In the fall of 2023, Prosper Portland launched the first Scale Up event grant program to help mid-sized events grow, attract visitors, and celebrate the best of Portland. The competitive grant program provides funding and technical assistance for Portland events that are positioned to grow and to attract attendance from outside the Portland metro area.

This May, in partnership with Travel Portland, the Events & Film Office at Prosper Portland awarded the Scale Up Grant to five events.  The awardees are Sneaker Week PDX, the 11th Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival, Lan Su Chinese Garden’s Mid-Autumn Moonlight Market, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s Time-Based Art Festival, and the 2024 Portland Book Festival. These winners were selected from a competitive pool of 26 applicants. 

Last fall, there were three grants awarded to Fertile Ground Festival of New Works, the Good Food Awards Weekend, and Kickstand Comedy in the Park, all happening in the first half of 2024. This next round of Scale Up Grants increased to five winners because of additional support from Travel Portland and the City of Portland’s Office of Arts and Culture.

Awarded packages are comprehensive programs consisting of up to $25,000 in direct financial support plus custom technical, marketing, administrative and logistical assistance provided by Travel Portland and Prosper Portland. Custom packages vary per recipient depending on the needs requested during the application process. Awardees can also connect with other grant recipients as a part of a cohort model.

Ness Zolan, Events Navigator for the Office of Events and Film at Prosper Portland said that there have been some wonderful highlights since Scale Up launched. They also anticipate seeing a more than 20 percent increase in major event attendance this year compared to last year.

“I love watching Portland event producers work their magic,” he said. “Nobody knows the industry better than these talented people who have chosen to invest their time, energy, and resources into making Portland the best city in the world to visit or call home. They know their events bring people joy, a sense of connection, a place to belong, and a special pride in Portland. I’m very pleased that we get to help them reach a wider audience.”

Zolan shares that the Scale Up grant program is not only helping organizations, but it’s bolstering Oregon’s economy.

“We see local businesses benefit from the higher foot traffic downtown. We see the change when visitors to the city experience the real and vibrant Portland rather than the negative headlines.  This program supports Portland businesses, our hospitality and tourism industry, and helps build back our positive reputation. We are excited about the awardees in this round of grants and believe that by investing in them, we’re making a greater investment in Portland’s continued economic recovery.”

For more information about the Scale Up program or the events or resources that Portland Events and Film provides, visit the Portland Events and Film Office website here.