The five member Economic Development Commission is appointed by the Board of Selectmen and meets monthly to study conditions affecting Portland businesses with a goal to promote new businesses, business expansion, and create a positive business environment. The Commission’s Consultant Staff, Mary D. Dickerson, meets with the Land Use Administrator and other staff as a liaison between town officials and business owners and operators. The Consultant maintains a list of available commercial and industrial real estate, registered businesses in the Town, and regularly updates the EDC webpage and the Portland Connecticut Marketplace Facebook page. In addition, the Consultant assists local businesses in identifying and applying for commercial, state, and federal grant and lending programs to promote business development.