Community Technology awards three $155,000 grants to organizations advancing digital equity for small businesses

Press Release

Each organization will receive $155,000 to implement projects that enhance digital skills and access for underrepresented small business owners in Portland.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's (BPS) Community Technology Program is pleased to announce the selection of three awardees for the Small Business Digital Navigator Grant.

Funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Community Project Fund, this grant program aims to increase digital skills among underrepresented small business owners and entrepreneurs; enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of Portland's small businesses; and establish long-term digital equity capacity through community-based services.

The City of Portland is proud to partner with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), the Soul District Business Association (SDBA), and Xcelerate Women - three organizations selected for their powerful, forward-thinking projects aimed at expanding digital access and uplifting historically marginalized communities.

"Our goal is to build a foundation for long-term digital equity," said Alonso Melendez, Digital Equity Coordinator at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. "These projects aren't just about closing today's digital gaps - they're about creating lasting infrastructure for more inclusive communities and resilient small business ecosystems. At the core, these grants are about more than technology - they're about investing in people and the future of their communities."

Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO)

MESO will use the grant to expand its digital advising support from 10 to 20 hours per week. This enhancement will allow MESO to assist more Portland entrepreneurs and small businesses in integrating e-commerce strategies, enhancing digital marketing, and adopting tools like QuickBooks to improve operational efficiency and financial tracking.

Soul District Business Association (SDBA)

SDBA plans to scale its Small Business Digital Navigator program by offering hands-on digital training, personalized technical assistance, and cohort-based learning labs. This expansion aims to address the digital exclusion that disproportionately affects BIPOC and historically marginalized business owners in Portland.

Xcelerate Women

Xcelerate will provide customized one-on-one digital marketing coaching to women and gender-expansive business owners. Services will include training on website fundamentals, SEO audits, social media strategy workshops, and Google My Business optimization. Each participant will receive an individualized evaluation to develop a tailored training plan supported by expert coaches.

About the Program

The Small Business Digital Navigator Grant is part of the City's broader initiative to ensure equitable access to digital resources for Portland's small business community. Projects funded by this grant are slated for implementation between June 2025 and June 2027. More information about the grant program and future opportunities can be found on the BPS website.

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) oversees a world-renowned waste and recycling system and leads the country in its commitment to digital equity, open data, and protecting communities in the application of technologies. Staff collaborate with partners on neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planning and provide research, policy, and technical services to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change. The bureau also oversees the innovative Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).