Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Commissioner Nick Fish. Nick was one of Portland’s most passionate advocates for neighborhood businesses and business districts, a cheerleader for Venture Portland, and most importantly, a friend to all. Since becoming Venture Portland’s first Liaison to City Council in 2013, Commissioner Fish worked tirelessly to:
- Establish the Catalytic Investment Initiative which addressed historic and systemic disparities in East and North Portland
- Create the inaugural Age-Friendly Business Awards to promote neighborhood businesses that were welcoming and inclusive to people of all ages
- Launch the All-User Restroom Challenge which incentivized the private sector to convert 1,000 gender-specific single-stall restrooms to all-user restrooms
- Promote shopping local during the holiday season with business district press tours in Division/Clinton, Foster Area, Montavilla, Multnomah Village, Northwest District, Pearl District, St. Johns and Williams District
- Show love to neighborhood businesses during Valentines Day with an Op-Ed in the Portland Tribune about the importance of shopping local and the #pdxLOVESsmallbiz campaign
- Increase the Owner’s Compensation Deduction to $100,000 saving approximately 4,000 small businesses $865,000 per year
- Change City bureau severe weather messaging to help neighborhood businesses stay in business during tough times
- Proclaim 2/4/16 as ‘Venture Portland Day’ in honor of our 30th Anniversary
Commissioner Fish was passionately committed to shopping locally and supporting Portland’s neighborhood businesses. His kindness to the city’s business owners, volunteer business district leaders and Venture Portland knew no bounds and his innovative legislative solutions will positively impact Portland for generations to come. Thank you, Nick Fish, for all that you did for our City!
