$1.5 million investment from the USDA to support urban agriculture efforts in Portland Metro
PORTLAND, Oregon — August 7, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $1.5M to support urban farms across the Portland Metro region. Portland-based nonprofit Ecotrust has been […]
Ecotrust Announces 2023 Indigenous Leadership Awardees
PORTLAND, Ore. — July 17, 2023 — Ecotrust today announced the recipients of the 2023 Indigenous Leadership Awards. Leaders to be honored with the Award include: Sgaahl Siid Xyáahl Jaad […]
Ecotrust names Ronda Rutledge its next Executive Director
PORTLAND, ORE. – May 30, 2023 – The Ecotrust Board of Trustees announced today it has selected Ronda Rutledge as its next Executive Director. The appointment of Rutledge follows a […]
Coalition of Partners Secures Funding For Tribal Agroforestry
PORTLAND, Ore. – April 28, 2023 – A coalition of partners has secured a $2.5M grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture to […]
New grant supports Tribal Marine Stewards Network
Funding from 11th Hour Project supports more capacity for Indigenous-led management
Ecotrust endorses Oregon Farm to School funding in 2023
Coalition of advocates urge Oregon legislators to maintain investment in impactful program.
New Investment in the Green Workforce Academy
Portland, Ore. – The Green Workforce Collaborative has been awarded an impactful $2M grant from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) to continue building economic and environmental justice with Portland […]
Statement on Supreme Court decision limiting EPA’s oversight of emissions
Portland, Ore. – July 13, 2022 – In the face of the Supreme Court decision to restrict the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to oversee power plant emissions, Ecotrust […]
Salt & Soil Marketplace starts another season to savor
JUNEAU, Alaska — Farm-fresh eggs, flash-frozen rockfish, dandelion jelly, Sitka spruce tips, plant starts, sourdough bread, vegetables and much more are all available for sale straight from the producer through […]
Celebrating Antone Minthorn
Ecotrust names the Redd on Salmon Street’s board room “Big Dawn” in celebration of Antone Minthorn, Pacific Northwest Indigenous leader and longtime Ecotrust board member.
Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Awards 2022 Awardees Announced
PORTLAND, Ore. — April 27, 2022 — Ecotrust today announced the awardees of the 13th annual Indigenous Leadership Awards. They are: Julie Kitka (Chugach Eskimo), Paul Lumley (Yakama), Spring Alaska […]
Ecotrust sells ownership stake to EFM Management, supporting the company’s growth and impact plans
Ecotrust has sold its ownership in EFM, the innovative forestland investment management company that nonprofit Ecotrust established in 2004, to the company’s management team. Both Ecotrust and EFM are celebrating […]
Ecotrust announces Indigenous leadership briefing series
PORTLAND, Ore.—November 23, 2021—Faced with near-constant threats on their sovereignty, cultures, and ways of life, in addition to the theft of their lands and waters, Indigenous leaders through the ages […]
Ecotrust CDE awarded $50 million federal New Markets Tax Credit allocation
PORTLAND, Ore.—September 2, 2021—Ecotrust CDE has received a $50 million federal New Markets Tax Credit allocation to continue its mission-driven investments. The new allocation will develop infrastructure and provide capital […]
Announcing the Viviane Barnett Food System Fellows
PORTLAND, Ore.,—June 30, 2021—Who leads the work to create a more equitable and resilient food system matters. The Viviane Barnett Fellowship for Food System Leadership (Fellowship) announces its inaugural cohort, […]
USDA public comment on climate-smart agriculture & forestry
Forestry, agriculture, fisheries, green building, and ecosystem services are all sectors with strong potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through carbon storage and have real needs for investment to bolster […]
Endorsement of Oregon House Bill 2358
PORTLAND, Ore. — April 2, 2021 — Ecotrust is proud to join the powerful and diverse coalition of advocates that endorse Oregon House Bill 2358. HB 2358 would guarantee access […]
Olivia M. Rebanal joins Ecotrust as Chief Impact Officer
PORTLAND, Ore. — February 24, 2021 — Olivia M. Rebanal joins Ecotrust this week as the organization’s first Chief Impact Officer (CIO). Rebanal brings 20 years of leadership in community […]
Statement on anti-Asian, anti-Muslim violence
UPDATE — March 19, 2021 — Ecotrust calls for solidarity with and protection of Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities, as hate crimes continue to harm and take lives across […]
Statement on the Insurrection at the US Capitol
PORTLAND, Ore. — January 7, 2021 — Ecotrust’s mission to create economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental well-being relies on a foundation of dignity, justice, and democracy. At our best, […]
Ecotrust fish and ag business accelerator gathers largest cohort yet
Portland, Ore. — Dec. 11, 2020 — Farmers, fishers, ranchers, and food producers from Alaska to Oregon have kicked off—virtually—the fourth cohort of Ecotrust’s Ag of the Middle Accelerator (Accelerator) […]
