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Starting a business in Downtown Eugene is an exciting endeavor. You will be joining the ranks of hundreds of businesses that are working to provide a product or service to the local, and sometimes global, community.
You may not know it yet, but there are tons of folks in Eugene rooting for you, and many of them have resources to help you succeed.
Free business consulting
If you don’t have any kind of business plan on paper, this is a valuable first step, and may be expected from lenders and landlords. Downtown Eugene is home to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Located on the 2nd floor of the Downtown Lane Community College building, the SBDC is available by appointment, for free.
Financing
Your business may need a startup loan. There are a number of programs you can take advantage of to make it happen.
SBA Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to the success of small businesses. They provide loans, commonly referred to as SBA loans, to entrepreneurs across the country.
Don’t go it alone. Drop into Summit Bank, a local SBA loan authority. In fact, Summit is a great place to open all your business accounts. Located conveniently downtown, you’ll be able to walk over when you need to make deposits, chat with a banker, or pick up a Friday snack—Summit Bank’s lobby and drive-thru feature fresh-baked cookies on Fridays.
Downtown Loan Programs
The City of Eugene also offers a whole host of commercial lending options. But you’ve decided to open in Downtown Eugene, and the City has special loan programs designed specifically for you:
- Downtown Loans are largely used for property rehab, facade improvements, tenant improvements, and accessibility projects.
- Facade Improvement Loans are 0%-interest loans used for adding signage, awnings, or making other facade improvements within the Downtown Urban Renewal District.
- The Business Sign Loan program is more specifically designed for signage, subject to departmental approval. These are also a 0% interest option with 3-year terms.
For all financing inquiries with the City of Eugene, contact Aaron Doreen, or visit the City’s business loan page for the latest contact information.
Find a home for your business
Downtown Eugene is a central location perfect for many businesses. Whether you’re offering professional services, opening a restaurant, or starting a retail business, Downtown Eugene is an excellent place to hang your shingle.
Coworking
If your business is lean and simply needs minimal office space, you might consider coworking spaces. These spaces offer flex desks and private offices for growing service-based businesses like attorneys, designers, consultants and more.
Within Downtown Eugene, consider:
Commercial Real Estate
Downtown is home to some excellent properties, both for sale or lease.
You can certainly seek out a location yourself, but sometimes it can be helpful to have a commercial real estate agent in your corner. Consider reaching out to one of the following to ask about agent representation, or simply to schedule tours of some of their available properties:
Unlike residential rentals, you may have some negotiating power in a commercial lease. Don’t hesitate to contact property managers to begin a conversation. If your business plan is solid, managers may be willing to make a deal.
Featured Listings
28 East Broadway
28 East Broadway is a prime retail spot located just off Kesey Square, between Sushi Seoul and Voodoo Donuts. This is an excellent location for a boutique, or consider a cafe or light lunch spot that takes advantage of working professionals downtown.
Voodoo is a popular destination for students, so there’s plenty of walk-by college traffic. Professional offices, including a coworking space, are upstairs, so take advantage of this built-in audience as well!
Two sets of roll-up doors make this a great spot for blurring the lines between the street and your business.
Parking
Downtown Eugene is incredibly accessible by bike or public transit, but there are also a variety of parking options available for your customers and your employees.
Staff Parking
Consider providing parking as a perk to your employees. Monthly parking is available at a variety of convenient locations, including the Parcade, Overpark, and Pearl Street garages. Visit the City of Eugene website for a full parking map, published monthly parking rates, and to access the AIMS Parking portal and purchase monthly parking passes.
Customer Parking
Visit the parking and transit page for more information about parking for your customers.