MEDIA ADVISORY: REMINDER: City Of Portland’s Bureau Of Planning And Sustainability Invites Members Of The Media To Installation Of Public Trash Can, Wednesday, April 16 -04/16/25

City Of Portland's Office Of Community Technology Awards $155,000 Grants To Three Organizations Advancing Digital Equity For Small Businesses -04/10/25

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's (BPS) Office of Community Technology is pleased to announce the selection of three finalists for the Small Business Digital Navigator Grant. Each organization will receive $155,000 to implement projects that enhance digital skills and access for underrepresented small business owners in Portland. 

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. 

Eric Engstrom Named Director Of The Portland Bureau Of Planning And Sustainability -04/01/25

Portland, Ore.— Deputy City Administrator for Community and Economic Development Donnie Oliveira today announced that Eric Engstrom has been appointed as the permanent director of the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), following a competitive application and hiring process. Engstrom has served as interim director since May 2024.

“Eric’s leadership experience, strategic vision, and deep understanding of Portland’s planning and climate landscape uniquely qualify him for this role,” said Deputy City Administrator Donnie Oliveira. “He will play a pivotal role in advancing Portland’s sustainability, economic vitality, and community focused development.”

Engstrom brings nearly three decades of experience with the City of Portland, holding roles including principal planner and deputy director before becoming interim director. His extensive background includes significant contributions to strategic planning, zoning reform, and major citywide initiatives.

As director, Engstrom will oversee efforts to strengthen Portland’s sustainability practices, guide smart urban development, and lead implementation strategies to align BPS with the City’s evolving governmental structure. He will also collaborate closely with other bureaus within the Community and Economic Development service area to further community and economic development initiatives.

“I’m excited to lead BPS during this important moment of change and opportunity and with an amazing staff,” said Engstrom. “This bureau is at the forefront of shaping Portland’s future, and we’ll continue working closely with the community and city leadership to address critical challenges and create vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods.”

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) develops creative and practical solutions to enhance Portland’s livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. BPS collaborates with community partners to provide comprehensive land use, neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental planning, and urban design; research, policy and technical services to advance green building, energy efficiency and the use of solar and renewable energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, a sustainable food system, digital equity and community technology; and policy and actions to address climate change. BPS is one of several bureaus and programs in the Community and Economic Development service area, which aligns City programs focused on building prosperity for all Portlanders by creating and delivering efficient, transparent, and equitable solutions for a resilient built environment – and services, resources, and experiences for our community.

Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Launches Its Fourth Community Grants Program Funding Cycle -03/26/25

Applications for $67 million of available funding open March 26 through May 27, 2025

Portland, Ore.— Today, the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) opened applications for its Community Grants Program funding cycle. This will be the fourth round of funding strictly allocated for community-led projects and will distribute up to $67 million in grants across five categories:

• Energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Regenerative agriculture and green infrastructure
• Workforce and contractor development
• Transportation decarbonization
• Other greenhouse gas reducing projects

The Community Grants program is a cornerstone of PCEF’s work, ensuring priority populations in Portland are leading climate solutions. Community-led projects advance climate justice and reduce emissions for Portlanders, especially those hit first and hardest by climate change. Past projects include improving energy efficiency in affordable housing, expanding access to regenerative farming, planting trees to cool neighborhoods, creating career pathways in the green workforce, or making biking and walking safer and more accessible.

As PCEF’s primary grantmaking initiative, the program funds both planning and implementation projects, ensuring organizations have the resources to develop and carry out community-led climate solutions. By centering PCEF priority populations, the program helps ensure that the benefits of climate action are accessible, equitable, and impactful for all Portlanders.

Technical assistance

Applicants can access a variety of resources to assist with their application and are encouraged to attend application office hours, review the applicant handbook, and review guidance materials. Information is available on the PCEF website.

Why this work matters

In 2020, City Council declared that “a human-made climate emergency threatens our city, our region, our state, our nation, humanity, and the natural world,” and called for “an immediate mobilization effort initiating greater action, resources, and collaboration that prioritizes frontline communities to restore a safe climate.”

The Community Grant Program works to advance a climate-resilient Portland. PCEF has already granted more than $219 million in funds that support under-resourced communities in our city. The PCEF program progress dashboard can be viewed online.

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).

About the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities of color and low-income residents. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities of color.

About the Community and Economic Development Service Area

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is part of the City’s Community and Economic Development service area, which also includes the Portland Housing Bureau, Portland Permitting and Development, Prosper Portland, the Enhanced Services Districts Program, and the Spectator Venues and Visitor Activities Program. The Community and Economic Development service area aligns City programs focused on building prosperity for all Portlanders by creating and delivering efficient, transparent, and equitable solutions for a resilient built environment – and services, resources, and experiences for our community.