Oregon has a long history of leadership when it comes to recycling and reducing waste. Metro is in a unique position to invest in and support innovation in the local reuse and recycling economy and help businesses succeed.
In December 2017, the Metro Council created the Investment and Innovation grant program to support for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations involved in reducing waste through reusing, recycling, composting or making energy from the stuff that is discarded in the greater Portland area. The main goal of the program is to strengthen local efforts to reduce waste, make better use of the waste that is produced, and help foster economic opportunities for people who have historically been left out of the garbage and recycling system, particularly communities of color.
The three-year program will:
- Offer grants to for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations involved in reducing, reusing, recycling, composting or recovering energy from the greater Portland area’s discarded materials
- Focus on strengthening the greater Portland area’s reuse and recycling system and advancing Metro’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts
- Provide up to $3 million a year, supporting two types of grants:
- Grants between $10,000 and $50,000 each that could support personnel costs, operations and equipment
- Capital grants between $50,000 and $500,000 each for larger investments such as machinery or other capital improvements
- Award grants through a competitive solicitation process and recommendations by a review committee consisting of representatives from Metro, local governments, and the public
- Produce annual reports on the program’s activities with a full program review at the end of the initial three-year period
- Require that grant awards be matched with cash or in-kind contributions from the recipient