Statement: Supreme Court upholds civil rights for LGBTQ+ community
PORTLAND, Ore. — June 17, 2020 — The equitable, prosperous, and climate-smart future we want demands the right to economic opportunity, regardless of whom we love and how we identify. […]
Ecotrust and Oregon reach no-fault settlement on tax credit issues
PORTLAND, Ore. — April 29, 2020 — Ecotrust and the state of Oregon have agreed to a no-fault settlement related to the state’s short-lived New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. We […]
COVID-19 Ecotrust venues update
To Our Community: We have been following the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation with great concern and care for our Ecotrust staff, and the members of our community here in […]
Jamese Kwele joins board of National Farm to School Network
PORTLAND, Ore. – February 26, 2020 – Jamese Kwele, Ecotrust’s Director of Food Equity, has joined the Advisory Board of the National Farm to School Network (NFSN). With a background […]
New crop of producers join “Ag of the Middle” Accelerator
PORTLAND, Ore. – Nov. 7, 2019 – A Cordova, Alaska fish collective and a Puget Sound pastured pork producer are among the 14 farmers, fishers, ranchers, and food producers just […]
Irving Street Studio a shining new venue in the Pearl
PORTLAND, Ore. – June 11, 2019 – Nonprofit and renowned convener Ecotrust today announces a new venue in its constellation of aesthetically beautiful, deeply connected event spaces. The newly opened […]
Doors open wide at the Redd on Salmon Street
PORTLAND, Ore. – Jan. 16, 2019 – The wait is over for local food buyers, Portland party planners, food system futurists, and curious commuters of Southeast Portland — the Redd […]
“Ag of the Middle” sizes up in Pacific Northwest
Portland, Ore. — November 16, 2019 — Mid-size producers from Northern California to Alaska are picking up steam with the support of a one-of-its kind “Ag of the Middle” (AOTM) […]
Year two of “Ag of the Middle” Accelerator set to launch
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sept. 18, 2018 – Calling ranchers, farmers, and fishers! Ecotrust, the Portland-based nonprofit forging new ways of living and doing business, together with a network of supporting […]
The Redd on Salmon Street nears completion
Redd construction time-lapse from Sam Beebe on Vimeo. PORTLAND, Ore. – July 26, 2018 – A rising steel beam, a bustling food truck, a racing delivery trike – activity is […]
Second cohort of Alaska Salmon Fellows joins statewide program to address salmon’s “people problem”
Anchorage, Alaska, Monday, April 2, 2018 — “Alaska is a place of divided people,” writes Taylor Evenson, an entrepreneur and commercial fisherman from Anchorage and Kenai. “We are divided by […]
Ecotrust launches business education program for mid-scale ag
Portland, Ore., Wednesday, December 6, 2017 – Starting this month, a group of 14 farmers, ranchers, and fishermen will participate in a newly-formed business accelerator pilot program developed by Ecotrust […]
Bank of the West announces the Innovation and Community Impact winners of its eighth annual Philanthropy Awards
Bank of the West today announced Portland-based Ecotrust and Denver-based Warren Village as winners of the Bank of the West Philanthropy Awards. Each nonprofit was awarded $100,000 and recognized for […]
Ecotrust Forest Management (EFM) recognized among top 10 percent of B Corps
Portland, Ore., September 12, 2017 — For the fifth year in a row, Ecotrust Forest Management (EFM) is recognized for creating extraordinary positive impact through its climate-smart investment strategies based on […]
Acclaimed scientist teams up with regional culinary stars for Light Up the Redd
PORTLAND, Ore., September 12, 2017 — Ecotrust is gathering visionaries, artisans, farmers, and citizens for a benefit highlighting a more equitable, restorative, and delicious food system. Light Up the Redd, […]
Oregon legislature votes unanimously to preserve Farm to School and School Garden funding
Megan Kemple, Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network 541-344-4329 (office) 541-225-8807 (cell) megan@oregonfarmtoschool.org Leah Harrison, FoodCorps 503-558-6413 mailto:leah.harrison@foodcorps.org Salem, Ore., Friday, July 7, 2017 – A bill supporting Farm […]
New report shows that impact funds outperform competition in timberland investments
Timberland impact funds seeking to advance environmental and social objectives in addition to financial returns outperform the competition by nearly 2X, according to a new report released by […]
Statewide effort to keep farm to school and school garden funding in place takes important next step
Contact: Megan Kemple, Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network 541-344-4329 megan@oregonfarmtoschool.org […]
Ecotrust CDE awarded $75 million in new federal tax credits
PORTLAND, Ore., November 21, 2016 — Ecotrust CDE, a subsidiary of Ecotrust, has received $75 million in federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation to support employment and investment in distressed […]