TL;DR (generated, confidence: high)

The Portland PPD Small Business Empowerment Program is not accepting new applications as of September 12, 2025, but directs inquiries to Prosper Portland's Office of Small Business and offers free 15-minute permitting consultation appointments.

Key points:

Program stopped accepting new applications as of 09/12/2025 (Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗)
Referral to Prosper Portland's Office of Small Business for alternative small business assistance (Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗)
Free 15-minute appointment scheduling available for permitting questions (Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗)
Services include connecting to community resources, pre-lease information, and site research tools (Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗)
Provides end-to-end support from project start to completion for permitting and building questions (Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗)
Intake form submission required to be contacted when accepting new clients (Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗)

Entities: program: Small Business Empowerment Program | organization: Prosper Portland's Office of Small Business | agency: Portland PPD | date: 09/12/2025 | service: 15-minute appointment

Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications

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Source: Small Business Empowerment Program Not accepting new applications ↗ Last modified: Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:02:49 GMT

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UPDATE 09/12/2025: We are not accepting new applications.

Please reach out to Prosper Portland’s Office of Small Business ↗ for other small business assistance.

For Permitting questions, please schedule a free 15-minute appointment ↗.

Please fill out the intake form so we can contact you as soon as we are accepting new clients.

The program provides services that support small business owners in permitting their projects, so that they can continue running their businesses.

How we will support you

Connects small business owners to community resources
Empowers small business owners with the information needed before signing a lease agreement
Provide tools to help you research specific sites and / or tenant spaces
Works with clients to find options for solving permitting and building questions
As needed, we will work with you from the beginning to the end of your project

Why small businesses

Small businesses are the lifeline to fostering strong local economies, keeping money close to home and supporting neighborhoods and communities. Importantly, these businesses are not only providers of critical services in underserved communities; they also serve as primary sources of jobs and income in local communities.

It is vital that small businesses receive extraordinary, rapid and flexible support to survive and recover from the pandemic. Failure to assist them will widen already unsustainable disparities.