PGE Foundation deepens commitment to revitalization efforts in downtown Portland

In an ongoing effort to support community revitalization, the PGE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Portland General Electric, has announced a $25,000 investment to support the Portland Central City Taskforce (PCCTF) . Funded through the Foundations endowment, this donation will aid PCCTF in its mission to enhance the functionality and livability of Portland’s Central City, which saw a significant decline post-pandemic.

“We are proud to partner with other local businesses and organizations to support the task force’s efforts to improve our city. This investment underscores our unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Oregonians,” expressed Angelica Espinosa, PGE Foundation board chair. “The PGE Foundation believes in the power of collaboration, and we are inspired by the collective efforts of co-chairs Governor Kotek, Dan McMillan and everyone working to restore Downtown Portland and the Central City.”

In the first half of 2024, the Portland Central City Taskforce reported significant improvements in downtown conditions. Visits to downtown Portland increased by 14 percent from March 2023 to March 2024, and criminal offenses in the Downtown neighborhood have already dropped by 28 percent compared to the previous year.

"From the declaration of the fentanyl emergency last year to the I-84 graffiti cleanup last week—and all the work in between—this public-private partnership has acted on many of the task force’s recommendations,” said Dan McMillan, president and CEO of The Standard and Portland Central City Taskforce co-chair. “There’s much more to do, but Central Portland is clearly in better shape than it was a year ago today.”

In addition to supporting the task force’s initiatives, PGE and the PGE Foundation are committed to building strong partnerships and supporting events that rebuild Central City and restore Portland’s vibrant neighborhoods for residents, workers and visitors.

As a presenting sponsor of the 2024 Portland Winter Light Festival, PGE helped attract 274,000 attendees downtown to celebrate art, light and creativity. The company also promotes employee volunteerism through partnerships with Adopt One Block’s “We Believe in Portland” and SOLVE Oregon’s Spring Clean Up, both aiming to clean up Portland and the surrounding cities. Additionally, Portland General Electric continues to sponsor inclusive cultural events, including the PRIDE parade and festival, Juneteenth and El Grito.

Recently, PGE Foundation announced $330,000 in investments to support arts and culture organizations, including prominent Portland groups like the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Opera, and Oregon Symphony. These organizations play a crucial role in enhancing the cultural and economic vitality of the central city and the region.

“Portland and neighboring communities have been the inspiration behind our company’s mission for more than 130 years,” said Kregg Arntson, PGE Foundation executive director. “With PGE’s World Trade Center headquarters in downtown Portland, the success of the city as the economic center of Oregon is important to our company’s future and we will continue to work in partnership with the community and the task force to improve the livability of our city.”

Visit portlandgeneral.com/community for more information on PGE and PGE Foundation grants and sponsorships supporting Portland's Central City. All funds are independent of PGE customer prices.