Author: LVNPPA

  • Announcing 2025 Grantees

    Announcing 2025 Grantees

    We are excited, after a long pandemic absence, to announce the recipients of our 2025 grant awards:

    • Alice in Bunderland, located in the Cathedral Park neighborhood, will receive up to $3,950 for repairing and replacing the flooring in their space. The mission of Alice in Bunderland is to make it easier for parents of rabbits and other small pets to provide the best care possible, and to help our furry friends have the best life they can.
    • Daydreamer Coffee, located in the St. Johns neighborhood, will receive up to $2,289.50 for a commercial refrigerator and exterior paint for the building. Daydreamer Coffee is focused on being an open and accepting space, purposefully located on the commercially underserved north side of St. Johns.
    • Friends of Ours PDX, located in the Kenton neighborhood, will receive up to $5,000.00 to light up the Kenton business district for the holiday season. Friends of Ours PDX offers acts of loving kindness to help the most vulnerable in our North, Northeast, and inner Southeast Portland communities. 
    • North Peninsula Review, located in and focused on North Portland, will receive up to $450 to support coverage relevant to our area in the 2026 legislative session in Salem. North Peninsula Review is a local paper that covers all of North Portland with news that often gets overlooked by other sources. It continues our long tradition of local journalism started in the area in 1904 with the St. Johns Review.
    • Novedades Prado, located in the St. Johns neighborhood, will receive up to $9,490.00 for a new awning over their front entrance. Novedades Prado has been a neighborhood institution since 1998, acting as a hub for the Latino community and a source of support and stability for the community as a whole.
    • Ockley Green Middle School, located in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood, will receive up to $5,500.00 for an upgraded lighting system in their auditorium in support of programming there and early student learning opportunities with lighting controls for theatre and other applications. Ockley Green Middle School (home of the Dragons) is a public school in the Portland Public School District, serving grades 6-8 and nurturing each student’s identities, interests, and knowledge so they become independent thinkers who work towards a more just world.
    • Oregon Contemporary, located in the Kenton neighborhood, will receive up to $4,000.00 to create an arts workshop classroom in their current space. The space will support arts learning for local youth and adults, leading to a more well-rounded community with strong critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation of diverse perspectives.

    Check back for photos and recaps as they become available. We are looking forward to tracking the progress of these projects.

    We also look forward to receiving even more applications next year as the word continues to get out and hope our neighbors will be thinking of new projects that will benefit our North Portland community by supporting local businesses.

  • Announcing the 2018 Grantees

    Announcing the 2018 Grantees

    We are excited to announce the recipients of our 2018 grant awards:

    • Friends of Historic Overlook House located in the Overlook neighborhood will receive up to $3,600 for secured off-street bicycle parking. The Historic Overlook House is a community space providing neighborhood activities and rental space year around.
    • St. Johns Museum located in the St. John neighborhood will receive up to $2,723 for their “Voices of St. Johns” project. They believe it is important to document the hardships, the struggles, the joy, the good, and the bad experiences of those who have lived in this area by connecting young and old community members through history.
    • JD’s Shoe Repair located in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood will receive up to $3,500 to construct and install a large boot shaped weather vane beacon sign on their store rooftop. JD’s Shoe Repair is a long-time resident and local business that recently moved to N. Greeley to bring us their love for community and great craftsmanship.
    • Pep Coworking Shop located in the Kenton neighborhood will receive up to $2,505 for office furniture improvements. Pep Coworking shop is an space for independents to work together, providing a professional work space for the freelance workforce.
    • Disjecta Contemporary Art Center located in the Kenton neighborhood will receive up to $2,100 for their community courtyard park improvement project. They will improve and beautify the space with better lighting, an enclosed recycling area and new signage. Disjecta builds ambitious programs that promote artists and engage communities.

    We will post project photos and recaps as they are available, so keep an eye on this section of our site to track the progress of these projects.

    We received several grant requests, and while we were unable to fund all requests, we recognize the time and effort made to prepare and submit each proposal. Thank you for applying, and thank you for all you do to better our community.

  • Announcing the 2017 Grantees

    Announcing the 2017 Grantees

    We are excited to announce the recipients of our 2017 grant awards:

    • St. Johns Center for Opportunity in St. Johns will receive up to $735 toward signage for the resource room. The resource room provides access to computers, meeting space and resources around job openings and affordable housing and more.
    • Sweet Science Boxing Cooperative in Kenton will receive up to $2,300 toward interior improvements of new paint and lighting upgrades, boxing gear upgrades such as new bags, gloves and mitts and an equipment rack system to make the best use of space.
    • Mama Sans Soul Shack in St. Johns will receive up to $3,325 toward planter boxes and benches, adding signage and improved lighting and building a bike rack for their patrons to use while visiting.
    • Green Zebra in Kenton will receive up to $4,500 toward building and outdoor, covered area to be used as a seating area and community gathering space.

