An ambitious new initiative supported by community organizations and government leaders to promote the successful development of Black-owned businesses in the Portland region was announced on Monday, April 25.
The Black Business Association-Oregon has hired Lance Randall, 56, a small business owner with extensive economic development experience, as its executive director. He has relocated from the Seattle area, where he worked for both public and private economic development organizations.
kAmQx D2H E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ :? !@CE=2?5 E@ 4@>3:?6 64@?@>:4 ;FDE:46 2?5 D@4:2= ;FDE:46 27E6C E96 AC@E6DED E92E 7@==@H65 E96 562E9 @7 v6@C86 u=@J5[Q D2:5 #2?52==[ C676CC:?8 E@ E96 F?2C>65 q=24< >2? <:==65 3J |:??62A@=:D A@=:46] Q%96C6 92D 366? 2 =@E @7 7@4FD @? D@4:2= ;FDE:46 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ 3FE E96 q=24< qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@? :D 2=D@ H@C<:?8 E@ :>AC@G6 E96 q=24< 3FD:?6DD6D E92E 92G6 9:DE@C:42==J 366? E96 365C@4< @7 E96 q=24< 4@>>F?:EJ] %92EVD 2 >@56= 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ E@@[Q #2?52== E@=5 E96 !@CE=2?5 %C:3F?6]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ #2?52==[ E96C6 2C6 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? 2 5@K6? 6I:DE:?8 @C82?:K2E:@?D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 :?G@=G65 :? q=24<\@H?65 3FD:?6DD 56G6=@A>6?E] w6 D66D 9:D C@=6 :? A2CE 2D 3C:?8:?8 E96> E@86E96C F?56C 2 4@>>@? 286?52 E@ DFAA@CE E96 C6E6?E:@? 2?5 6IA2?D:@? @7 6I:DE:?8 q=24<\@H?65 3FD:?6DD6D[ 2?5 E@ C64CF:E ?6H q=24<\@H?65 3FD:?6DD E@ E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 :ED ?2>6[ #2?52== D2JD E96 :?:E:2E:G6 H:== 96=A E96 =2C86C ?F>36C @7 q=24<[ x?5:86?@FD[ !6@A=6 @7 r@=@C Wqx!~rX 3FD:?6DD6D 8C@H 2?5 AC@DA6C]k^Am
kAmQ|J G:D:@? :D E@ 249:6G6 64@?@>:4 6BF:EJ 7@C qx!~r 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E :D DFDE2:?23=6 2?5 =2DE:?8 E9C@F89 2 q=24< 64@?@>:4 C6D:=:6?46 286?52 7@C E96 DE2E6 @7 ~C68@?] x 36=:6G6 H6 42? 3C:?8 E9:D G:D:@? E@ 7CF:E:@? E9C@F89 86?F:?6 A2CE?6CD9:AD[ D:8?:7:42?E :?G6DE>6?ED 2 56E2:=65 DEC2E68J[ 2?5 2? F?H2G6C:?8 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 64@?@>:4 ;FDE:46[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 :?:E:2E:G6 H2D 4C62E65 E9C@F89 2 AF3=:4\AC:G2E6 A2CE?6CD9:A E92E :?4=F565 E96 !@CE=2?5 qFD:?6DD p==:2?46[ E96 4:EJ @7 !@CE=2?5[ !C@DA6C !@CE=2?5[ E96 q=24<[ x?5:86?@FD[ !6@A=6 @7 r@=@C r2F4FD @7 E96 ~C68@? {68:D=2EFC6[ E96 |6J6C |6>@C:2= %CFDE[ v@@8=6VD %:56H2E6C u@F?52E:@?[ E96 4:EJ @7 !@CE=2?5[ 2?5 E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 |:?@C:EJ r@?EC24E@CD—~C68@? r92AE6C] %@86E96C[ E96J 92G6 4@?EC:3FE65 >@C6 E92? S` >:==:@? D@ 72C]k^Am
kAmQ*@F 42?VE 86E E@ ;FDE:46 H:E9@FE 4C62E:?8 64@?@>:4 ;FDE:46 7@C q=24< ~C68@?:2?D[Q D2:5 sVpCE28?2? r2=:>2?[ 5:C64E@C @7 |6J6C |6>@C:2= %CFDEVD yFDE:46 ~C68@? 7@C q=24< {:G6D :?:E:2E:G6[ 2 7:G6\J62C[ Sad >:==:@? 4@>>:E>6?E] QxV> AC@F5 E92E |6J6C :D DFAA@CE:?8 E96 Wq=24< qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@?\~C68@?X[ 2?5 xV> 4@?7:56?E E92E |C] #2?52== 2?5 9:D E62> H:== 36 2? 2DD6E E@ @FC DE2E6[ 2?5 E@ ~C68@?VD q=24< 3FD:?6DD 4@>>F?:E:6D]Qk^Am
