More About SCORE

About SCORE

Wisdom and Experience at Work

The National SCORE Organization

SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, is a non-profit, all volunteer organization, whose mission is to help small businesses and small business entrepreneurs become successful. SCORE, now in its 41st year of operation, provides free business counseling and advice, email counseling, and workshops through local chapter offices throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

SCORE receives a federal grant from Congress to support counseling and workshop efforts based on helping entrepreneurs. The grant is administered by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In addition to SBA funding, SCORE is supported by donations and workshop fees.

Since its founding in 1964, SCORE's retired and working business professionals have volunteered to help a new generation of small business owners start and grow their companies. SCORE's business counseling and advice services are offered free, as a community service.

SCORE assisted over 300,000 small business owners in 2000 and over 4.5 million since 1964. SCORE has over 390 chapters in over 750 locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

SCORE counselors provide key services, both face-to-face and online, to busy entrepreneurs just starting out, or in need of a seasoned business professional. SCORE counselors can act as a sounding board for the entrepreneur's existing business, or while contemplating an expansion. SCORE counselors can also help you weed out the bad business ideas, show you how to write solid business plans, and help you apply for SBA-guaranteed loans.

To find out more about the National SCORE organization or to arrange for e-mail counseling, visit SCORE's national web site: http://www.score.org

Mail inquires may be directed to:

SCORE Association
409 Third Street, S. W.
6th Floor
Washington, D. C. 20024

Who are SCORE Volunteers?

SCORE volunteers help prospective entrepreneurs make common-sense decisions about whether they should take the leap of small business ownership. Often for a variety of practical, financial and psychological reasons, SCORE counselors help clients realize they aren’t in a position to take the leap from idea to reality. Other times SCORE counselors work side-by-side with clients as they turn a business idea into an actual working business.

SCORE volunteers are either retired or active business owners or managers. They can meet with you at a local SCORE office, your place of business, your home, or through e-mail counseling. E-mail counseling can be arranged by going to SCORE's Web site. SCORE makes every effort to match your business needs with a counselor who is experienced in a compatible line of business.

SCORE counselors volunteer because they have enjoyed successful business careers and want to give something back to the community. Moreover, the SCORE counselors get great satisfaction from the accomplishments and successes realized by their clients.

SCORE, Chapter 11, Portland, Oregon

The Portland chapter of SCORE has over 90 active volunteer members in the Portland metropolitan area. Our combined experience totals several thousand years in nearly all phases of business activity. The Portland chapter has been in existence for over 25 years. During that time our volunteers have consistently provided outstanding service to the small business entrepreneur.

During the fiscal year 2001, SCORE volunteers worked over 15,000 hours servicing the needs of the local business community. We provided 6,125 one-on-one counseling sessions to Portland area business owners and entrepreneurs. We also had over 500 people attend our workshops. In 2001 and 2002, the Portland chapter ranked in the top five SCORE chapters in terms of the number of clients served.

Our volunteers are actively involved in:

• Counseling
• Workshops
• Staffing the SCORE/SBA Business Resource Center
• Sponsoring and supporting business roundtable groups
• Providing speakers for various community organizations
• Participating in Portland area trade shows

We are located in the Portland office of the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In addition, late in 2003, we started a branch operation on the Oregon coast. Our clients on the coast can now work with counselors who live in or near their local communities.

Speakers Bureau

Need a Speaker? SCORE will provide one for Staff meetings, Sales meetings or Seminars. Our expert speakers can talk about business plans, legal structures, sales, accounting, advertising, success and promotions.

SCORE has provided speakers for local high schools, the Art Institute of Portland, church organizations, retiree organizations, the Home Based Business Association, and many other social and service organizations. Our volunteer speakers can also talk about SCORE, small business operations issues, starting a small business, marketing and other business related topics.

We welcome the opportunity to provide a speaker for your organization. To arrange for a speaker please contact our Speakers Bureau chairperson at:

	The SCORE Office:	9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, except for Federal Holidays (503) 326-3441 (503) 326-5211
	E-mail:	Speakers Bureau Request

Finding Our Office

The Portland SCORE office is located in the ODS Tower, which occupies the block surrounded by Second and Third avenues and Alder and Morrison streets. The address is 601 SW Second Avenue. See the map below:

Enter the ODS Tower on Second Avenue and take the elevator to the ninth floor, we are located in Suite 950.

The map on the left shows a GREEN arrow pointing at the block bounded by 2nd and 3rd Avenues and Alder and Morrison Streets; the ODS Tower entrance is on 2nd Avenue. There is on-street parking in the area and a large parking structure behind the building on 3rd. The RED arrow points at the entrance to the parking structure on 3rd Avenue. You will need to walk around the ODS Tower to enter the building on Second Avenue.

For More Information

For more information about SCORE, to sign up for counseling or to register for one of our workshops, contact us at:

You can also find out more about who we are and what we do by following the links shown below:

Other Useful Links

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