Registration for fall programming opened last week and PCC SBDC is accepting applications from small business owners, entrepreneurs and global trade professionals seeking to tap into the experts and advisors at the PCC Small Business Development Center. Read on to learn more!

Earlier this month, Barneys filed for bankruptcy, joining a growing list of other large retailers to file in recent years including Toys “R” Us, Radioshack, Sears and Sports Authority. Another story in the Guardian newspaper last week reported that tourists in NYC are surprised by the shuttering of retailers. However, the same isn't necessarily true in Portland—there are many reasons why retail will survive here.

Carmen Ripley Wilson approached the PCC Small Business Development Center seeking help with her new retail business. She was going through a career shift, having spent 15-years working as a naturopathic doctor. Combining her passion for small business retail with an emphasis on sustainability, Carmen came up with the idea for Beanstalk Children's Store.

Orientations offered by PCC’s Small Business Development Center (at no cost!) are a great way to learn about the opportunities we offer to help you turn your business idea into action. A typical orientation includes a small group of future entrepreneurs – but may also include sole-proprietors and small business owners seeking to find efficient, practical and effective solutions to common business-related challenges. You’ll leave our 2-hour orientation having identified new resources, and with an action plan to guide your next steps.

Register for an upcoming orientation today! 

Hannah Kullberg began her work with the PCC Small Business Develop Center in March of 2019. She is an advisor in the Getting Your Recipe to Market (GYRM) Program. This is her story.

After years of working as a solo entrepreneur, a CPA, and a strategic adviser at the Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Jackie Babicky Peterson realized her clients did not want to hire employees, but rather were interested in making a living doing what they love (especially those over 50),  So she created a program to address their needs.

Patrick and Melodie Ethel-King, owners of New Horizons Wellness Services 

New Horizons Wellness Services, for many years existed as Dr. Patrick Ethel-King’s successful mental health private practice.  Starting in 2012, Melodie began to work within the clinic to expand the services provided with a combination of physical and mental health treatments. They have a unique, multidisciplinary wellness approach that includes occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology and counseling, psychological evaluations, social skills development groups, and summer camps. This is their story. 

Scott, what drives you towards advising and teaching for the Global Trade Center (GTC)?   I have worked with the GTC and its predecessor for over twenty years as a part of the Oregon trade service providers community.  Oregon has a unique partnership of local (Global Trade Center), state (Business Oregon) and Federal (US Commercial Services) partners who service exporters through training, counseling and other services to support their success in global markets.  I joined the GTC to continue to contribute to that role.

The PCC SBDC Capital Access Team helped Oliver Alexander launch his dream business (Remote.ly) in the trendy N. Mississippi Avenue district of Portland. Oliver was finding it difficult to secure and finance a Class A commercial lease until he started working with Tammy Marquez-Oldham (PCC SBDC Director) and Noah Brockman (CAT Team Lead) who were able to connect him with the right people to help get his business off the ground in Portland, Oregon

Restaurant Business Builders is our once-per-year course created specifically for current or aspiring restauranteurs. It doesn't matter if you have a brick and mortar location, or a food truck, or are currently in the planning stage. The program focuses on how to run a restaurant successfully, down to the details.

The fundamental restaurant-centric business practices applied in this program, and curated with the support of Portland foodie experts, will help restauranteurs improve business practices, identify efficiencies and avoid trial and error - while developing support from a network of mentors and peers. Restaurant Business Builders is accepting participants for the next program, beginning in April. To commemorate, we're assembling content from several blogs that our experts have produced over the years: