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Portland Business Alliance Facts
What is the Portland Business Alliance?
Greater Portland's Chamber of Commerce.
When was the Portland Business Alliance formed?
The Portland Chamber of Commerce, the precursor to the Portland Business Alliance, was formed in 1870. In 2002, the Portland Chamber of Commerce merged with another local business organization, the Association for Portland Progress, to form the Alliance.
How many members are there?
More than 1,400 businesses throughout the Portland-Vancouver area.
Are most of the members large companies?
No, in fact 80 percent of our members have 50 employees or less.
How is the organization managed?
The work of the Alliance is overseen by a 56-member Board of Directors. The current chair of the Board is Charles A. Wilhoite, Principal of Willamette Management Associates. The incoming chair is Roger W. Hinshaw, President of Bank of America - Oregon & SW Washington.
The Alliance has 30 employees on staff. Day to day activities of the Alliance staff are overseen by Sandra McDonough, Alliance President & CEO. She has a team of senior directors including: Mike Kuykendall, Vice President of Central City/Downtown Services; Bernie Bottomly, Vice President of Government Affairs and Economic Development; Megan Doern, Vice President of Communications and Programmingr; and Brenda Falash, Director of Membership.
For a complete staff list, click here.
What are the top goals of the Alliance?
- Private Sector Job Growth: The Alliance will drive public policies that support and create private sector investment and job development and encourage entrepreneurialism, including tax and regulatory policies that encourage rather than inhibit private sector job development.
- Economic Vitality: The Alliance will advocate for policies supporting its belief that livability for Portland-region residents starts first with a sound economy that supports both private business growth and important public services.
- Sustainability: The Alliance will define regional sustainability as an appropriate balance among three equally important factors: a healthy economy, an educated workforce and environmental stewardship.
- Educational Opportunity: The Alliance will be a voice for effective and diverse educational opportunities for all Oregonians, from pre-school through higher education.
- Central City: The Alliance will be the leading regional advocate for a strong central city as a key component of a healthy region.
- Business Support: The Alliance will offer a variety of programs and services that support Portland-region businesses, large and small, including leadership development.
- Keeping downtown Portland clean and safe. The Alliance manages Downtown Clean & Safe for Portland Downtown Services, Inc. to ensure that Portland's downtown is the best place to live, work, shop, and play. BID resources are also used to provide crime prevention training, business assistance for retail and office operations, staffing for downtown neighborhood associations, and market research and downtown and retail marketing.
How is the Alliance funded?
Through annual membership dues, special events and sponsorships. Political activities undertaken by the Alliance are separately funded by the Political Action Committee. Alliance members are allowed to contribute to this fund.
What are a few of the Alliance's most recent successes?
- The Alliance has successfully advocated for local business tax relief in the form of an increase in the gross receipts exemption and the owners' compensation deduction for the city and county license fee and income tax. The Alliance is continuing its work for additional tax relief for local businesses.
- The Alliance was a critical voice in regional transportation policy decisions, working with Governor Kulongoski, state legislators and other business organizations to secure $900 million for transportation infrastructure.
- The Alliance's Pacific Northwest International Trade Association organized a trip to China, which was a resounding success. Thirty-nine participants learned about the challenges and opportunities that exist when doing business with China. PNITA hosted high-level events with federal legislators and key international trade representatives.
- The Alliance's effective management of the Clean & Safe program has helped achieve a 34 percent reduction in crime since 2005.
- The Alliance improved the downtown holiday lighting program, saving energy through the use of LED lights. Additionally, the Alliance supported the Mayor's Downtown Retail Initiative by facilitating the opening of four pop-up shops, which provided free retail space to local artists and designers and activated vacant storefronts for enhanced holiday shopping
Where is the Alliance located?
Portland Business Alliance
200 SW Market Street, Suite 150
Portland, OR 97201
Telephone: 503.224.8684
Fax: 503.323.9186
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