Portland State University

http://www.pdx.edu/cae

With a motto of “Let Knowledge Serve the City,” Portland State has become a national leader in developing a model of the “engaged” urban university. More than 400 faculty and over 7,800 students a year participate in service learning courses and engage with over 1,000 community partners, as well as many of the school's other community engagement programs, including a minor program in civic leadership. Read more about Center for Academic Excellence, Portland State University...

Social Enterprise

Central City Concern

http://www.centralcityconcern.org

Begun in the late 1970s to provide homeless support services, Central City Concern has expanded to directly provide employment, health care, and housing for the population it serves. In addition to public funding, the agency receives income from rents and business enterprises. Businesses include a janitorial service company, an interior/exterior painting service, a property maintenance company, and a second-hand furniture store. In terms of housing, the nonprofit owns or manages approximately 1,500 units of housing within 23 buildings. Read more about Central City Concern...

PHC Northwest

http://www.phcnw.com

Founded in 1951, PHC operates a number of businesses, including janitorial services, a manufacturing business, and others that employ a total of 1,100 people with disabilities and provide the organization with 96% of its operating budget. Read more about PHC Northwest...

New State & Local Policies

City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/

Created in 2000, the Portland Office of Sustainable Development is responsible for overseeing the City of Portland's effort to lower carbon dioxide emission levels and oversee the City's recycling, transit-oriented development, energy conversation, green building, and related sustainability efforts. To date, Portland has been successful at reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels and aims to continue to reduce these levels.  Read more about City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development...

Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Food Front Co-op

http://www.foodfront.coop

Since its formation in 1972, Food Front has grown to include over 6,000 members and more than 90 employees. The co-op emphasizes local, organically produced food and offer an extensive selection of organic produce, organic and natural grocery items, organic dairy products, bulk items, perishable foods, fresh deli foods, vitamins, herbs, cruelty-free body care, and aromatherapy products. Read more about Food Front Co-op...

People's Food Co-op

http://www.peoples.coop

Founded in 1970, People's Food completed an expansion in 2002. The store has over 3,100 active members, employs 30, with annual sales of roughly $4.5 million. As part of the 2002 expansion, People's implemented a number of design features that aim to maximize energy efficiency and sustainability. As part of its sustainability effort, it also delivers food to customers by bicycle. Read more about People's Food Co-op...

Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Hacienda CDC

http://www.haciendacdc.org

Founded in 1992 in North Porland, Hacienda CDC has developed more than 380 units of housing serving over 1,200 residents. It also helped develop a healthcare clinic serving the uninsured. The CDC continues to pursue a wide range of programs, including financial and computer literacy training, homeownership counseling, community center development, and micro-enterprise business support. Read more about Hacienda CDC...

Housing Development Center

http://www.hdc1.org

The Housing Development Center (HDC) is a nonprofit project development organization that provides technical assistance to community development corporations in the metro Portland region. Since incorporating in 1993, HDC has completed work on over 3,000 units of affordable and special needs housing, ensuring that these projects move smoothly through the complex process of acquisition, financing, and construction management. Read more about Housing Development Center...

Reach CDC

http://www.reachcdc.org

Portland's oldest CDC, REACH serves seven inner southeast neighborhoods and provides affordable housing for over 1,000 people. Among its achievements, REACH has built, renovated and preserved over 1,300 housing units. These units include apartments and homes for rent or home ownership, including apartment buildings with on-site services for formerly homeless people, mentally disabled adults and the elderly; It has also provided no-cost home repairs for over 500 low-income home owners, led tenant leadership development programs and, supported local business district renovation. Read more about Reach CDC...

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

Miller Paint

http://www.millerpaint.com

Founded in 1890, Portland-based Miller Paint now operates throughout Oregon and Washington. In 1999, employees purchased the company through an employee stock ownership plan. Now, there is 100% employee ownership by the firm's 250-plus employees. Read more about Miller Paint...

Photos by Ben Amstutz & Drburtoni

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