Asian- and Pacific Islander-owned small businesses in some parts of Portland could receive grants as early as next week to help them weather the coronavirus outbreak.
The city will contribute $140,000 through its economic development agency Prosper Portland, and the remaining $50,000 will come from nonprofit Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, which will also be distributing the funds.
All businesses in the Jade District, the shopping and dining district centered on Southeast 82nd Avenue and Division Street, and Old Town Chinatown in Northwest Portland are eligible to apply for the grants and Asian and Pacific Islander owned businesses will get top priority, said Duncan Hwang, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon’s associate director.
Nonprofits and national franchises aren’t eligible.
[For more information about the COVID-19 Small Business Response Fund, including applications, click here]
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler first announced the grants on Tuesday and it’s one of the city’s first responses to help businesses seeing lower revenue related to coronavirus. Wheeler said there are plans to later expand financial aid to other businesses around the city, but that Asian business owners in Southeast Portland’s Jade District have been among the most impacted and some have seen their revenue drop by as much as 60% in recent weeks.
Online applications in English and Vietnamese were made available Wednesday. Duncan said the documents will also be put forth in Chinese and Spanish. The nonprofit is accepting the applications at covidsupport@apano.org.
Businesses can receive up to $10,000 in aid. Hwang said there are nearly 300 businesses in the Jade District alone, and he estimated around two-thirds are Asian- or Pacific Islander-owned. He said the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon has also been soliciting donations to help Jade District workers impacted by COVID-19 because of layoffs or reduced hours. He said it’s raised at least $6,000. Many of the workers affected are low-income immigrants, he said.
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Grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Monday. A selection committee made up of representatives of Portland Community College’s Southeast campus, Harrison Park School, Old Town Chinatown and other representatives will evaluate the applications with criteria that include supporting businesses most impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, at-risk commercial renters and immigrant-owned businesses, Hwang said.
Organizers plan to announce grant recipients next Wednesday and then give out the money within 2 to 3 days.
“This is meant to be an extra tool to help businesses make it until there’s a federal stimulus or something else coming from a state level that can support businesses that are in trouble,” Hwang said. He said he knew of some businesses in those areas whose monthly rent is around $10,000, for example.
Hwang attributed business declines in those areas since January to xenophobia and misplaced fear based on the geographic origin of the virus. He said his nonprofit and other outreach groups have been asking for the city’s support over the last six to eight weeks to help impacted businesses.
“We think this is a great step to have the mayor and the city make this kind of investment and really responsive to the community,” Hwang said. “But we also want our city and state governments to really work on a plan that will support and lift up all businesses being impacted.”
-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey
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