kAm%96 q=24< qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@?\~C68@? :D 9@FD65 :? E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 |:?@C:EJ r@?EC24E@CD\~C68@? r92AE6C[ H9:49 25G@42E6D 2?5 DFAA@CED q=24<[ x?5:86?@FD[ !6@A=6 @7 r@=@C\@H?65 3FD:?6DD6D 3J @AE:>:K:?8 AC@;64E A2CE:4:A2E:@? 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 3FD:?6DD 56G6=@A>6?E E9C@F89 65F42E:@? 2?5 EC2:?:?8]k^Am
kAmQpD 2 7@F?5:?8 >6>36C @7 E96 q=24< qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@? @7 ~C68@?[ x 2> E9C:==65 E@ H6=4@>6 {2?46 #2?52== 2D :ED ?6H 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C[Q D2:5 p?5C6H r@=2D[ AC6D:56?E U2>Aj rt~ @7 r@=2D r@?DECF4E:@? x?4][ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 3@2C5 @7 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 |:?@C:EJ r@?EC24E@CD\~C68@? r92AE6C[ 2?5 3@2C5 >6>36C @7 E96 2==:2?46VD 3@2C5] Q{2?46VD DEC@?8 324<8C@F?5 :? 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E E9C@F89@FE 9:D 42C66C >256 9:> E96 4=62C 49@:46] (6 36=:6G6 E92E 96 H:== 4C62E6 2 3=F6AC:?E E92E H:== 6G6?EF2==J 364@>6 2 ?2E:@?2= >@56= 7@C q=24< 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 6?EC6AC6?6FCD9:A]Qk^Am
k9bm|@G6 E@ (6DE r@2DEk^9bm
kAm#2?52== H2D 3@C? :? |24@?[ v6@C8:2[ H96C6 96 2?5 9:D 7@FC D:DE6CD H6C6 C2:D65 3J 9:D A2C6?ED] w6 8C25F2E65 7C@> q:33 r@F?EJ !F3=:4 $49@@=D 2?5 2EE6?565 |@C82? $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ :? q2=E:>@C6[ |2CJ=2?5[ H96C6 96 8C25F2E65 H:E9 2 568C66 :? A@=:E:42= D4:6?46] w6 :D 2=D@ 2 8C25F2E6 @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ~<=29@>2VD 9:89=J 244=2:>65 t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E x?DE:EFE6 :? }@C>2?[ ~<=29@>2] $:?46 `hhd[ #2?52== 92D 96=5 2 D6C:6D @7 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E A@D:E:@?D :? v6@C8:2 2?5 (2D9:?8E@?[ H96C6 96 H2D C64CF:E65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@? @7 3FD:?6DD C6=2E:@?D >2?286C 7@C E96 $62EE=6 ~77:46 @7 t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E] x? a_`d[ #2?52== 3642>6 E96 5:C64E@C @7 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 7@C $@FE962DE t7764E:G6 s6G6=@A>6?E[ 2? @C82?:K2E:@? E92E AC@G:56D 2CED 2?5 4F=EFC6[ 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E[ 2?5 =@H\:?4@>6 9@FD:?8 7@C C6D:56?ED =:G:?8 :? $@FE962DE $62EE=6] p44@C5:?8 E@ 9:D 2??@F?46>6?E[ 5FC:?8 9:D 42C66C[ #2?52==VD H@C< :? 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 92D 86?6C2E65 >@C6 E92? Scf >:==:@? :? :?G6DE>6?ED 3J =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 4C62E65 2?5 AC6D6CG65 2=>@DE `[b__ ;@3D]k^Am
kAm#2?52== 2=D@ @H?D E96 p77@C523=6 $@F?5 r@][ 2 AC:G2E6 3FD:?6DD E92E D6ED FA 2?5 @A6C2E6D 4FDE@> D@F?5 DJDE6>D 7@C D>2==\ 2?5 >65:F>\D:K65 G6?F6D[ :?4=F5:?8 49FC496D 2?5 4@?46CE 92==D] w6 C6=@42E65 E96 3FD:?6DD E@ !@CE=2?5 H96? 96 >@G65 7@C E96 ?6H A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6 2C6 =@E @7 E9:?8D x =62C?65 2D 2 3FD:?6DD @H?6C E92E 96=AD H:E9 >J 36:?8 2? 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E AC24E:E:@?6C[Q #2?52== D2:5]k^Am
