I’ll admit when we first started planning the Oregon Small Business Connections event, I wasn’t sure what to expect, or if we’d meet our goal of bringing together about 50 partners, supporters, and lenders in the
one room to make introductions easier and start conversations that could help more small business owners.
Since this was Business Impact NW's first organization-wide networking event in Oregon in several years, we expected a few challenges. We tried to keep our expectations realistic. In our planning meetings, we reminded ourselves that even a smaller gathering would accomplish our goal if it brought committed Oregon small business supporters into one room to network together.
On June 25, more than 75 people filled the room.
Partners Made It Possible
When we began looking for sponsors for the event, the responses were quick to come in. Unitus Community Credit Union not only opened its beautiful Business Center 
to us and provided funding but also became an incredible partner in helping us plan and bring everything together. SAIF, Riverview Bank, Summit Bank, Columbia Bank, and Beneficial State Bank all stepped up to help fund the event and the Oregon small businesses we all support.
Community Leaders Showed Up
As we continued planning, the next question was whether an early-morning networking event could really bring together leaders from across Oregon’s small business community. Elected officials have demanding schedules, and everyone has competing priorities.
Once again, Oregon delivered.
We were honored to welcome Mayor Yi-Kang Hu of Tigard, who shared remarks about the importance of small businesses to vibrant communities, along with a representative from Senator Jeff Merkley’s office. 
We also received remarks from Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, whose support reinforced the importance of strengthening Oregon’s small business ecosystem.
The room reflected exactly what we wanted to create: people weren’t just exchanging business cards. They were talking about how to work together.
Business Impact NW President and CEO Joe Sky-Tucker summed it up perfectly during his welcome remarks:
“We wanted to bring people together that are all mission-aligned to demonstrate support for our small business community...because we are better together 100 percent of the time.”
Why These Connections Matter
Guests also heard from Sumi Promod of Logic Intelligence, who shared how Business Impact NW’s coaching, guidance, and resources helped her keep her business moving forward. Her story reflects why these partnerships matter: to help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses.
As Joe shared, in 2025 Business Impact NW served more than 680 Oregon entrepreneurs, helped create or retain over 1,800 jobs, and provided more than $1 million in small business loans throughout the state.
Building on the Momentum
I left with one overwhelming takeaway:
Oregon showed up.
Our sponsors showed up. Community leaders and elected officials showed up. Our partners showed up. And they showed up because they believe small businesses are important to our communities and worth investing in.
Stay tuned for more Oregon Small Business Connections events and other opportunities to connect. Visit our Upcoming Events page to see what’s ahead. If you’re ready to support small businesses now, visit our Get Involved page to learn more about partnership, sponsorship, and investment opportunities.
About the author
Emily is the Senior Grants Manager at Business Impact NW, where she leads grant writing, manages the organization’s grant calendars, and oversees the grant pipeline. Emily focuses on securing funding to support the growth of programs that enhance opportunities for small business owners. After starting as Development Coordinator in 2022, Emily was promoted to Senior Grants Manager, building on her experience managing projects and securing funding. Emily also holds a master’s in social work from the University of Washington.