2040 Planning and Development Grants

Metro’s 2040 Planning and Development Grants program is a regional planning and community development funding initiative administered by Metro, the regional government serving the Portland metropolitan area. The program supports local planning activities that advance Metro’s long-term regional vision outlined in the 2040 Growth Concept. Since 2006, Metro has awarded more than $30 million through over 130 projects that support housing development, economic growth, redevelopment, infrastructure planning, equitable community engagement, and implementation of livable and complete communities across the region. Funding for the grants is generated through a regional construction excise tax assessed on construction permits issued within the Metro service district. The tax structure exempts permits valued below $100,000 and permits issued to nonprofit affordable housing projects, while permits exceeding $10 million are assessed a flat fee. Metro intends to award up to $4 million annually through the program. The grants are offered through multiple categories. Concept Planning Grants support planning for future urban development in designated Urban Reserve areas and require compliance with Title 11 of the Urban Growth Management Functional Plan. These grants fund activities related to land use planning, infrastructure planning, housing strategies, transportation systems, parks and recreation planning, and financing strategies for future systems and services. Planning Inside the Urban Growth Boundary grants support equitable development and redevelopment projects within existing urbanized areas. Eligible project types include center and corridor plans, redevelopment strategies, industrial land readiness plans, parking studies, economic development strategies, community engagement activities, and other planning projects that facilitate development and redevelopment consistent with the 2040 Growth Concept. Comprehensive Planning Grants are also available for areas recently added to the Urban Growth Boundary, although these grants are considered separately from the standard quarterly cycle and are tied to Metro Council urban growth management decisions. Eligible applicants vary by grant category but generally include cities, counties, federally recognized Tribes within Metro’s jurisdiction, and urban unincorporated community groups seeking incorporation or annexation. Applicant teams may include nonprofit community partners and other collaborating local governments. Metro encourages partnerships that elevate community voices and include historically marginalized communities in planning processes. Cities and counties with Urban Reserves may submit one concept planning application per calendar year. Most jurisdictions applying for Planning Inside the UGB grants may submit one application annually, although larger jurisdictions such as Portland, Hillsboro, Gresham, Beaverton, Washington County, and Clackamas County may submit additional applications according to program limits. All applications must demonstrate organizational commitment, including governing body support letters or resolutions confirming staffing capacity and financial contributions where applicable. Metro places strong emphasis on equitable public engagement and implementation readiness during evaluation. Planning Inside the UGB proposals are evaluated based on their ability to facilitate development or redevelopment, demonstrate project readiness, provide meaningful and transparent community engagement, and align with one or more regional outcomes such as climate mitigation, racial equity, economic prosperity, housing options, equitable communities, and transportation safety. Concept Planning and Comprehensive Planning proposals are additionally evaluated for consistency with Metro Code requirements governing urban reserve planning and growth management. Metro also considers whether applicants have unfinished prior 2040 grant projects when reviewing new applications. Review processes include staff evaluation, recommendations from the Metro Chief Operating Officer, screening committee review for certain categories, and final award approval by the Metro Council in a public hearing process. Metro accepts applications on a rolling quarterly cycle. Applicants may submit applications at any time, but completed applications must be received by the applicable quarterly deadline to be considered in that cycle. For the 2026 cycle year, final applications are due January 16, April 10, July 10, and October 9. Metro strongly encourages applicants for Planning Inside the UGB grants to submit a Letter of Interest before submitting a full application. Letters of Interest are optional and may be submitted at any time. Metro staff provide feedback within two weeks of submission and may hold optional meetings with applicants before or after submission of a Letter of Interest. Application materials are submitted through the ZoomGrants online platform. Required application components include project information entered into ZoomGrants, responses to five short questions, a project narrative, a detailed project budget table, support letters, location maps, and other supporting materials as applicable. Concept planning applications must also include a governing body resolution of support. Eligible grant expenses include technical consultant services, project planning and implementation expenses, direct project costs such as travel, meals, printing, and communication platforms, as well as nonprofit and community partner staff time. City, county, and Tribal staff time may also be reimbursed, although no more than 20 percent of the total grant award may be used for direct management or facilitation by government staff. Expenses incurred before execution of a grant agreement are not eligible for reimbursement. Following award decisions, Metro staff collaborate with successful applicants to refine project scopes, finalize budgets, and execute grant agreements. Metro staff contact for the program is Serah Breakstone, 2040 Planning and Development Grants Manager, who can be reached at Serah.Breakstone@oregonmetro.gov or 971-438-7410. The program operates on a recurring quarterly cycle and is expected to continue annually as part of Metro’s ongoing regional planning and development strategy.

Demonstrate strong project readiness with clear deliverables, implementation strategies, and realistic budgets. Emphasize equitable community engagement and partnerships with historically marginalized communities. Clearly align the proposal with Metro's 2040 Growth Concept goals and regional outcomes such as housing, transportation, racial equity, and economic growth.