Strategy in Action

The Rockwood Market is an incubator market centering BIPOC farmers and makers, located in Rockwood. Rockwood is a Portland suburb and ethnically and racially diverse neighborhood that has suffered significant disinvestment in recent decades and is a food desert with few places to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The 39,000 square foot indoor marketplace includes micro-spaces for restaurants, grocers, and retailers. These small, affordable commercial spaces facilitate business start-ups and growth. The marketplace offers flexible lease terms, incentive packages, and technical assistance. It hosts a weekly People’s Market, an incubator that features local produce and handmade items by  BIPOC vendors. It also hosts programs that serve the surrounding neighborhoods, including POIC+RAHS Kitchen, which serves nutritious meals to more than 3,000 students annually.