Who We Are
The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) works to expand economic opportunity for Portland residents, particularly those who face barriers to participating fully in the local economy.
We connect people, organizations, and institutions to strengthen community relationships, improve access to resources, and create pathways to economic participation. Through partnerships, community-based programs, and cross-sector collaboration, we work to make Portland’s economic opportunities more accessible to the people who live here.
How We Work
We connect people and resources. We help residents navigate existing opportunities and bring organizations together to address gaps in services, information, and support.
We invest in community leadership. Through initiatives like Natural Helpers, we support community-rooted leaders who draw on their experiences, relationships, and knowledge to help others navigate systems and create change.
We strengthen partnerships. We work across city government, community organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and other partners to identify shared priorities and develop practical responses to local challenges.
We learn from our communities. We listen to residents, gather information, and use what we learn to inform programs, partnerships, and the city's approach to economic opportunity.
Our Team
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Melissa Hue
Director
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Aram Guptill
Project Specialist
Work with us
Building economic opportunity takes collaboration. We welcome connections with residents, community organizations, businesses, and institutions interested in working toward a stronger local economy.