    We’ll be posting project photos and recaps as they are available, so keep an eye on this section of our site to track the progress of these projects.

    We received several grant requests, and while we were unable to fund all requests, we recognize the time and effort made to prepare and submit each proposal. Thank you for applying, and thank you for all you do to better our community.

  • Mama San Soul Shack New Signage, Benches and Planter Boxes

    Mama San Soul Shack New Signage, Benches and Planter Boxes

    New Mama San Soul Shack signage

    Mama San Soul Shack is happy to show off their new signage with lighting and their great new benches with built-in planter boxes.

    Mama Sans Soul Shack Benches and Boxes
    Mama San Soul Shack benches with built-in planter boxes under construction.
  • Parkside Pub Signage and Flower Boxes

    Parkside Pub Signage and Flower Boxes

    Parkside Pub signage

    Parkside Pub is happy to have their new signage up as well as their beautiful new flower boxes full of color. They continue to work with the city to get their awnings approved and hung as well as a new community board.

    Parkside Pub Awning
    Parkside Pub signage and flower boxes.
    Parkside Pub Flower Boxes
    Another view of the Parkside Pub flower boxes
  • Announcing the 2016 Grantees

    Announcing the 2016 Grantees

    Drumroll, please …

    We are excited to announce the recipients of our 2016 grant awards:

    • The Aspire Project in St. Johns will receive up to $800 toward the installation of security cameras in and near the entrances of its studio. The project will help to ensure the safety of its students, families, and staff.
    • Inner Essence Healing Center in Arbor Lodge will receive up to $600 toward the purchase and installation of sidewalk planters for the front of the newly renovated Brandon building. The project will improve the overall appearance of the corner and attract attention, increasing visibility of nearby businesses.
    • The Parkside Pub in Kenton will receive up to $5,140 toward the installation of awnings, a community board, planters, and a new marquee. The project aims to expand the Kenton Business District by increasing visibility one block west of Denver on Willis Blvd., a single block that is home to no less than ten businesses.
    • Posies Bakery & Cafe in Kenton will receive up to $1,500 toward the installation of waterproof flooring and interior paint. The project will improve appearances and customer experience, and enhance staff and patron safety.
    • Salvage Works in Kenton will receive up to $960 toward the installation of a bike rack to serve both staff and patrons. Secure bike parking will encourage bike commuting, improve the safety of personal property, encourage attendance of community events, and enhance the block’s overall appearance.

    We’ll be posting project photos and recaps as they are available, so keep an eye on this section of our site to track the progress of these projects.

    We received over $70,000 in grant requests, and while we were unable to fund all requests, we recognize the time and effort made to prepare and submit each proposal. Thank you for applying, and thank you for all you do to better our community.

  • Twilight Theater Company Motorized Stair Climber

    Twilight Theater Company Motorized Stair Climber

    Twilight Theater
    Twilight Theater Company motorized stair climber

    Twilight Theater Company purchased a motorized stair climber that makes their space accessible to wheelchair bound actors, volunteers and audience members and assists others who have difficulty climbing stairs.

    The accessibility provides support and entertainment to those who may be unable to participate without it, and creates a way for the theater to connect with more of the community.

  • Golden Harvesters

    Golden Harvesters

    Golden Harvester
    Golden Harvesters planter boxes

    Golden Harvesters (now known as St. Johns Food Share) purchased bike racks and replaced their security light with an energy-efficient light that illuminates their parking lot as well as the bus stop adjacent to their building. Both updates provide security for their employees, members and neighborhood residents.

    Planters were also purchased and filled with edible plants, which both educate members on how to grow edible plants in containers and enhance the look of the building. In addition, The LVNPPA grant was leveraged to obtain a grant from St. Johns Main Street to complete the beautification project.

  • It’s a Dog’s Life Awnings Installation

    It’s a Dog’s Life Awnings Installation

    It's a Dog's Life
    The new awnings at It’s a Dog’s Life

    Awnings were installed over the windows and door of this local doggie day care, improving the facade of the building and giving the neighborhood a fresh new look. Additionally, the awnings improve conditions for the neighbors and passersbys who enjoy watching the puppies play and provide shelter for their clients as they enter and exit the building.

  • NoPo Paws Bench Installation

    NoPo Paws Bench Installation

    NoPo Paws
    Bench in front of NoPo Paws in the Overlook neighborhood

    The primary goal of the bench installation was to improve walkability in the Overlook neighborhood and increase the attractiveness of the business district.

    Owner Sarah Fuller witnesses community members utilize the seating area every day—to stop and chat with neighbors during their walks, or as a pit stop or waiting area for shoppers and diners frequenting businesses in Overlook Village. As a result, NoPo Paws has helped improve relationships in the neighborhood and build on improvements in the ever-growing Overlook business district and neighborhood.