I’m excited to announce that the Nature in Neighborhoods capital grant team is asking for letters of interest now through October 15, 2014. Full applications are accepted only upon invitation and will be due January 2015.
While capital grant funds can only support projects that result in a capital asset, such as purchasing land or making improvements to public property, a wide variety of projects can fit the bill.
Land acquisition - would privately owned property in your community make the next great neighborhood natural area?
Urban transformations - can a redevelopment project in your community go the extra step to integrate nature and habitat if more funding is available?
Restoration - is there a degraded stream, wetland or other habitat that needs to be restored in your neighborhood?
Neighborhood livability - can schools, parks or other public land in your neighborhood become a place for people to experience and enjoy nature?
Neighborhood and community groups, nonprofit organizations, schools, cities, counties and public park providers are invited to apply. The applicant must match grant funds with outside funding or in-kind services equivalent to twice the grant request.Don’t be daunted, if you think you might have a great idea, please contact the capital grants coordinator, Mary Rose Navarro, at 503-797-1781 or [email protected]. She’s happy to discuss your idea, give advice on project planning, to connect you with potential partners and share lessons learned from successful projects. Please also check out the website for more information and materials to download for your reference, here.
I’m proud to be a part of Metro and to serve my community through opportunities like this. Thanks to you, these grants, funded by voters in the region’s 2006 natural areas bond measure, are giving opportunity for communities across the Portland metropolitan area to find innovative ways to help nature thrive.