Mercatus Partnerships

Mercatus was established by Prosper Portland in 2016 as an online directory and storytelling platform to elevate the voices and visibility of entrepreneurs of color in the Portland region. Since its launch, the directory has grown to include over 2,000 businesses, highlighting diverse entrepreneurs across the Portland Metro area and expanding into Washington County.

As part of its ongoing commitment to economic equity, Mercatus partners with Portland Means Progress to help businesses connect intentionally with local BIPOC-owned vendors. The Mercatus Member Connect Board allows businesses to share job openings, contract opportunities, and procurement needs directly with Mercatus members.

To support these efforts, Portland Means Progress works in collaboration with Ronesha Hayes of Hayes Coaching & Consulting, who serves as a dedicated liaison. Ronesha facilitates direct introductions between Portland Means Progress companies and BIPOC-owned businesses, ensuring that intentional purchasing is personalized, impactful, and community-driven.

In 2023, Mercatus expanded into Washington County through the launch of Washington County Means Progress, an initiative dedicated to advancing intentional purchasing and economic opportunity for BIPOC-owned businesses in the region.

Building on the success of its platform in Portland, Mercatus brings its online directory and storytelling model to Washington County to elevate the visibility of local entrepreneurs of color. This regional expansion supports the growing network of diverse small businesses beyond Portland and strengthens collective efforts toward inclusive economic development.

Through the Mercatus Member Connect Board, businesses in Washington County can share job openings, contract opportunities, and procurement needs directly with Mercatus members making equity-driven sourcing more actionable and accessible.

To support these efforts, Washington County Means Progress partners with Ronesha Hayes of Hayes Coaching & Consulting, who serves as a dedicated liaison. Ronesha facilitates personalized introductions to local BIPOC-owned businesses that align with a company’s specific purchasing goals fostering meaningful, community-rooted business relationships.

Mercatus is proud to partner with Business Oregon to support entrepreneurs of color in navigating the path to becoming certified through the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). COBID certification is a valuable designation that can increase access to public and private contracting opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses in Oregon.

Through this partnership, Mercatus provides tailored guidance, resources, and cohort-based training opportunities to help eligible businesses understand the benefits of COBID certification and successfully complete the application process. These training cohorts offer step-by-step support, peer learning, and direct access to experts familiar with the certification landscape.

Participants also benefit from access to a COBID Liaison at Business Oregon, who provides one-on-one assistance, answers questions, and helps businesses navigate next steps in the certification process. Together, Mercatus and Business Oregon are working to ensure that more diverse entrepreneurs can unlock new pathways to growth, visibility, and contracting success.

Oregon APEX Accelerator is part of a nationwide network of APEX Accelerators working to help businesses compete successfully in the government marketplace.

Oregon APEX Accelerator's mission is to assist Oregon businesses to succeed in obtaining Government Contracts, which stimulate the growth of Oregon's economy. For over 30 years Oregon APEX Accelerator has assisted Oregon businesses in creating jobs, and becoming successful government contractors.

The Inclusive Business Resource Network (IBRN) is a citywide program that brings multiple services for small business into a single network for entrepreneurs. Each year IBRN serves more than 500 businesses. At Prosper Portland we invest in community partners who specialize in serving small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Prosper Portland is the economic and urban development agency for the city of Portland. They serve the city and its residents by growing family-wage jobs, advancing opportunities for prosperity, collaborating with partners for an equitable city, and creating vibrant neighborhoods and communities.