M artin L uther K ing J r .
January 13, 2016
2016 special edition
INSIDE
The
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Week in Review
This page
Sponsored by:
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L OCAL N EWS
M ARTIN L UTHER K ING J R .
O BITUARIES
C ALENDAR
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M ETRO
Photo by o livia o livia /t he P ortland o bserver
Stephanie Duncker, Startup PDX Challenge program manager, with James Pritchett (left) and Brian
Rhon, two of the six budding entrepreneurs who are receiving Portland Development Commission
support via rent-free office space, professional services, and a $25,000 convertible loan to boost the
creation of minority-run businesses in the city.
Opportunity Knocks
Year begins with help to minority-run startups
o livia o livia
t he P ortland o bserver
It’s a busy week at the Portland
Development Commission’s Old
Town offices, but one filled with
hope and new opportunity for six
lucky startup minority-run busi-
nesses.
The winners of the third annual
Startup PDX Challenge are mov-
ing in to the building on North-
west Fifth Avenue, where they
will enjoy a full year of rent-free
office space, peer-to-peer support,
access and referrals to other busi-
ness mentors and services, and
one-year memberships in entre-
preneurial organizations and pro-
by
say there are a slew of opportuni-
ties and funds that come through
their office every year to help out
emerging and disadvantaged start-
ups for minorities, women and
others, but that the PDX Chal-
lenge event is annual competition
that carries a focused promise.
“Being able to get people the
opportunities to compete in the
market, to get the business help
and advice they need, it helps
close the gaps that exist,” explains
Harder. “We all can’t wait to see
what this year brings for these
new winners.”
C ontinued on P age 7
Advocates Demand Housing Justice
pages
34-37
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
C LASSIFIEDS
O PINION
grams, and, of course, $25,000 in
a convertible note or loan – mon-
ey that is essential to their growth
and hopefully helping close the
every looming gap between black
and white wealth.
“Economic development is best
served when you’re filling a gap in
the economy,” says Chris Harder,
the PDC’s economic development
manager. “This outstanding group
of companies brings together
powerful stories, solid founding
teams, and the potential to expand
Portland’s network of innovative
companies competing in the glob-
al economy.”
Harder and his team at PDC
page 30
pages 38-39
The Portland Tenants Union in-
vites the community to join them
at Portland City Hall Friday as
they make demands for housing
justice.
A rally is scheduled to begin at
4:30 p.m. followed by a march to
demonstrate the economic hard-
ships facing Portland renters and
stop a rash of no-cause evictions
as landlords increasingly redevel-
op properties.
The housing advocates say
renters have also faced retaliato-
ry and discriminatory evictions
which are illegal, but the burden
of proof is on the tenant (as is the
financial burden of securing legal
counsel), and the risk to the tenant
is high.
The most vulnerable popu-
lations impacted by Portland’s
housing crisis are the low income
elderly and disabled, those with
complex and chronic health is-
sues, people of color, victims of
domestic violence, single parents,
and veterans.
The organization says it is time
for Portland’s tenants to demand
accountability from our landlords
and bold solutions from our gov-
ernment.