Construction excise tax planning grants

Grants › Planning grants

Metro's new grant program provides cities and counties with the planning resources necessary to prepare land for development and achieve the shared goals of the 2040 Growth Concept.

Twenty-six public agencies in 12 cities apply for planning grants

Local governments seeking funding for development or redevelopment projects in their communities have submitted proposals for a share of the more than $3.5 million available in construction excise tax grant funds. Learn more about the 26 projects proposed by local jurisdictions throughout the region.

Read a summary of each proposed project
View a map of proposed project locations

The Metro Council has initiated a competitive process for planning grants funded through extension of the region-wide construction excise tax. The grants will be awarded for planning areas currently inside the urban growth boundary as well as future expansion areas and urban reserves, with an emphasis on planning projects that advance the region's 2040 Growth Concept and result in making land within the boundary ready for development.

Over the past decade, the region has been working to build great communities – putting long-term plans into action on the ground – most recently through the recommendations of Making the Greatest Place. Cities and counties have visions for their communities but often lack the planning resources necessary to support development that achieves the shared values of sustainable, vibrant communities, safe and walkable neighborhoods, and good jobs. Metro has worked collaboratively with local government partners and the development community to create and extend the construction excise tax to fund the planning necessary to create development and achieve the region's shared goals. Learn more about Making the Greatest Place

Funding

The grants will be funded by construction excise tax revenues, approved by the Metro Council on June 11, 2009, and will sunset in five years (2014). Two grant allocations will occur – the first during the 2009-2010 fiscal year and the second during the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Learn more about the tax assessment, including who pays the tax, and types of construction projects that qualify or are exempt.Go

Who can apply

Local governments (cities and counties) are invited to apply, either as sole applicants or in partnership with non-profit, business or other government entities.

Begin the application process with a letter of intent

To apply for a construction excise tax planning grant, local governments must submit a pre-application letter of intent to Metro. The letter will inform Metro staff of the proposed project/s and how they fit with the region's goals for growth and development. In addition to the proposed project/s, the letter of intent will include the requested grant amount, applicability of the project to the evaluation criteria, and proposed milestones. Following review, Metro staff will provide feedback and information on the next step of submitting a formal application. The preferred deadline for submitting a letter of intent is Nov. 25, 2009.

Continue the application process with a full application packet

The second step in the application process is the submission of a formal application to Metro. The deadline for the application is Jan. 29, 2010. Applications not submitted by the deadline will not be reviewed. For instructions and forms, download the application handbook and other documents below.

How will applications be evaluated?

Metro staff will review applications for eligibility and forward eligible applications, along with recommendations, to a screening committee appointed by Metro's chief operating officer. The committee, made up of nine members with expertise ranging from economic development to real estate and infrastructure finance, will review and score the applications and submit funding recommendations to the chief operating officer. The chief operating officer will forward the recommendations to the Metro Council for approval and may also submit a separate recommendation to the Metro Council. The Metro Council will review the recommendations, select applications for funding, determine the level of funding and award the grant.

Evaluation criteria

Achieve on-the-ground development or re-development outcomes.
Benefit the region by achieving established regional development goals and outcomes.
Facilitate development and/or re-development in or near centers, corridors, main streets, station centers, employment areas or industrial areas that enhance the 2040 Growth Concept.
Demonstrate that projects can be replicated in other locations.
Implement equitable distribution of funds based on collections of revenues and planning resource needs.
Leverage/matching potential: Describe outcomes leveraged across jurisdictions and service providers, any financial or in-kind match associated with the project and opportunities for private/public investment.

For more detailed information on the grant application evaluation criteria, download the administrative rules and the planning grants handbook below.

Screening committee

The screening committee supports the objective of the construction excise planning grants program by using their experience, expertise and insight to provide a quality assessment of the development potential of each grant request.

Applicants of the construction excise tax planning grants program are requested not to discuss pending or potential CET grant proposals with members of the screening committee to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

Tim Smith, principal
Director of urban design and planning
SERA Architects
Committee chair

Jeff Bennett, attorney
Jordan Schrader PC

Charlotte Boxer, president
Director of commercial real estate
Pacific Continental Bank

Fred Bruning, principal
Center Cal Properties

Greg DeGrazia, broker
Windermere Realty Partners

Marcy McInelly, associate principal
SERA Architects
Co-chair of Congress for the New Urbanism committee on transportation reform

Tom Skaar, partner
Pacific Western Homes

John Southgate, economic development director
City of Hillsboro

Sumner Sharpe, senior consultant
Parametrix

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