Prosper Portland Explained

Prosper Portland, formerly the Portland Development Commission (PDC), is the community development corporation created by the city of Portland, Oregon. It promotes development, housing projects and economic development within the city's eleven urban renewal districts.

As of 2025, Prosper Portland is overseen by the city’s Community & Economic Development service area, led by Deputy City Administrator for Community and Economic Development Donnie Oliveira.^{[2] [3]}

In February 2025, Prosper Portland issued a loan that did not meet its own risk guidelines to a startup athletic wear company called Made in Old Town. Applications by Made in Old Town for additional funding were denied by Oregon regional government Portland Metro and the Clean Energy Fund.^[4]

History

In May 2017, the Portland City Council voted to change PDC's name to Prosper Portland.^[5]

It has controversially sought to establish measurable standards for workplace diversity among its contractors.^[6]

References

• News: Ryan . Frank . Foes suggest Portland Development Commission plan is illegal. Real estate interests threaten a plan to spend $50 million in Pearl revenues on urban projects outside the district . The Oregonian . May 15, 2008 . 2008-06-10 .

External links

• • https://www.portland.gov/service-areas/community-and-economic-development

Notes and References

1. Web site: City Organization . 2025-02-27. portland.gov. en. 2025-02-26. https://archive.today/20250226190821/https://www.portland.gov/transition/government/documents/july-1-2024-city-organizational-chart/download. live.
2. Web site: City Organization . 2025-02-27. portland.gov. en. 2025-02-26. https://archive.today/20250226190821/https://www.portland.gov/transition/government/documents/july-1-2024-city-organizational-chart/download. live.
3. Web site: City Leadership Team . 2025-02-27 . Portland.gov . en . 2025-02-24 . https://archive.today/20250224194056/https://www.portland.gov/hello/city-leadership . live .
4. Web site: A $7 Million Loan From Prosper Portland to an Athletic Wear Campus in Old Town Flouts the Agency’s Risk Guidelines. 2025-03-02 . wweek.com . en . 2025-03-02 . https://archive.today/20250302222317/https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/02/18/a-7-million-loan-from-prosper-portland-to-an-athleticwear-campus-in-old-town-flouts-the-agencys-risk-guidelines/ . live .
5. News: Redden. Jim. PDC changes name to Prosper Portland. Business Tribune. May 10, 2017. Portland, Oregon. 2017-05-25.
6. News: Libby . Tucker . Portland Development Commission Could Extend South Waterfront Contract to All Future Projects . Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR) via Black Enterprise . 2008-06-04 . 2008-06-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060623030757/http://blackenterprise.com/yb/ybopen.asp?section=ybsb . 2006-06-23 . dead .