Division Clinton is building an ESD (Enhanced Services District) that strengthens our neighborhood for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

What is an ESD?

Enhanced Services District: How We Make Things Happen

An Enhanced Services District (ESD) is a community-powered funding tool, one that lets local business and property owners pool resources to invest in improvements we decide on together. It's not a tax. It's our money, going directly back into our district.

For Division Clinton, an ESD could fund things like:

  • Marketing and Events that support foot traffic, coordinated resources and streamlined engagement with city resources.

  • A dedicated cleaning crew hitting litter, graffiti, and illegal dumping on SE Division and SE Clinton. This would happen consistently, not just when someone has an issue.

  • Welcome ambassadors walking and biking the district, helping customers, residents, business owners with wayfinding, information, and event support.

  • Infrastructure support for garbage cans, lighting, storefront support and more.

And here's what makes this different: we run it. The business community sets the priorities, approves the budget, and holds the work accountable.

ESDs deliver incredible results with cleaner sidewalks, robust storefronts, more foot traffic, and more dollars staying local.

An ESD is…

  • A community-led funding model

  • A way to leverage the City for support and engagement

  • A way to pool resources and drive positive outcomes for business and the neighborhood

  • A structure that ensures consistent, reliable funding and services

An ESD is not…

  • A City program telling you want to do (we run the work)

  • A bureaucracy with no accountability (all reports are public)

  • A replacement for business decisions (we make all decisions)

  • A tax (this is a fee structure that is fully reinvested in the district)

What does accountability look like?

ESDs are independent nonprofit organizations with robust nonprofit, governance, and public accountability related to their setup, budget, service delivery, and board engagement. Please explore a number of accountability measures that will be implemented into a Division Clinton ESD.

  • An ESD is an independent 501c3 nonprofit, following all of the rules and regulations of a standard nonprofit delivery services to the community.

  • ESDs are required to regularly hold ratepayer Board of Director meetings

  • ESDs are required to provide program and service tracking measures to the ESD Coordinator (at least quarterly) and those reports are posted on the City’s ESD webpage for anyone to view.

  • ESDs are required to produce an independent financial audit at least every three years  

  • ESDs are required to produce and share an Annual Report to City Council and their ratepayers each year.

  • The City of Portland ESD Coordinator is an ex-officio, non-voting member of the ratepayer Board of Directors, and the City of Portland City Council approves ESDs.

  • ESDs are required to host at least one meeting open to all ratepayers annually.

  • ESD budgets are included in reporting and City of Portland contracting process.

2025

Timeline

April, May & June 2026 Community Engagement

July 2026 submission to the City

August 2026 feedback

October 2026 City Council vote

October 2027 ESD begins

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Meeting cadence and more information to come!