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Applications are open Aug. 9 through Oct. 4 at noon.
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Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the handbook before getting started. It describes eligibility, grant requirements, the application review process and previews the application questions.
The grant program handbook is also available in Spanish.
Applications for the 2025 Community Placemaking grant cycle are open from Aug. 9 to Oct. 4 at noon. Up to $450,000 will be awarded, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Thanks to a $200,000 increase in available funds, the 2025 Community Placemaking grant cycle will support nearly twice as many grantees as the 2024 grant cycle. No matching funds are required.
Looking for a way to creatively engage your community and make a positive impact? Community Placemaking grants support arts and culture based, community-led, equity-centered efforts that strengthen people’s connections to each other and places they care about.
From plays that tell a neighborhood’s story to oral histories that connect generations to place, community-led placemaking is essential to community development, education and leadership.
Who can apply
The Community Placemaking grant program invites community leaders to use arts and culture as a tool to address challenges and opportunities in their communities.
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status.
- Community groups or individuals without nonprofit status must partner with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor, such as a 501(c) nonprofit or a public agency.
- Public agencies working with community partners on the implementation of the project with a plan to involve the broader public.
- Past recipients of a Community Placemaking grant whose projects were event-based (spanning a single or multiple days); recipients may not reapply the year following their award.
All grant-funded activities must take place within Metro’s urban growth boundary. Businesses and individuals without a nonprofit partner are not eligible.
Successful grant applications propose ideas that incorporate equity, arts, culture and community leadership–especially for Black, Indigenous and other people of color. Projects awarded involve communities in leadership and decision-making and utilize community partnerships to achieve their goals.
The Community Placemaking grant program focuses on four primary objectives
- Placemaking: People’s connections to each other and to places they care about are strengthened.
- Equity: People of color and members of historically marginalized communities have power and resources to influence their neighborhoods and communities.
- Partnerships: People’s efforts are maximized because they work in partnership with each other and with Metro.
- Leadership: People participate in projects and decisions that affect them.
Past projects
Past grantee projects have incorporated music, dance, theater, food, oral histories, videos, podcasts, art exhibits, markets, and community gathering spaces. See past grantee proposals from 2023 and 2024.
Check out Metro News for stories about grantees, their projects and the work they do in their communities.
Have questions? Staff are available to help you throughout the application process. Join an information sessions to learn more and ask questions.
Learn more about the Community Placemaking grant program