Our Response to the Downtown Business Incentive Program
Dear CEID Community,
This past October, we learned about the Downtown Business Incentive Credit Program, which provides a $25 million temporary nonrefundable tax credit designed to incentivize commercial lease signings and lease renewals. The Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID) was not included in the list of business districts to receive this support. The CEIC, our board of directors, and businesses quickly shared concerns about the unintended consequences of the Central Eastside being excluded from the program.
Immediately, we requested a meeting with the City of Portland to understand their reasoning for excluding CEID and to share your concerns. We learned that the decision was based on an analysis conducted by ECONorthwest, which demonstrated that compared to the four sub-districts hardest hit by reduced employment and foot traffic, the CEID was faring better in these areas.
Retention of our district businesses is critical to our recovery.
Your resilience and sustained commitment to this community are the reasons for our positive gains. Many of you have invested significantly in the Central Eastside, choosing to grow your business and live here. While the business tax incentive is good news for our friends and neighbors in Lloyd, Old Town, Downtown, and Albina—we have expressed concerns about Central Eastside’s exclusion from this effort to revitalize the Central City. An incentivized business moving from one district to another does not benefit Portland as a whole and only displaces need. Success under the current guidelines could significantly damage the retention and viability of neighboring districts.
January will mark one year since the City of Portland’s 90-day reset in the CEID. Together, we worked to make significant improvements in various areas across the District for our businesses, their employees, and visitors. Like the rest of Portland, we continue to face challenges and want to see the momentum continue. Expanding the Downtown Business Incentive Credit Program is a significant way for the City to indicate its value and priority on retaining businesses in our District. The Central Eastside is a significant economic generator to the metro region, and we seek the same level of support as our neighbors.
What’s next?
We continue to advocate to the City about our District’s needs to recover fully and how incentives such as these are vital to the Central Eastside’s success. The CEIC has requested meetings with the City of Portland to discuss the Program and to inquire if it can be expanded to include the Central Eastside. We have been advised that the program could be expanded based on performance in this initial phase. We are actively monitoring this and expect a meeting with the City in late January after they have more data.
The CEIC, our affiliate organization Central Eastside Together, our Boards of Directors, and our staff are committed to the District’s recovery. We will continue to advance conversations that support our mission of building a more vibrant and prosperous District.
What you can do.
Please consider sharing your perspective and recovery experiences with our team and the City of Portland. Elevating your voice in these conversations with elected officials and community leaders is essential.
You can reach out directly to the following elected officials and their staff and copy ceic@ceic.cc:
Mayor Ted Wheeler mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Carmen Rubio comm.rubio@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Dan Ryan commissionerRyanOffice@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Rene Gonazalez gonzalezoffice@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Mingus Mapps mappsoffice@portlandoregon.gov
Best regards,
Carolyne Holcomb
Executive Director
Central Eastside Industrial Council
Art Fortuna
Board Chair
Central Eastside Industrial Council