k9bmV%96 x?G:D:3=6 z?66Vk^9bm
kAm#2?52== H2D C64CF:E65 E@ 9:D ?6H A@D:E:@? 3J |@EFD #64CF:E:?8[ 2? 2H2C5\H:??:?8 C64CF:E:?8 2?5 DE277:?8 7:C> :? E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE[ DA64:2=:K:?8 :? AC@76DD:@?2= D6CG:46D 2?5 E649?@=@8J D@=FE:@?D] %96 C64CF:E:?8 677@CE H2D =65 3J 2 4@2=:E:@? @7 E96 p==:2?46VD q=24< 3@2C5 >6>36CD[ H9@ :DDF65 2 DE2E6>6?E E:E=65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A@CE=2?52==:2?46]4@>^?6HD^a_a_\_e\_h^E96\:?G:D:3=6\<?66TtaTg_Ths\\\2\42==\E@\24E:@?\7@C\64@?@>:4\6]9E>=QmQ%96 x?G:D:3=6 z?66Qk^2m 42==:?8 7@C 24E:@? 7@C 64@?@>:4 6BF:EJ @? yF?6 h[ a_a_[ 5FC:?8 E96 D@4:2= ;FDE:46 AC@E6DED u=@J5VD 562E9]k^Am
kAmQ%96 A2E9H2J 7@CH2C5 5@6D ?@E C6BF:C6 E96 6=:>:?2E:@? @7 42A:E2=:D>[ @C FA6?5:?8 E96 6?EC6AC6?6FC:2= DA:C:E @7 @FC C68:@?[ 3FE :?DE625 6>A@H6C:?8 E96 q=24< 4@>>F?:EJ E@ 2DA:C6 2?5 249:6G6 H62=E9 E9C@F89 E96 7@DE6C:?8 @7 2? 64@?@>:4 64@DJDE6> E92E C64@8?:K6D E96 9:DE@C:42= DJDE6>:4 32CC:6CD q=24< A6@A=6 7246 H96? H@C<:?8 E@ 2>2DD H62=E9] (6 <?@H E92E v6@C86 u=@J5 =@DE 9:D =:76 H96? 2 <?66 H2D 96=5 282:?DE 9:D ?64< 3J ~77:46C s6C6< r92FG:?] xE :D E96 x?G:D:3=6 z?66[ 9@H6G6C[ E92E 92D <6AE q=24< p>6C:42?D 7C@> AC@DA6C:?8i :E :D E96 F?@3D6CG23=6 7@C46D E92E 92G6 AC6G6?E65 q=24< 72>:=:6D 7C@> 3F:=5:?8[ 8C@H:?8 2?5 DFDE2:?:?8 86?6C2E:@?2= H62=E9 H:E9:? E96 3C@256C 4@>>F?:EJ[Q E96 DE2E6>6?E D2:5]k^Am
kAmsC:G6? 3J E9:D 42== E@ 24E:@? 2?5 DFAA@CE65 3J E96 p==:2?46VD 3@2C5[ >6>36CD 2?5 DE277[ E96 p==:2?46 4@>>:EE65 E@ 2 >F=E:\J62C A=2? 7@4FD65 @? FE:=:K:?8 AF3=:4\AC:G2E6 A2CE?6CD9:AD E@ :?7=F6?46 A@=:4:6D E92E :>AC@G6 2?5 AC@>@E6 64@?@>:4 AC@DA6C:EJ 2?5 C6D:=:6?4J 7@C q=24< 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 C6D:56?ED :? E96 vC62E6C !@CE=2?5 C68:@?] %96 q=24< qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@?\~C68@? H2D 56G6=@A65 2D 2 5:C64E C6DF=E @7 E9:D 677@CE 2?5 :D :?7@C>65 3J 2 DEC2E68:4 A=2? E92E 255C6DD6D >F=E:A=6 724E@CD @7 64@?@>:4 :?6BF2=:EJ[ E96 2??@F?46>6?E D2:5]k^Am
kAmQ{:<6 D@ >2?J @C82?:K2E:@?D H9@ 2C6 4@>>:EE65 E@ 492?86[ E96 p==:2?46 46=63C2E6D E9@D6 H9@ 492==6?86 E96 DE2EFD BF@[ 2D<:?8 4C:E:42= BF6DE:@?D @? 9@H H6 42? 2== 5@ >@C6 2?5 5@ 36EE6C E@ :>AC@G6 E96 =:G6D @7 q=24<[ x?5:86?@FD 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C[Q D2:5 p?5C6H w@2?[ !C6D:56?E U2>Aj rt~ @7 E96 !@CE=2?5 qFD:?6DD p==:2?46[ 2 >6>36CD9:A @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 25G@42E6D 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D] Q(6 2C6 =:DE6?:?8[ 2?5 H6 2C6 =62C?:?8] p?5 H6 2C6 6I4:E65 E@ 92G6 {2?46 #2?52== A2G6 E96 H2J E@H2C5 C62= 2?5 E2?8:3=6 C6DF=ED 7@C @FC =@42= 2?5 C68:@?2= q=24< 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD 2?5 C6D:56?ED]Qk^Am
kAm%96 2??@F?46>6?E 2=D@ :?4=F565 DE2E6>6?ED @7 DFAA@CE 7@C E96 :?:E:2E:G6 2?5 #2?52== 7C@> @E96C 7F?56CD 2?5 |F=E?@>29 r@F?EJ r@>>:DD:@?6C y6DD:42 '682 !656CD@?[ DE2E6 #6A] #@3 }@DD6[ DE2E6 $6?] z2JD6 y2>2[ 2?5 DE2E6 #6A] y2?6==6 qJ?F>]k^Am