Residents and members of community organizations in North Portland got an influx of funds this week when the Metro Council approved $15,000 in grants for community projects.
The regional government earmarked funds for five improvement projects. Awards will benefit young children with after-school educational programs and job skills training and internships for high school students, provide weatherization and safety repairs for isolated seniors and disabled residents, support a food pantry serving hundreds of families, and offer a teen-to-teen crisis intervention and support hotline.
"Services for families and maintaining our community’s infrastructure are essential to the quality of life that attracted us to our neighborhoods in the first place," said Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder, chair of the Metro Central grant selection committee and whose district includes Northwest and North Portland. “This investment of the public’s money supports a diverse network of service providers that keeps our community vibrant and strong."
The North Portland enhancement grant program was established in 1985 by an act of the Oregon Legislature, which created a mitigation fund to compensate the community affected by the now-closed St. Johns Landfill. Funds were generated from a 50-cent surcharge imposed on each ton of garbage disposed of at the landfill. Today, interest generated on the fund supports the grant program. Projects must directly benefit residents or neighborhoods around the landfill, including Arbor Lodge, Cathedral Park, Kenton, Overlook, Portsmouth, St. Johns and University Park.
The 2012-13 grant cycle marks the 25th year Metro has invested funds in the community through the Metro Central enhancement program. Since then, more than $2.2 million has been awarded to help fund 465 local improvement projects.
The complete slate of 2012-13 grant awards in North Portland includes:
Chess for Success
$2,845 – Stipends for coaches and supplies for after-school chess club at seven North Portland schools for 250 students
Community Energy Project
$2,500 – Management support for Volunteer Services program to reach up to 90 isolated seniors, and complete safety repairs and weatherize the homes of 25 local residents.
Impact Northwest
$4,250 – Management support, supplies and stipends for Urban Opportunities job-readiness training and internship program for 25 Roosevelt High School students.
Oregon Partnership – Lines for Life
$4,250 – Management support, supplies and stipends for teen-to-teen crisis support and intervention hotline
St Andrew's Episcopal Pantry
$1,155 – Food items, storage shelving and on-going operational support for food pantry serving 720 families
For more information about projects receiving funds this year, or to read a report about outcomes of past projects funded, visit Metro’s web site at www.oregonmetro.gov/grants or call Karen Blauer at 503-797-1506.