https://www.mesopdx.org Since January 2008, MESO has provided 480 matched savings accounts, with a total of $4,300,000 funds placed. Clients have saved nearly $1,500,000 and counting. In the last 3 years, 73% of the IDAs were provided to minority-owned businesses. https://irp.cdn-website.com/71f04a86/dms3rep/multi/2021-MESO-LOGO-REAL.png https://www.mesopdx.org https://www.mesopdx.org/client-success MESO Client Success <div data-rss-type="text"> <h1> <span> BBQ Blessings to open in former Vancouver home of Christine’s Restaurant </span> </h1> <p> <br/> </p> </div> <div> <a> <img src="https://irp.cdn-website.com/71f04a86/dms3rep/multi/Screen+Shot+2022-03-28+at+3.40.18+PM.png" alt="A group of people standing on a porch holding a sign that says bbq blessings coming soon."/> </a> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> The BBQ Blessings staff stand on the front porch of their restaurant, which is set to open in April in the building that once housed Christine's Restaurant. Chef Judy Williams, from left, business partner Greg Williams, owners Kris and Jenny England, and manager Chyna Conner. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian) </span> </p> </div> Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:41:17 GMT https://www.mesopdx.org/client-success thumbnail main image https://www.mesopdx.org/more-than-just-a-gym Melinda Sandifer’s inspiration to become a chef and start her mobile catering service, Miss’ipi Chefs, came from her oldest sister, who cooked professionally. But the support that has helped keep the small business afloat during the pandemic has come from MESO. Melinda grew up in Portland in a family where everyone cooked, but started her business while living in the South. When she decided to return to her home town with Miss’ipi Chefs in tow, she built a local following by adding gluten-free and vegan dishes to the menu. However, as the pandemic threw that success in peril last year, she realized she needed to rethink her original business plan. “I had to really think about the future,” Melinda says. “I had to think, ‘If Covid never leaves, how do I keep things going?’” She turned to MESO for help answering that question. After learning about the importance of pivoting to survive the pandemic, she began offering virtual catering and decided to branch out into the retail market with a line of healthy prot <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> Add a blog and update it regularly. It's a great way to stay in touch with site visitors.  </span> </p> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic, invite an expert to write about it. Having a variety of authors in your blog is a great way to keep visitors engaged. </span> </p> <p> <span> <br/> </span> </p> <p> <span> You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page that gets lots of comments, you can look here to find topics to write about. </span> </p> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> Add a blog and update it regularly. It's a great way to stay in touch with site visitors. </span> </p> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic, invite an expert to write about it. Having a variety of authors in your blog is a great way to keep visitors engaged. </span> </p> <p> <span> <br/> </span> </p> <p> <span> You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page that gets lots of comments, you can look here to find topics to write about. </span> </p> </div> Tue, 17 Aug 2021 12:33:00 GMT atolbert@mesopdx.org (MircoEnterprise Services of Oregon) https://www.mesopdx.org/more-than-just-a-gym thumbnail main image https://www.mesopdx.org/get-ready-get-set When Deanna Cohen decided to have a mural professionally painted on a wall of her child care center in North Portland, she wanted to work with an artist able to present inclusion and diversity in joyful, whimsical and inspiring ways. She found that – and more – when she commissioned Latoya Lovely to do the project. Deanna had learned about Latoya’s work through a women’s business group they were both involved in. The two met and clicked, especially when they realized they were both MESO clients. Latoya has been able to turn her artistic talent in to a successful business with support from MESO. She was part of the group of artists that recently completed a mural honoring Portland Black-owned businesses on a side of MESO’s building on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Deanna, meanwhile, credits MESO with helping her expand her business, Wow & Flutterville Play Gardens and Child Care, from a home-based business into a commercial space. At the time, she didn’t have much personal credit and couldn’t <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> Add a blog and update it regularly. It's a great way to stay in touch with site visitors.  </span> </p> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> New Paragraph </p> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> "I've been to many gyms in my life, but this one is my favorite. Great people, great atmosphere, great workout!" </span> </p> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic, invite an expert to write about it. Having a variety of authors in your blog is a great way to keep visitors engaged. </span> </p> </div> Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:40:28 GMT atolbert@mesopdx.org (MircoEnterprise Services of Oregon) https://www.mesopdx.org/get-ready-get-set thumbnail main image