Projects page

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Projects

We are a volunteer organization, our officers and board members total just 9 very busy and committed individuals who willingly take on a variety of responsibilites and projects. NPBA Members are encouraged to volunteer for additional projects that we would like to be able to list here, - but require more effort than our nine volunteers can provide. If you would like to join us to help with any of these committees or projects - or you would like to take on a new one, please contact our Office Manager Evie at: eviesecretarial@yahoo.com

Yes! We can do more for all our membership - with your help!

Permanent Committees

Alliance of Portland Neighborhoods & Business Associations (APNBA)

This is a Board of Directors elected position and is held by the elected board member for a term of two years. The board member is expected to attend all meetings and functions of the APNBA and represent NPBA in all matters coming before the APNBA. APNBA is a coalition of all the business associations in the City of Portland, which provides many resources to the individual business association members.

Business Relations

Chaired by Director Tracy Menasco, the Business Relations Committee seeks to assist North Portland commercial property owners in finding tenants for their un-leased buildings and providing local business owners with best business practices. For updates and meeting notes: Click Here

Communications

The Communications Committee is chaired by Director Mike Salvo. It is responsible for the monthly NPBA Newsletter, website operations and all other facets of how NPBA communicates with its membership. To learn more, read the notes from the last meeting Click Here

Community Outreach

The Community Outreach Committee is chaired by Director Tanya Scott. This committee is responsible for coordinating and engaging in non-business community events. were NPBA may be assistive or complimentary to other community efforts. The committee works with groups such as Friends of Trees, and attends Neighborhood Association meetings as requested. To learn more and read our meeting notes Click here

Grants

Our Grants Committee is responsible for ascertaining which grants are available to NPBA or its members. Committee members attend grant orientation meetings, understand the criteria of the grants and communicate to the NPBA Board and general membership. The committee is chaired byDirector Tracy Menasco. To learn more and read our meeting notes Click here

Lester Viles Trust

Chaired by Director Mike Verbout, the committee is responsible for working with the Viles Trust, creating and distribution of grant applications and associated materials. The committee will evaluate applications received during the annual cycle of grant awarding and assist the Office Manager as required in managing the grant awards. For more information and our meeting notes Click here.

Meetings & Events

This committee is responsible for coordinating all the events that NPBA may host. Chaired by Director Dr. Dan Halko, the committee deals with the General Meetings, After Hours, summer Bar B Que and seminars. For more information and committee notes Click here.

Membership

The Membership Committee is responsible for meeting and greeting members and potential new members at all NPBA events. Chaired by our Office Manager, Evie Salvo, the committee is also responsible for collecting the yearly dues and maintaining membership files.

Transportation

Our Transportation Committee is chaired by Director Jack Gold. This committee is responsible for working with transportation issues that affect North Portland businesses. Members attend various community and government agency transportation meetings and represent the issues and views of our membership. To learn more read the notes from the last meeting. Click Here

Current Projects

Empty Storefront Initiative (ESI)

NPBA is forming a group of interested business members to engage owners of empty properties with a goal of getting tenants. Discovery of the issues that contribute to long term empty storefronts and bringing together various agencies to assist in resolving issues are part of the ESI focus. More information is available from NPBA President Jim Schaller.

Business Round Table

Sponsored by NPBA in partnership with the Pamplin School of Business at the University of Portland, this project will bring together area business owners who agree to meet once a month for a year. Under the stewardship of the Dean of the Business School, members will engage in problem resolution for common problems identified by the group members. Members of Interstate or Kenton Business Associations should see their respective Associations to apply. The resources of the U of P will be made available for in-depth studies of identified problems as needed. NPBA members please contact either President Jim Schaller or Director Mike Verbout to learn more or become a round table member. Seats are limited.

Gateway Signs

NPBA has written a grant application to the North Portland Enhancement Committee (NPEC) to obtain funding to restore the six Gateway to Nature signs that are posted along the major access highways to the North Peninsula. The signs have been in service for nearly 15 years and are in need of TLC and paint. NPEC awarded the NPBA $2000 towards the work.

Blighted Intersection

The city has recently installed new signals as well as curb cuts for wheelchairs at the intersection of N. Lombard and N. Portsmouth Avenue. An ARCO service station at this upgraded intersection is surrounded by temporary fencing and boarded over windows. It has been empty for more than six months, with no indications that it will be reopened. NPBA is seeking a dialog with ARCO represenatives to at least keep the site cleaned up, and we will be encouraging them to proceed with either reopening the station, or selling the property so that it can be an asset to the business community around it.

Lombard Pavement

Everyone has seen the deterioration of this State Highway (US 30 By-Pass) and the various repairs that have been made. Despite the attemps to keep the roadway intact, it continues to degrade because of heavy vehicular truck traffic that pounds through sunken manhole covers, ruts, holes and asphalt moguls. NPBA is now engaged in what we hope will be meaningful dialog to produce some commitment to improving the roadway, and providing high quality repair work instead of the shameful cold patch jobs of the past.

