Central Eastside Industrial Council

We have received a ton of requests for more networking events and the opportunity to learn more about what services are available from city agencies.

So we created the ‘Lunch and Learn’ series. Every second Wednesday of the month, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other businesses and learn valuable information for your business.

Here’s how it works: Every second Wednesday of the month, we’ll meet at either Madison’s or Grand Central Bowl from 11:45 – 1:00. You’ll get a chance to introduce you and your business to the group, and then we’ll have a couple speakers talk about issues which impact your business.

This is a free event – you simply buy your lunch.

Every month a different speaker will discuss tips and strategies to make your business more successful.

Our first Lunch and Learn will be on Wednesday, April 14th starting at 11:45 at Grand Central – SE Morrison and 8th Ave. We’ll have people from PDC there to discuss storefront grant money and other business improvement funding opportunities and how you can get your share.

We’ll also have a financial planner who will give case studies of CEIC companies’ strategic financial plans. You’ll learn how you too can implement these strategies in your business.

Come network with other businesses, get some new contacts and learn a few things along the way – look for details each month.

Portland Screen Printing has an extensive line of products available to help you promote your company or message. Some examples of their most popular items include pens, calendars, T-shirts, caps, coffee mugs, calculators, key chains, desk accessories and bumper stickers.

Popular uses of promotional products are business gifts, employee morale, awareness programs, corporate communications, and of course at trade shows to generate booth traffic.

Promotional products are powerful weapons in your marketing arsenal. Some of the proven uses for ad specialty items include: Attract new customers, Increase repeat business , Inspire customer loyalty, Establish name recognition, Reactivate old accounts, Create a good reputation, Get attention.

Numerous case studies document the effectiveness of promotional products. One fast-food restaurant’s investment of $181 in promotional products resulted in more than $1200 increase in food sales. One study found that promotional products increase the response to direct mail up to 75%.

Portland Screen Printing solves marketing problems and create new marketing opportunities for your business! To learn more how they can help your business, contact Bob Kincaid, Account Manager at 503-232-8578.

If you would like to see your business spotlighted here, send an email to terry@ceic.cc

A year-long project to construct a path for bicyclists and pedestrians across the Morrison Bridge is near completion. An eastbound offramp from the bridge to SE Water Ave. will reopen to motor vehicles. The realigned offramp creates a new intersection at Water Ave. between SE Yamhill St. and SE Belmont St. The old offramp required drivers to merge into an offramp from northbound Interstate 5.

The contractor will continue to work on the new shared, 15-foot wide path on the south side of the bridge. The work will require numerous test bridge lifts during off-peak hours while the lift span is rebalanced. The remaining portion from SW Alder and SW 2nd Ave. to the bridge will open late this month.

The new path replaces a sidewalk that was five feet wide, with narrower pinch points. The project includes the following elements:

· Path: On the lift span the path surface is panels of fiber reinforced polymer, at the same level as traffic. In other sections the path is on a raised concrete curb.

· Railing: On the lift span the shared path is separated from the roadway by a two-foot tall concrete parapet wall topped with a one-foot metal pedestrian rail.

· SW Alder St. Connection: A sidewalk and bicycle lane were added to the bridge onramp from SW Alder St. from SW 2nd Ave. to the top of the Naito onramp. When completed, pedestrians will be able to use the sidewalk in both directions. The bicycle lane is intended for eastbound riders (westbound bicyclists will need to use the Naito ramp). A crosswalk and mid-block curb extension will help pedestrians cross Little Alder St. at the base of the SW Alder St. ramp.

· SW Naito Ramp Crosswalk: A crosswalk and signage will be added at the top of the Naito ramp to the bridge, to help pedestrians and cyclists crossing between the path and the SW Alder St. ramp.

· Traffic Lanes: Six traffic lanes will continue to cross the bridge after the project is completed. The lanes have been narrowed from 13 to 11 feet. One of three lanes on the SW Alder St. ramp was removed and replaced by a bike lane and new sidewalk.

Prior to the project, the Morrison Bridge had the lowest use of the five downtown bridges open to bicyclists.

The $1.9 million project included funds from the Federal Highway Administration and Multnomah County. The City of Portland contributed funds to the project’s design, along with the county and federal government.

Multnomah County maintains the Morrison Bridge, five other Willamette River bridges and 300 miles of roads. For more information, visit www.multco.us/bridge.

Michael Pullen
Multnomah County Public Affairs Office
W: 503-988-6804 C: 503-209-4111
mike.j.pullen@co.multnomah.or.us

If you’re concerned about liquor establishment in the area and what to do if problems arise, attend the Office Of Neighborhood Improvement workshop.

ONI Crime Prevention is having a training on Problem Solving and Liquor Establishments on Wednesday, March 31st from 6:30-8:00pm in the community room at the PPB Traffic Division at 4735 E Burnside. RSVP by 3/26 to Kelly Ball at 503-823-9666.

For more information contact:
Havilah Ferschweiler
Southeast Portland Crime Prevention Coordinator
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
3534 SE Main Street
Portland OR 97214
503-823-0540
hferschweiler@ci.portland.or.us

Every week the CEIC receives numerous requests from people looking for temporary space. Some need space for a couple weeks, some for a month, some longer.

Each of these people/groups have small budgets, however if you have vacant space which isn’t collecting any dues, this might be a way to get some funds while helping out an upstart company or artist.

To learn more about what is being requested and if your space might be a good fit, send an email to terry@ceic.cc.