Dakima Maria holds business sign
Start building the business of your dreams today

Mercy Corps Northwest offers small business education to support Oregon and Washington entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.

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our mission

We invest in communities, uncover breakthrough solutions, and fight for equitable opportunities across the Pacific Northwest.

  • 17,610

    local clients served across our programs

  • $11.3m

    into the local community in loans and grants

  • 80%

    clients from historically underserved communities

  • 2,272

    businesses started or strengthened
News and features
woman with blonde hair and blue shirt sits on her couch
Chelsea Ingle’s Small Business Makes Adventuring More Accessible
Bridge City Kid, LLC aims to improve families’ - especially children’s - outdoor experiences through sustainable, affordable, and quality goods for all. Chelsea aspires to one day generate profit and donate 100 percent of it to charity
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nonbinary entrepreneur smiles in their booth at a farmers market
Stories from Vancouver – Charlene Ruell of Panache
Charlene Ruell first turned to crafting as solace from depression, anxiety, and work-related trauma. Charlene is now 100% self-employed, selling stylish handmade goods through Panache at the Vancouver Farmers Market and freelancing through Panache Consulting.
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lights hang in a plant shop
Daphne’s Botanicals Blossoms in Downtown Portland
Most afternoons, you can find Daphne Peters in Redux Collective’s shop window, caring for her plants while helping customers find the best foliage for their spaces. From banking to botany, Daphne left her finance career in the concrete jungle that is New York City almost a decade ago.
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man waters plants in garden
Your Guide To Building An Eco-Friendly Small Business
Small businesses often lead the charge when it comes to keeping local and sustainable practices at the forefront. But not all small businesses have a plan for how to operate in a sustainable and climate-smart manner. Read our tips to see if you're on the right track.
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A Native woman farmer tends to her crops in Oregon
Good Rain Farm – Growing From Native Roots
Michelle Week is the owner and founder of x̌ast sq̓it or Good Rain Farm in Portland, Oregon. She is working to sustainably bring First Nation foods back into daily diets after receiving an IDA small business grant.
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Regina Morgan sitting in a chair.
Regina Morgan put her faith in hair braiding
Regina Morgan is the owner of 10:30 Hair Braiding and Natural Hair in Vancouver, Washington. Her small business is now thriving thanks to a Mercy Corps Northwest COVID relief grant she earned in 2021.
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Family in front of their food cart.

What we do

Our programs support up to 2,100 small business owners each year, support successful futures beyond prison, improve services at more than 30 local nonprofits, and fuel under-resourced communities with disaster preparedness knowledge. We operate programs in Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Walla Walla, Washington; and the Puget Sound area— where we welcome 2,400+ clients through our doors each year.

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