Economic
Empowerment
Economic empowerment means giving residents the tools, resources, and opportunities to build wealth and break cycles of poverty. The Greenwood Project is how Connected Communities brings this vision to life in Beechwood and EMMA. Inspired by Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street, where dollars circulated locally an estimated 19 to 30 times before leaving, we aim to rebuild our neighborhoods as thriving economic ecosystems. Our goal is to keep dollars in the neighborhood, building lasting prosperity for future generations.
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Residents gain training, resources, and connections needed to build personal wealth and advance their careers.
Commercial corridors become vibrant hubs, supporting neighborhood businesses through direct capital, partner-led trainings, and dedicated spaces like Connect Lab.
Community-owned assets, such as the Wealth Demonstration Project and the Community Investment Trust, help launch businesses that serve residents and attract new spending into our neighborhoods.
GOALS
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Business Development
Connected Communities’ Business Development helps drive economic growth in Beechwood
and EMMA by expanding access to capital, training, and opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
We don’t deliver direct services ourselves. Instead, we develop strategic partnerships with entrepreneur support organizations and serve as a resource finder, connector, and coordinator. Our role is to link neighborhood businesses with regional experts who provide the training, mentorship, and practical support needed to grow and thrive.
Connect Lab
The Connect Lab is a vibrant co-working space at 360 Webster Ave. created for entrepreneurs in the Beechwood and EMMA neighborhoods. Here, your ideas come alive in an environment designed to inspire collaboration and community-driven success.
In 2025, our key initiatives include
Business Socials
Regular networking events hosted at neighborhood businesses. Entrepreneurs connect, exchange ideas, and meet partner organizations sharing resources. Each social spotlights different topics, from financing to marketing strategies.
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Fresh Food Market Study
Funded by the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, this study seeks to address the neighborhood’s food-desert and food swamp status. Consultants are exploring fresh-food retail solutions and potential mixed-use developments, guided by community input and local market conditions.
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Neighborhood
Brick & Mortar
Small Business Fund
The Connected Communities Small Business Fund is a multi-year initiative designed to strengthen neighborhood commercial corridors by investing in visible, customer-facing improvements to existing brick-and-mortar businesses in Beechwood and EMMA. The program provides targeted grant funding to support façade, interior, accessibility, and safety upgrades that enhance storefront appearance, functionality, and public visibility.
The program is grounded in the belief that physical conditions matter. Well-maintained, accessible, and welcoming commercial spaces contribute to resident confidence, increased foot traffic, and stronger local economies. By supporting improvements to established brick-and-mortar businesses, the program aims to stabilize and revitalize neighborhood corridors while reinforcing the role of small businesses as anchors of community life.
Grant funding is paired with peer engagement to ensure businesses are supported without creating unnecessary barriers or administrative burden.
Wealth Demonstration Project
The Wealth Demonstration Project transforms 256 Webster Avenue (formerly Speedy Slice) into a direct pathway for local entrepreneurs to build lasting wealth. It offers a unique opportunity to own the very space where your business grows. We believe that owning commercial property is a powerful step toward closing the wealth gap and securing our neighborhood’s economic future
How It Works
We will select a driven entrepreneur through a competitive process guided by our Economic Empowerment Committee. Applicants will be evaluated based on:
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Strength and feasibility of their business plan
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Alignment with community needs and values
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Clear potential for success, supported by strong local market fundamentals
The selected entrepreneur will launch and operate their business at 256 Webster. After one to three years of successful operations, they will have the opportunity to purchase the building, turning their hard work into ownership and equity.
A Cycle of Opportunity
To ensure this asset continues to benefit the community, a Community Benefits Agreement includes a right of first refusal. If the owner ever decides to sell, Connected Communities has the first option to buy the property back. This allows us to empower the next entrepreneur, creating a sustainable cycle of ownership and opportunity.
Our vision extends beyond one building. The Wealth Demonstration Project aims to create a replicable model, helping more local entrepreneurs own their commercial spaces and build long-term community wealth.
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Community Investment Trust
The Community Investment Trust (CIT) offers every Beechwood and EMMA household an affordable, powerful way to build wealth by owning part of their neighborhood’s commercial real estate.
The CIT lets residents buy $10 to $100 in shares each month in a local portfolio of neighborhood commercial properties. As the value of these buildings rises, so does the equity each investor owns. Over time, investors earn dividends, grow their assets, and help close the racial wealth gap through an accessible pathway to wealth-building.
But the benefits go beyond financial returns. Investors gain a meaningful role in shaping their neighborhood by weighing in on:
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Which businesses occupy the spaces
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How properties develop
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What services and opportunities best serve the community
Participation also comes with free, mandatory financial education. These classes teach vital money skills, empowering residents to manage their investments wisely and build lasting financial health.
Inspired by East Portland’s successful Plaza 122 CIT, this model is an innovative way to build both individual and community wealth. It ensures residents share in and drive their neighborhood’s growth and prosperity.