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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Portland City Elections invites the public to submit creative names for five snowplows in the city's second annual snowplow naming contest. Last year, for the first ever contest, PBOT received name submissions from over 4,000 people. Then, 16,000 Portlanders voted on their top five favorite names (out of twenty) using ranked-choice voting.
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A November chill was in the air when Hashim Rhodes got the call from the 911 dispatcher. Someone reported a woman living in her car in Southeast Portland. Could he do a welfare check?
He spotted a Volvo station wagon with expired tags on a gravel road. The woman inside spoke haltingly, her words garbled and distorted. He asked for her name, but couldn't understand what she said. She tried again. And again.
"Take your time," he told her. "I'm listening."
"Stacey," she said, and burst into tears.
As she struggled for words, Rhodes pieced the jigsaw together. She had been living in Portland for a month or so. She had been staying in a house nearby when she suffered two strokes – which made speech extremely difficult. Her housemates kicked her out because she couldn't keep her room picked up. Now she was living in the Volvo, along with her dog, Monster, and her cat, Sneakers.
Rhodes was worried. Stacey could barely communicate. She had no visible means of support. Her animals seemed content and well cared for, but how long could she possibly live in her car?
One thing kept breaking through the sobs and frustration. "I want to go home," she told him. "I just want to go home."
That's when a lightbulb went off in Rhodes' head.
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This project from Self Enhancement, Inc. and Community Development Partners will bring eight new affordable townhomes to the Humboldt neighborhood, which will be sold to low-income homebuyers with historic ties to N/NE Portland via PHB's Preference Policy.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is offering discounts on Uber and Lyft rides for New Year's Eve revelers, part of the bureau's on-going push for safe travel as the city nears its second consecutive year with a dramatic drop in deaths on streets and highways.
Downtown Portland is seeing a significant increase in foot traffic during the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. According to Prosper Portland and Placer AI, the Central City West area saw 130,700 visitors on Small Business Saturday, an increase of nearly 20% over last year and hitting 92% of pre-pandemic levels. "Portlanders are showing up for their local businesses, and it's making a real impact," said Mayor Keith Wilson. "This momentum brings us closer to our goal of fully restoring Central City foot traffic to pre‑pandemic levels by 2030."
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Portland Staycation: Winter Edition invites locals to become travelers and to explore, indulge, wander, and warm up to the glow of winter in Downtown and across the Central City.
For the first time, Portland Staycation is partnering with the Portland Winter Light Festival, transforming the first two weekends in February (Friday, February 6 - Sunday, February 8 and Friday, February 13 - Sunday, February 15) into a radiant celebration of art, light, food, and discovery.
Central City businesses, events, and attractions are invited to join this campaign. If you're interested in introducing new customers to your business, surprising and delighting festival-goers, and being part of a citywide celebration that lights up the winter - Portland Staycation is the perfect fit. Interested in participating? Learn more and get involved. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, January 15, 2026.
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Before, during, and after severe weather, get news, road closures, tips to get home safe, maps, tree emergency information and more.
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Hosting a holiday meal? Don’t let good food go to waste. Try these easy tips to save time and money this season. Keep using them to save up to $2,900 a year for an average Oregon family of four.
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How to recycle common holiday waste, what to do with your tree after the holidays, and pickup delays due to holidays and winter weather.
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We are changing the way we do business with our suppliers! Suppliers and City buying staff will experience a new process for registering a business, setting up accounts for supplier payments, and contracting.
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) wants you to get home safely from your New Year's Eve celebrations. We are providing a limited number of coupons for discounted rides in an Uber or Lyft. Make plans to leave your car at home this year.
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New job openings at the City of Portland
Because of a budget shortfall, the City will impose a hiring freeze on most jobs starting October 1, 2025. There will be some exceptions. And positions that are open now will stay open until they’re filled. So check out our listings and apply today
Featured job
Portland Street Response Program Manager: The Portland Street Response Program Manager leads the City's behavioral health crisis responders who are dispatched via 911/BOEC to respond to community members in behavioral health crises. This high-profile position is responsible for effectively managing PSR and continuing its growth and development as a first response agency in alignment with national best practices. The Program Manager will adeptly manage the day-to-day operations of an emergency public safety agency, including budget, personnel, complex regulatory requirements, policy development against a backdrop of significant public interest in the program.