MTIP

Past President Steve Weir is representing the Association members at the MTIP (Metro Transportation Improvement Project) meetings which will plan and change the routing of trucks through St. Johns. The project includes changes to signal synchronization, cutting curbs for ease of truck traffic, a new signal at the intersection of Richmond and Ivanhoe streets, and adding several additional pedestrian cross walks.

BROWNFIELD PROJECT

President Jim Schaller represents the Association and its member businesses at the monthly meetings, concerning the development of the brownfield property in St. Johns and the disposition of the St. Johns Racquet Center. This Citizen Advisory Committee was put together by city councilman Sam Adams and is responsible for coming up with a comprehensive plan that reflects the needs and desires of the community and other interests in the property.

PORTLAND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

Past President Steve Weir is a member of a group started by city councilman Sam Adams, and attending meetings concerning the plan to improve city streets through various funding proposals that are being evaluated. Watch the newsletter for developments as this idea proceeds towards an ordinance.

Projects Accomplished

APNBA Grant

APNBA awarded NPBA $2000 to help NPBA Members, that do not have a webpage, to obtain one at very low cost. The money will permitted 8 applicants to work with our web designer to find the right combination of graphics and text to produce a webpage. (2008)

Holiday Grant
Director Tanya Scott was awarded a "Holiday" grants of $1900, from APBNA, to be used for those NPBA businesses located on Lombard between Fiske and Portsmouth. The money was used to promote member businesses by means of a map and other descriptive promotional printing as well as feature them in one or more advertisements in print media including the Oregonian, St. Johns Review and St. Johns Sentinel (2007)
St. Johns Lombard Plan

Encouraged and promoted the creation of the 20 year plan, ensuring the North Portland business community input and participation concerning economic growth that directly impacts businesses.
Tri-Met Yellow Line
Partnered with the Interstate Business Association to secure free booths for all member businesses of the IBA and NPBA for the opening line celebration.
N. Portland Police Precinct
Enhanced NPBA member businesses security of their properties, by leading and organizing the retention of Senior Detectives and Senior Community Police Officers at their local precincts, by engaging all Portland Metro Business Associations with the aid of APNBA and KOIN 6 TV News.
Co-op Advertising
Secured grants and co-partnered with the St. Johns Boosters to provide multiple co-op media advertising and holiday promotions for all North Portland businesses that chose to participate.
Think Local
Promoted member businesses through introduction of a Think Local campaign, sponsoring five after hours networking events.
Member Business Promotion
Promoted and provided free member representation at multiple events such as the St. Johns Bridge Opening and various North Portland community fairs (1989-1991).
MTIP
Secured and organized the two million dollar St. Johns MTIP grant by organizing all businesses and business association on the North Portland Peninsula and participated in the I-5 Corridor plan.
Tri-Met Bus Service
Worked for member businesses in Rivergate to secure 31 additional bus trips for the St. Johns / Rivergate industrial area, resolving a 9 year issue of expanded transit needs.
Fiscal Agency
Served as the fiscal agent for the final year of the St. Johns in the 21st Century BHCD Grant.

Served as the fiscal agent for the redevelopment of the Kenton Hotel on behalf of owner John Condon (1987)
Small Business and Rail Issues
Actively represented member businesses on Commissioner Jim Francesconi's Small Business Round Table and at meetings of Congressman Earl Blumenauer's proposed $275 million dollar legislation for rail and infrastructure improvements, presenting our area's interests.
Business Tax
Organized, conducted and hosted a new business tax forum at the University of Portland.
Friends of Trees

Lester Viles initiated a effort known as Columbia Park Tree Planting, to plant replacement trees in the city park. To expand the effort beyond the park, NPBA affiliated with the Friends of Trees in 1993, and helps plant hundreds of new trees in the Peninsula each year.
Kenton Promotion

Larry Scruggs, Rose Festival Director and board member, arranged for Rose Festival Banners to be hung in downtown Kenton in conjunction with the Rose Festival sanctioned Indy Car Races (1987)
School Support

Supported Rosevelt High School to obtain improved athletic facilities. Members painted and installed new carpeting in James John School (1997

Organized and sponsored a School Budget Forum at the University of Portland to promote understanding and provide a platform for asking questions about the buget and budgeting process, with empahsis on North Portland schools. (1998)
Portland Police Support

Joined with and supported community activists and others to stop a budgetary planned closure of the North Portland Police Precinct. (2006)

Paul Bunyan Statue

Created and obtained two grants from APNBA totalling $4000. A bronze placque was created explaining the history of the statue and crediting its construction to NPBA Member Kenton Machine Works. (1998)

Name Change Project

A contest was held to select a new name for the organization that would reflect its increasing membership from businesses not located on N. Lombard Street. The Lombard North Business Association officially became the North Portland Business Association in 1998. The second name choice was the Peninsula Business Association.