Search the site

Nature in Neighborhoods restoration and enhancement grants

Planning and conservation  ›  Natural areas, parks and trails  ›  Protecting habitat and water  ›  Restoration and enhancement grants

Metro funds projects designed to connect citizens to their watershed through hands-on restoration activities and environmental education.

The Portland metropolitan area is set in an exceptional natural landscape. Laced with rivers and streams, surrounded by hills and mountains, it is a place where nature is always nearby. These distinct features help sustain residents' health, foster a thriving economy and connect people to where they live.

The protection and restoration of our region's natural inheritance and the integration of it into the urban environment exceeds what any one organization can accomplish. It requires resources dedicated for this purpose, and the coordinated and strategic action of many. 

Purpose

Metro's restoration and enhancement grant program supports hands-on activities and environmental education programs that protect and contribute to watershed health in the region. The program connects community-minded people to their neighborhoods, natural areas, backyards and beyond.

Funding cycle and requests

The funding cycle for Metro's restoration and enhancement grant program is from 12 to 24 months. Typically, an announcement about the availability of funds is made in the fall, free grant-writing workshops are offered in early winter and funds are made available beginning in July. Requests can range from $5,000 to $25,000; a 1:1 match is required.

A pre-application is the first step in the request process. Due January 19, the initial submittal gives Metro and the applicant a more complete understanding of the size, scope and feasibility of the request. Successful pre-applicants are notified in early February and invited to submit a final grant application that is due in March. Grant awards are announced in May. 

Who can apply?

Proposals are accepted from nonprofit organizations including, but not limited to, an individual, citizen or business group, schools, government agency, or charitable organization with 501(c)(3) status undre the Internal Revenue Code.  This requirement can be fullfilled through an agreement with a fiscal agent.  Applicants are required to have at least three partners on their project team.

Target area

Projects must take place within Metro jurisdictional boundary. In general, the target area encompasses the 25 cities located within Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.

Funding guidelines

Projects must meet one or more of the project funding objectives (the order of the list does not imply ranking or weighting):

1. Restoration projects which link participants to their watershed and/or work towards educating participants about watershed health.
2. Educational programs that teach ecological concepts and build awareness about the connections between our actions and how they affect our watersheds.
3. Conservation, restoration and/or enhancement projects that have been identified in a master plan, watershed plan or other similar document where the need for the project has been demonstrated.
4. Projects that can serve as models for new, innovative ideas that benefit watershed health.
5. Projects or programs that support other restoration efforts by offering technical resources, materials and/or supplies.
6. Projects that clean up illegal dumps and restore the site to deter or prevent further illegal dumping.
7. Projects or programs that build upon existing activities and that benefit watershed health and environmental awareness.

Grant awards

Metro has invested nearly $1.5 million in 74 local restoration and enhancement projects since the program was established in 2006. Grants have been used to actively engage residents in efforts to improve or enhance watershed health.

Files that are downloadable from this page

• Restoration and enhancement grants 2010 program information packet 92K MS Word | Published November 18, 2009
• Restoration and enhancement grants 2010 program information packet 57K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published November 18, 2009