Website: https://www.mesopdx.org/IDA

Contact: Denise Tupper, (503) 505-7360, IDA@mesopdx.org
For Spanish, contact Nancy Mejia, (503) 505-7408, IDA@mesopdx.org

Primary point of contact: Denise Tupper and Nancy Mejia, (503) 505-7408, IDA@mesopdx.org

For non-English languages, who to contact for what language: Nancy Mejia, (503) 505-7408, IDA@mesopdx.org, Spanish, Tatyana Bondarchuk (tbondarchuk@mesopdx.org) Russian.

Communities served: Multnomah, Washington, and Marion Counties

Eligibility criteria: Must have been in business for at least three months and have at least 50% ownership of the business. Individuals are limited to one IDA per lifetime.

Application process: We are currently accepting applications only from individuals who are actively enrolled in one of the following approved qualifying programs: MESO Empower Program, MESO Childcare Program, Referral from the APANO Small Business Support and Advising Program. Once you’re enrolled in one of these qualifying programs, a business advisor can add you to the IDA interest list. Each quarter, if funding is available, we conduct a lottery from this list. If selected, you’ll be invited to attend an IDA orientation and submit an application. Your business advisor will support you throughout the application process, including helping you prepare a required profit and loss statement. Please note that due to limited funding, we may not be able to accommodate everyone who expresses interest in the program. There is a $100 application fee which is waived if the applicant is a participant of the MESO Empower program because there is a separate fee for that program.

Average number of IDAs opened each year, in the 3 most recent years: 45, across 2 locations

Maximum match per asset: $12,000

Other services provided: Business Classes, Personal Finance Classes, Credit Builder Loans, Small Business Loans, One-on-One Business Advising for all business stages (Pre-biz, Start-up, and Growth).