PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Prosper Portland has unanimously approved funding for the Lents neighborhood market that was devastated by an electrical fire earlier this year.
The economic development agency’s board of commissioners approved the $750,000 grant for Portland Mercado at a meeting on Wednesday. The allocation will help the Latino-led Hacienda Community Development Corporation restore pre-existing damage, as well as upgrade other parts of the site.
Portland weekend roundup: Wanda Sykes, Tinder Live, Indigenous People’s Celebration
On Jan. 3 around 5:43 a.m., Portland Fire & Rescue battled what turned into a two-alarm fire on Southeast 72nd Avenue and Foster Road. The community hub hosted about a dozen small businesses, including a bar and food cart pod. Not every food cart was destroyed by the blaze, but some business owners said a lack of electricity and a water source impacted their services.
Although a portion of vendors returned to the complex in late January , the market still needs renovations to fully re-open. According to Prosper Development Manager Bryan Moore’s presentation, rebuilding will cost nearly $2 million.