Montavilla business leaders make summer plans

Meet the new leaders of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association …

It’s an easy walk to the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association annual meeting – held here, at Flying Pie Pizza on SE Stark Street.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Annual Meeting of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) got underway at noon on February 3 in the meeting room at Flying Pie Pizza.

The new METBA President, Stephen Rice, said he didn’t have a business in the area, but was simply a neighbor, and took on the role to help see the business district grow.

“I have lived in the area for about ten years,” Rice told East Portland News before the formal meeting began. “I joined the METBA some time ago, because I have an interest in continued economic development here. I decided to involved, and help make more business happen here.”

METBA President Stephen Rice greets a member arriving for the organization’s annual meeting.

One of their goals this year, Rice said, is to increase membership in the business association. “This will help us invest more heavily in the district itself. We’re hoping to do more brand identity and marketing of the neighborhood.

“We feel that Montavilla is a unique community,” Rice continued. “We believe that people throughout Portland will be interested in what our neighborhood has to offer –when we get the word out about our neighborhood business district.”

Attendee Tina Granzo from City Beautiful Design helps out by fetching another pizza from the Flying Pie Pizza kitchen.

As the meeting started, 16 people helped themselves to pizza and introduced themselves to the group.

“We look forward to bringing back the Montavilla Street Fair this summer along SE Stark Street. It’ll be on Sunday, August 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Rice told the group.

METBA’s Rice says their goals are to build volunteer capacity, and host public events, in the Montavilla area.

“We’re also building our volunteer base to help with our projects, including the Street Fair,” Rice went on. “And, we’re working to grow our Montavilla First Friday event.

“We are hoping to tie in all of the businesses in our district, including the ones on the east side of the SE 82nd Avenue, to help share in the prosperity.”

Visit METBA on their Facebook site: CLICK HERE.

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