Business Outreach Program
Changing Lives . . . Changing Communities
The Business Outreach Program at Portland State University has a twelve-year history of assisting low to moderate income, primarily minority and women-owned small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs in inner North and Northeast Portland while providing Portland State University students with a unique opportunity to engage in community-based learning with local, small businesses and service providers. Currently, 68 percent of clients are at 50 percent or below the area medium income level. Over the last three years our client base has been 80percent microenterprise, 52 percent minority, and 50 percent women-owned firms. The following statistics are the result of the BOP's efforts:
- Over 420 companies supported since 1994
- Over 1,000 students placed as consultants
- $750,000 of student consulting services provided (based on $3,000 per project)
- BOP client firms created over 146 jobs during the past four years
Since 1994, the Business Outreach Program has been instrumental in creating and assisting hundreds of businesses in North and Northeast Portland through long-term mentoring relationships. The Business Outreach Program has expanded to include businesses citywide. Our mission is to provide knowledgeable and relevant mentoring and technical assistance, to help small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs achieve their potential, and to provide PSU students the opportunity for community based learning. The goal of the Business Outreach Program is to reduce the high failure rate for small businesses by assisting the entrepreneur in improving the profitability and survivability of their firm. The Business Outreach Program has received the following awards:
- 2002 Small Business Administration "Oregon Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year"
- PSU 2002 Civic Engagement Award
- 2001 Effective Government Award from North/Northeast Business Association
Dean Roger Ahlbrandt and Professor Alan Zeiber founded the BOP through a vision of providing management assistance to emerging businesses. The BOP works in partnership with other community-based organizations and community colleges and is funded by private donations and by the Bureau of Housing and Community Development.
The BOP's advisory board is comprised of business and community leaders who assist in the development and growth of the program by serving on board committees. The advisory board meets four times a year.
