Release Date: Friday, July 14, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will award $600,000 for state-wide materials management project and planning grants in 2017. This total includes $100,000 in funds provided by Metro to fund edible food rescue projects in the Portland metropolitan area. A separate $50,000 will be awarded for micro-grants for reuse/repair workforce development. Applications for planning and project grants must be received by DEQ by Friday, Sept. 15. Applications for reuse/repair workforce development are due by August 25.

In addition to funding local governments and nonprofit organizations, this year DEQ is expanding the materials management grant eligible applicant pool to include federally-recognized tribal nations and organizations created through intergovernmental agreements as allowed by Oregon Revised Statutes 190.010. Public universities, colleges and public schools are also eligible to apply for projects that prevent the wasting of food.

This year’s new micro-grants are designed to reduce environmental impacts by addressing workforce challenges in reuse and repair industries. In this pilot project, up to $10,000 per applicant ($50,000 total) is being offered to small businesses and nonprofit organizations registered in Oregon.

The grant application forms will be posted online on Friday, July 14, and will be available here: http://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/Grants.aspx.

Since 1991, DEQ has awarded over $8 million in materials management grants. