March 19, 2020

Jade District-Oldtown COVID-19 Small Business Response Fund

3/26/20 UPDATE: APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. However additional grant opportunities will be available starting Monday, 3/30/20, through City of Portland. Sign up for updates here.



Nếu quý vị cần hổ trợ với điền đơn, xin vui lòng liên lạc với nhân viên APANO tại địa chỉ email covidsupport@apano.org

¿Necesitas ayuda con esta solicitud? Mándanos un email a: covidsupport@apano.org

您需要我们帮忙填写申请表格吗?通过以下电邮联系我们: Rosaline@portlandchinesetimes.com


About the Fund


Since mid January, 2020, small businesses in the Jade District have been experiencing a dramatic downturn in business due to fear and xenophobia. Many businesses are at the brink due to 6-8 weeks of lost business prior to the statewide declaration to close dining in options for all restaurants and bars.

On Tuesday March 17, Portland Mayor Wheeler declared "Every option will be on the table to support the resilience and the recovery of our local economy." That includes $140,000 in grants for businesses in the Jade District, the east Portland neighborhood with a large congregation of Asian-owned businesses—many of which were the first to see profits drop when COVID-19 began its spread across China." Also included are businesses in Old Town Chinatown.

Recognizing that there are more needs, the Jade District Steering Committee voted to tap into their rainy day fund and contributed another $50,000 to be made accessible for all Jade District businesses. As such, up to $190,000 will be available for disbursement. These resources are intended to be an additional short-term tool to support local businesses and not in place of other government intervention to support Portland and Oregon’s broader economy.


Who is Encouraged to Apply


Small businesses located in the Jade District or Old Town Chinatown with a priority on Asian and Pacific Islander owned businesses.


Process & Application


Applications are available for download in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

  1. Download English Application
    Đơn Tiếng Việt (Download Vietnamese Application)
    下载中文表格 (Download Chinese Application)
    Descargar Aplicación en Español (Download Spanish Application)
  2. SBA Economic Injury Worksheet


If you need any assistance in any of these languages please reach out to us as we can provide help in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

A complete submission consists of:
1. Application Form
2. Small Business Economic Injury Worksheet
3. One month budget prior to COVID-19 impact
4. Budget of how the grant will be used

When completed, please email to covidsupport@apano.org with the subject: Covid Response Fund Application.


Timeline


March 18 Applications are available for download

March 18-23: Community outreach and assisting applicants with filling out forms

March 23: Applications due by 11:59 pm to covidsupport@apano.org

March 24: Jade District Steering Committee & Old Town Chinatown selection committee meets to evaluate applications

March 25: Decisions announced and disbursements made within 2-3 days


Values & Scoring


These scoring criteria were developed by the Jade District Steering Committee in order to advance the following priorities that was developed:

  • Prioritize immigrant owned businesses and/or API owned small businesses
  • Support at-risk commercial renters
  • Support long-time businesses operating in the Jade District and Old Town Chinatown
  • Support businesses that have a history of supporting the broader community
  • Support businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis
  • Support businesses that will put funding to the best use



Scoring


Did you attach an SBA Economic Injury Form (see above) [10 points]

Is your business immigrant owned? [10 points]

Are you a renter? [10 points]

Years in business of operation in Jade District or Old Town Chinatown [10 points]

Describe ways in which you have supported the broader community in the past [15 points]

What is your number of employees impacted [15 points; more employees the more points]

How has your business been impacted in the last 8 weeks [15 points]

What will you use the funds for? [15 points]


Decision-making Body


Decisions will be made on March 24 by a subcommittee of the Jade District Steering Committee. The Jade Steering Committee is the advisory body for directing strategy and budgeting of Jade District programming year round and plans such events as the Jade District Night Market. Members are appointed to serve for annual renewable terms and are comprised of neighborhood residents and business owners with reserved voting slots for community anchor institutions including Portland Community College SE campus, Harrison Park School, 82nd Ave Business Association, and ROSE CDC. Representatives from Old Town Chinatown are also on the selection committee. Members of the committee live and work in these districts and are not eligible to be applicants of this fund.


FAQ


1) This fund prioritizes Jade District and Old Chinatown small businesses.

Am I in the Jade District? There are 2 easy ways to check.

  • Look at this map.
  • Or you can look on portlandmaps.com and enter your address and look under "Permits & Zoning" and then "Zoning and Districts." It will then say if your address is in the Jade District NPI.


Am I in Old town Chinatown?

  • Please see this action plan for the target area on Prosper Portland’s website



2) Can I get help filling out this form?


Yes, for any assistance please contact covidresponse@apano.org. You can be directed to in-language assistance from APANO staff, particularly for Vietnamese and Spanish. For additional support in Chinese, please reach out to Rosaline Hui at Rosaline@portlandchinesetimes.com.