Next grant cycle opens in January
Starting in January 2025, the next round of brownfield assessment grants will open for applications from property owners seeking assistance with brownfield assessments. Sign up to receive an email notification when the new grant cycle opens.
Stay updated
If you suspect a property in your community has contamination issues, contact [email protected]. Metro will reach out to the property owner to see how Metro can help.
A brownfield is land that is vacant or underused because of contamination.
Scores of properties sit vacant because of real or perceived contamination. Some of these were once gas stations, auto repair shops or other businesses that used petroleum-related chemicals with long-term environmental impacts. Other brownfields were once large industrial operations.
Contamination, or the perception of contamination, can deter investment and leave land vacant that could be developed into jobs and housing. Metro provides funding to conduct environmental site assessments to help determine whether contaminants are present. Metro also provides technical assistance to support the removal of contaminants.
Through this assistance, Metro helps transform sites that have been vacant into neighborhood assets like affordable housing, businesses and other uses. Cleaning up and finding new uses for these brownfields helps create healthier communities and a stronger economy.
Property owners
Interested in finding out more about your property’s environmental status? Funds are available to assess possible contamination issues on your property. Banks and other lending institutions typically require environmental due diligence prior to underwriting real estate loans. Understanding the condition of your property is important for future property sales.
Potential buyers or developers
Interested in purchasing a property for development? You can apply for help with the preliminary environmental assessment. Funds can also assist in planning to address how the possible contamination will be dealt with during redevelopment.
Current grant cycle
Metro is offering assistance for brownfield site assessments for properties that could be developed into community assets. This grant from the EPA runs through Sept. 30, 2028.
Brownfield corridor focus areas. Click to enlarge this image.
The project focuses on five main outcomes:
- Conduct full Phase I/Phase II environmental site assessments on properties throughout greater Portland, with an emphasis on four target corridors:
- Southwest Corridor – Barbur Boulevard from downtown Portland to downtown Tigard
- 82nd Avenue – from Portland International Airport to Clackamas Town Center
- Sunrise Corridor – Highway 212/224 from Interstate 205 to Southeast 172nd Avenue
- Tualatin Valley Highway – from Beaverton to Forest Grove
- Work with community members to increase understanding of how brownfields impact communities and how to engage in cleanup and redevelopment.
- Provide technical assistance to property owners addressing contaminated sites.
- Work with community members and potential developers to move forward with site cleanups based on redevelopment opportunities.
- Build capacity of residents and local businesses to access careers and job opportunities in environmental remediation and redevelopment.
- Build partnerships and engage communities.