METBA

Montavilla East Tabor Business Association

Job Opening: METBA District Organizer

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Job title: Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) District Organizer
Hours: 10 hours/week Monday-Friday; Occasional Nights/Weekends
Compensation: $20.00 per hour
Start Date: June 2021
Supervisor: METBA President

Position Description:

The METBA District Organizer supports the unique businesses, residents, and history of the Montavilla Business District. The ideal candidate is a people-person and a natural networker who can successfully multitask while proactively building community engagement. The position requires strong communication and organizational skills, excellent attention to detail, computer fluency, flexibility, creativity, and a commitment to METBA’s mission and values. The METBA District Organizer will spend at least 30% of work hours ‘on the street’ engaging with district business owners.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Build METBA Capacity. Strengthen METBA by increasing membership renewal/enrollment and community engagement.
    • Increase Business Association membership by 10-20% via its annual membership campaign promoting new member benefits, networking opportunities, educational seminars and marketing. Visit all district businesses at least quarterly.
    • Support increased business engagement by helping to implement the Communication Committee’s comprehensive strategy including earned media, newsletters, social media presence and website development. Support committee and Board in engaging diverse stakeholders including neighborhood businesses, residents, developers, schools, visitor and cultural destinations, legacy businesses and other public and private partners. Take photos at district events and business visits and provide to Communication Committee for newsletter, social media and website.
  • Support METBA Events. Support the signature METBA annual event and additional quarterly events; implement revenue generating components; track and analyze event results. Maintain and promote online calendar of district activities, events and promotions. Take photos and provide to Communications Committee.
  • Support the All-Volunteer METBA Board of Directors and Committees. Attend Board and Committee meetings and present Organizer progress on outreach, membership, events and activities; support the volunteer Board’s efforts and initiatives. Track board/committee hours; recognize contributions; help to recruit new volunteer board/committee members.
  • Represent the METBA Business Association. Build relationships with neighborhood businesses and community groups through digital and/or in-person communication; advocate for Business Association support; promote membership, events, activities and successes.
  • Explore the District. Spend at least 30% of work time ‘on the street’ to understand the unique needs of neighborhood businesses and propose appropriate resources and events.
  • Manage Data. Ensure effective data tracking to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders and analyze impact of outreach, events, marketing and volunteer recruitment efforts (qualitative and quantitative); analyze program results, utilize data analysis to create materials and future programs; increase program utilization by diverse constituents.
  • Assist President with all other duties as requested.

Qualified individuals:

Please email your resume complete with contact information and references to:

Coronavirus Resources for Business

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The Corporate Division of the Oregon Secretary of State is working directly with businesses seeking answers and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to address some of the questions being asked, they’ve posted an FAQ sheet. Click the link below to view the entire list. We will also be posting two of the FAQs individually to METBA’s facebook page.

Coronavirus Business FAQ

COVID-19 Resources for Businesses

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We understand that this is a difficult time for families, individuals, those experiencing homelessness — everyone, in other words. As METBA is a business association, I thought I would gather and share resources for businesses specifically here. Montavilla is not Montavilla without our amazing local businesses. We need them and they need us. (disclaimer: I wanted to get this out quickly, so please pardon my typos and forgive me if the sources below repeat the same information)

Small Business Advocacy

Businesses without employees or with fewer than 100 employees can contact the Office of Small Business Assistance via email at business.sos@oregon.gov or by calling toll free 1-844-469-5512.

Work Share Oregon

When times are tough, Work Share provides Oregon businesses an alternative to layoffs. This newly streamlined program allows employers to leverage unemployment insurance (UI) to subsidize a portion of lost wages for employers whose work time is reduced due to market downturns or other business stressors.

Learn More

State of Oregon Employment Department

​​​​​​​​​The health and safety of workplaces is of utmost importance to the Oregon Employment Department. This summary provides general guidance to employers, workers, and job seekers who may be impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus. This document will be updated as more information becomes available. The Oregon Employment Department is working with partner agencies nationwide and the U.S. Department of Labor to ask for additional unemployment benefits options related to COVID-19.

Learn More

Oregon Health Authority’s Respiratory Illness Page

COVID-19/coronavirus news from the state, nation, and globe.

Visit Site

Predictive Scheduling

Oregon’s predictive scheduling law applies only to employers with 500+ employees and requires certain advance notice of scheduling changes.