More jobs
- Clean Energy Fund, Data and Fund Performance Manager (Analyst IV)
- Climate Policy Analyst - Renewable Fuels (Analyst I - CPPW) - Limited Duration
- Maintenance Mechanic – PBOT
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Grants and funding
The Building Energy Efficiency (BEE) Grant Program supports small businesses and small commercial building owners (less than 40k square feet) providing funding for energy efficient upgrades that reduce energy usage and cost, create health benefits, and increase business resilience.
Commercial Building Owners who meet all of the following criteria: The size of commercial building is 40,000 square feet or below; commercial building is located within Portland city limits; and owner leases (or agrees to lease) to an eligible tenant with a minimum of two years remaining on lease agreement.
Small Businesses meeting the following criteria: Has a current City of Portland and Oregon State business registration; employs 50 or fewer employees; occupies a leased or owner-occupied commercial space that is under 40,000 square feet; and is located within Portland city limits.
Application deadline: Ongoing
The Portland Housing Bureau seeks proposals from nonprofit organizations, community groups, coalitions, or fiscally sponsored projects that serve communities located in East Portland (east of I-205). This grant is designed to help local organizations grow, strengthen their operations, and support housing-related work, including building capacity, improving community outreach, and supporting education around housing topics.
Who's Eligible: Community-based organizations.
Application Deadline: Applicants must register in WebGrants by January 16. Applications are due January 23 by noon.
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Serve on a board or committee

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is seeking community members to support the Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park Bowl Redevelopment Project, which includes a national design competition, followed by design development for the Bowl area. Apply by Jan. 12
The Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) Community Council advises staff and the Allocation Committee on PCL policies and processes, including funding, grant and Levy performance, and community engagement plans and practices. After 3 years of focus on funding processes and grant-making, the Community Council will turn its attention to reviewing policies and practices used to assess Levy and grant performance. Apply by March 2, 2026
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Give us your feedback

How can Portland support job growth while also making strong environmental commitments? Learn more about the two draft plans below and submit testimony for a Planning Commission hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
In order for jobs to grow over time, we need the right kind of land in the right places. The latest draft of the Economic Opportunities Analysis outlines how land use strategies can support job growth in different areas of Portland. This proposal has been refined based on public input and will be considered by the Planning Commission on Jan. 13. Learn more about the proposed strategies and how to provide testimony.
The Columbia Slough is a somewhat hidden, slow-moving channel in north and northeast Portland that winds its way through industrial areas, while also providing critical wildlife habitat and water quality benefits. Portland is planning for stronger environmental protections in the Columbia Slough and other parts of the City based on more accurate mapping of these natural features. The latest proposal has been released for public testimony. Learn more!
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Portland's urban design team is coordinating with Parks to imagine the future of Portland's waterfront. Complete this short questionnaire by Friday, Jan. 9 to give feedback on design concepts.
The Office of Arts & Culture will launch a new grant program next summer to provide Operating Support for local arts organizations. Prior to that, community members can share their thoughts on the program's proposed guidelines. Ends April 1, 2026
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Portland City Council
The City Auditor's Office has updated how you sign up to speak at City Council meetings to make it more predictable, consistent, and efficient. No more planning months ahead — registration now opens at 9:00 a.m. the Friday before each meeting.
Public communication sign-ups will now follow the same timeline as testimony on agenda items, making the process easier and more streamlined for everyone.
Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Featured events
Free events
Through January 5, Monday
Volunteer events
For Portland Parks & Recreation planting and park clean up volunteer events, check the volunteer event filter.
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible.
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Keeping the Flame of Love and Creativity Alive! Portland City Archives collaborates with Street Books
From February 2024 to March 2025, Portland City Archives and Street Books collaborated on an oral history project to collect and preserve the history of Street Books and to collect stories from the patrons who use their services.
Street Books serves a community whose stories are often left out of the historical record. This project provided an opportunity to use oral history as a tool to amplify diverse experiences and memories of life in Portland.
They compiled the oral histories and created a book, Keeping the Flame of Love & Creativity Alive: A Collection of Oral Histories. This book is available through the Street Books library, Multnomah County Library, and digitally through Portland City Archives.
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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