2040 planning and development grant application now open
Download the grant application handbook and learn more about the program and how to submit an application.
Everyone in the metro region benefits when all of greater Portland’s communities can reach their full potential. 2040 Planning and Development grants help communities implement our region’s long-range vision, create new housing and commercial opportunities, revitalize town centers, develop employment areas, reduce barriers to equitable housing and plan for future infrastructure and development in new urban areas.
The program, formerly known as the Community Planning and Development Grants Program, has been in place since 2006. Prior grant cycles have awarded over $24 million to fund more than 100 projects across the region. The grants are funded by a regional excise tax on certain construction projects in greater Portland.
Investment targets for the 2019 application cycle
The Metro Council establishes a policy emphasis for each grant cycle to help align the grant program with current trends and issues affecting development in the region. Presently, the region continues to have a crisis in adequate housing supply, especially for residents with lower incomes. Multiple tools, strategies and approaches are needed to provide more equitable housing throughout the region. Complementary strategies for employment growth, redevelopment and land readiness are also important to address other current regional growth and development issues. The policy and investment emphasis for the 2019 grant cycle is as follows:
$1 million of grant funds will be targeted for qualified projects that will facilitate implementation of equitable development projects inside the urban growth boundary, which may include but are not limited to:
- Planning or pre-development work for equitable housing (diverse, physically accessible, affordable housing choices with access to opportunities, services and amenities;
- Planning or pre-development work for facilities and community investments that will advance quality of life outcomes for marginalized communities, including communities of color, such as quality education, living wage employment, healthy environments and transportation;
- Facilitation of development-related efforts in partnership with a community organization whose primary mission is to serve communities of color;
- Planning or pre-development for projects that will serve a specific neighborhood or geography with a high percentage of residents that are people of color or historically marginalized communities.
$250,000 of grant funds will be targeted for qualified projects to facilitate development in centers, corridors, station areas and employment/industrial areas.
$750,000 of grant funds will be targeted for qualified concept planning and comprehensive planning projects in urban reserves or new urban areas.
In the event there are not strong applications in any target area, grant funds may be allocated to other types of applications.
Eligible applicants
Local cities and counties within Metro's service district may submit applications. They may apply as sole applicants, or in partnership with other government entities or private, non-profit or community-based organizations. Other local governments (as defined in ORS 174.116) or private organizations may also submit grant applications for projects in the public interest within the Metro service district, provided that they have the endorsement of a local city or county government. Further details regarding the local endorsement process are described in the application handbook.
Neighboring jurisdictions embarking on similar community planning and development planning projects are encouraged to coordinate or combine their projects. If two or more government entities apply for one grant, one must be lead for the application and only one application for the project should be submitted. Up to 4 project letters of intent and 3 full grant applications may be submitted per jurisdiction during each grant cycle. In addition, city and county governments may endorse one additional grant request for a project in their jurisdiction per grant cycle. Metro is not eligible to endorse, apply for or receive grant funds.
Timeline for the 2019 grant application cycle
Feb. 8, 2019: Metro begins to accept draft Letters of Intent
Feb. 8 - Mar. 8: Scheduling of required pre-application conferences with Metro staff. Required draft Letter of Intent due to Metro no later than March 8.
March 22: Deadline to submit final Letters of Intent.
April 19: Deadline to submit full application.
May - June: Staff/screening committee evaluations and recommendations.
July - August: Metro Council action to award grants.
August 2019 - January 2020: Negotiation of inter-governmental agreements (IGAs) between Metro and grantees; procurement/selection of project consultant teams; finalization of project scopes, milestones and timelines.
February 2020: Grant application Cycle 8 to begin.