Learn More

Sick Time and Oregon Law

Oregon sick time laws apply to Portland businesses with 6 or more employees.

Learn More

Oregon Family Leave Act

The Oregon Family Leave Act applies to businesses with 25 or more employees.

Learn More

More Resources

COVID-19 Interim Guidance for Businesses

Greater Portland: Response to Coronavirus

Nonprofit Oregon COVID-19 Resources

Small Business Administration Disaster Relief Loan Info

 

 

7 Things To Do in Montavilla this Spring

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Shop at the Montavilla Farmers Market

Starting May 5th, the market is open every Sunday through October from 10 am to 2 pm. Buy local fresh produce and farm-based products. The market is located in the parking lot across from Mr. Plywood on Stark Street.

Stop by the METBA Spring Block Party May 18th

This annual event is an afternoon of music, art, food, wine, and family-friendly activities. The fun begins at 3 pm and goes till 9 pm on 81st Ave between Stark St. and Oak St. Check out our Montavilla.biz events page for more details.

Join a Neighborhood Clean Up

Participate in an existing event or even organize a clean up for your area. The city of Portland has neighborhood resources like SE Uplift to help you get started. Love Mt.Tabor? The nonprofit Friends of Mt.Tabor offers volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

Behold a Mt. Tabor Sunrise or Sunset

Bring your camera and take in spectacular views of the Portland cityscape or Mt.Hood. Be on the look out for the beautiful mid-May rhododendrons blooms. The park gates open at 5 am and close at 10 pm. Note the park is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays.

Participate in the Local Arts Scene

Attend an art walk, hear local music, or attend some live theater. Here are a few ideas:

Remember Your Mom

Score major Mom points with these gift ideas for Mother’s Day:

Hop on your bike

A bike ride is a great way to find some of our neighborhood gems:

Get out and enjoy springtime in Montavilla!

Fall News

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Greetings, members and friends! Fall is upon us and there is a lot happening in Montavilla.

Next week, METBA is holding its annual member meeting on October 8th at Vino Veritas from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Head on out to learn more about what we do, meet your fellow neighborhood business owners, and let us know what’s on your mind.

METBA is also hosting its quarterly mixer event in November. Stop by Blank Slate on Monday the 12th from 6:30 to 8:00 for complimentary drinks, snacks, and conversation with all of our amazing METBA members. This is a great opportunity to get to know your community.

Also in October: Come and celebrate with us on Glisan St. at our annual Harvest Festival! On October 27th, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM, our friends at Therapeutic Associates will be hosting this event with an array of fun autumnal activities for kids and families. There will be a carnival, crafts, live music, and a prize for the best costume.

With the change of season comes a change in schedule for the Montavilla Farmers Market. Their regular season comes to a close on October 28th, but there will be a Thanksgiving Market on November 18th, and winter stock-up markets in December, January, and February.

In new business news: if you haven’t yet had the chance, be sure to check out the full-fledged food cart pod on Stark and 76th. Options include Hawaiian/Korean fare from Namu, Mexican from Azul Tequila, Jamaican from Jamrock, Thai from Thai Carnation, and coffee from Nectar. We are always excited to see more options for eating local!

Also, the good folks at Threshold Brewing have been working hard all summer long to get ready for opening day and they are almost there!  Stay tuned to social media for the announcement of their grand opening, which should be happening sometime around mid to late October.

We hope to see all of you members and neighbors out and about and let’s all remember to eat, drink, and shop local this fall!

Neighbors Want to Know: When Will a Full-Service Grocer Arrive in Montavilla?

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This past spring, METBA mailed a survey to households in and around Montavilla. A primary goal for the
survey was to better understand what goods and services neighbors would benefit from having within
Montavilla’s business district.

There were 245 responses to the question: What good and services are missing in Montavilla?

It may come as no surprise that “grocery store” was the overwhelming choice, mentioned in 27% of all
responses. Montavilla has been without a full-service grocery store since 2013 when Safeway closed its location at 82 nd and Burnside. While several local specialty grocers are thriving, such as La Bouffe
International Gourmet, neighbors must still travel outside of the ‘hood for their general shopping needs.

