Brownfields Assessment Grants

Metro, the regional government serving the greater Portland metropolitan area in Oregon, is offering Brownfields assessment grants to support the evaluation and redevelopment of potentially contaminated properties into productive community assets. The initiative is designed to strengthen communities, improve environmental conditions, and stimulate economic development by helping property owners, prospective buyers, and developers better understand and address environmental contamination concerns associated with brownfield sites. Metro’s brownfields program emphasizes environmental due diligence, technical support, and community engagement to facilitate redevelopment opportunities throughout the region. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through Sept. 30, 2028. The Brownfields assessment grant program focuses on conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments for eligible properties located throughout the greater Portland region, with particular emphasis on four designated target corridors. These target areas include the Southwest Corridor along Barbur Boulevard from downtown Portland to downtown Tigard, the 82nd Avenue corridor extending from Portland International Airport to Clackamas Town Center, the Sunrise Corridor along Highway 212/224 from Interstate 205 to Southeast 172nd Avenue, and the Tualatin Valley Highway corridor from Beaverton to Forest Grove. The program supports redevelopment planning and environmental assessment activities that can prepare sites for future commercial, residential, mixed-use, or community-serving redevelopment. Metro identified five primary outcomes for the program. First, the program seeks to conduct environmental assessments on potentially contaminated properties. Second, Metro aims to increase community understanding of how brownfields impact neighborhoods and how residents can engage in cleanup and redevelopment processes. Third, the program provides technical assistance to property owners dealing with contaminated properties. Fourth, Metro works with developers and community members to move forward with site cleanup and redevelopment planning tied to redevelopment opportunities. Fifth, the initiative seeks to build workforce capacity by helping residents and businesses access environmental remediation and redevelopment-related job opportunities. Metro also intends to strengthen partnerships and community engagement across participating communities and stakeholders. Eligible applicants include property owners, prospective buyers, and developers interested in assessing or redeveloping potentially contaminated properties. Property owners may seek assistance to determine the environmental condition of their property, which can support future financing, property sales, or redevelopment planning. Metro notes that banks and lending institutions often require environmental due diligence before underwriting real estate loans, making these assessments valuable for owners considering transactions or redevelopment. Potential buyers and developers may also apply for assistance with preliminary environmental assessments and planning related to contamination management during redevelopment activities. The opportunity does not identify formal matching fund requirements or cost-sharing obligations for applicants. The application process is open continuously through Sept. 30, 2028, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants may apply directly through Metro’s grant application portal. In addition, Metro encourages individuals or organizations that suspect contamination issues on a property within their community to contact the program directly via email. Metro staff will coordinate outreach to property owners to discuss available assistance and determine whether assessment support may be appropriate. The source material does not specify a separate letter of intent, concept paper, or pre-application requirement. No formal award notification timeline, scoring rubric, or evaluation criteria were provided in the available materials. Program contact information is provided for Brian Harper, Senior Regional Planner at Metro, who serves as the primary contact for the grant opportunity. Interested parties may contact Brian Harper directly at Brian.Harper@oregonmetro.gov for additional information regarding eligibility, property assessment support, or application procedures. General brownfields inquiries may also be directed to Brownfields@oregonmetro.gov. The opportunity is currently active and accepting applications through Sept. 30, 2028, with no stated recurring cycle beyond the current funding period. The source materials do not identify a specific performance period, number of awards, total program funding amount, or specific funding caps for individual assessments.

Highlight redevelopment potential, environmental assessment needs, and community benefit outcomes when seeking assistance for brownfield properties.