Many respondents mentioned a need for a particular service (e.g., hair/nails), a particular type of
restaurant (e.g., taqueria), or a specific type of retail (i.e., more clothes!), but specific responses varied
considerably. However, several themes arose:

  1. “Grab and go,” inexpensive food options are lacking
  2. Kid-friendly options are being requested
  3. Some Montavilla residents yearn for a bookstore
  4. Glisan street needs more shops, restaurants, and services

If you have a business in mind that you’d like to see in Montavilla, recruit them! Download our 4-page guide to locating a business in Montavilla.

A final note of interest is that many respondents were requesting goods and services that actually
already exist in Montavilla! Did you know that Montavilla already has the following types of businesses?

  • Dry cleaning (Sunshine on Glisan)
  • Hardware (Mr. Plywood)
  • Fitness (Cascade Athletic Club and Mt. Tabor Crossfit)

Are there other businesses in Montavilla that you could be taking advantage? Visit Montavilla.Biz to
view webpages for a wide variety of member businesses!

Annual Meeting Recap

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The METBA board and Association members met up at the Annual Members Meeting last week for a “year in review” session. The room felt energized. Thirty business owners turned out and the interest in supporting the work of the Association was encouraging! Eight new board members were elected, bringing the total board size to 13 people who will lend their time and talents to sustain the current trajectory of growth.

Paitong Thai, Ya Hala, and Hungry Heart donated goodies for the event, with beverages and the event space provided by Dana Cofer of Vino Veritas. Outgoing Association President Steve Rice highlighted the financial and membership growth over the last four years and strategic goals for the coming year. His year-in-review presentation can be viewed here.

Attendees had a chance to network with colleagues, introduce themselves and their businesses, and to talk about their needs as business owners and what they would like to see develop in the district. These were the responses:

  • Sponsorship opportunities for district events, such as Trick or Treat on Glisan Street, First Fridays, Frosty Fest and the Street Fair
  • Traffic to Glisan Street businesses (foot traffic or more businesses moving in)
  • Networking opportunities with other businesses, including referrals
  • Business skills training – building systems, best small business practices, etc.
  • Providing connections to home-based services
  • Getting value for social media $ – coordination
  • Collectively building up Montavilla’s tech resources
  • Sister event on major street

Potential board member names were thrown into the ring, with nominees saying a few words about themselves and what motivates them to join the board or a committee. All the nominees were voted in as at-large members in a block vote. The 2018 board of 13 will officially begin their work at the January 10th board meeting, when officers will be nominated and voted in. Returning board members Tina Granzo, of City Beautiful Design; Carmen Ripley, owner of Beanstalk; and Abby McKinnon, owner of Portland Child and Family Counseling, have indicated interest in assuming the roles of President, Vice President, and Secretary, respectively. The association is still seeking a treasurer.

One big change for the Association is an organizational restructuring that involves the hire of an Executive Director (a paid position at 10 hours/week) to oversee the operational aspect of the organization. The Board of Directors will be approving this restructure and filling the position at the end of the year. Tina Granzo explained to members that in order to sustain the progress the Association has made and to decrease the burden for the all-volunteer board, that it was in our best interest to hire a part-time Executive Director. The position has been posted on the business web site. Steve Rice has agreed to serve as the ED from January through June of next year, while the board conducts a job search.

A huge thank you goes out to the businesses and individuals who contributed their time, products and services to the annual meeting, and to all the members who attended and agreed to commit to board or committee participation.

METBA Annual Meeting

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METBA will hold it’s annual meeting on Monday, October 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at Vino Veritas Wine Bar + Bottle Shop (7835 SE Stark Street). Businesses are invited to celebrate a year of accomplishments, including the Street Fair, First Fridays and Trick or Treat on Glisan Street. It’s also a chance to meet other business owners and enjoy food & beverages from local businesses while looking ahead to the next year of activities. Members and non-members alike are encouraged to attend.

The association will also be holding it’s annual board elections at the annual meeting. METBA is seeking individuals who can lend their ideas, energy and talents to the board as the district continues to grow and change! The board is made up of volunteers, including a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and three-to-nine other directors.

In particular, the association is seeking members to fill the following roles:

  • Treasurer
  • At-large directors
  • Members for the following committees:
    • Communications
    • First Friday/Frosty Fest
    • Trick or Treat on Glisan Street
    • Montavilla Mixers

More details regarding board roles can be found here.

Please contact montavillabiz@gmail.com with any questions regarding the annual meeting or board elections.

 

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CONTACT METBA

Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association
(METBA)
P.O. Box 33342
Portland, OR 97292
info@metba.org

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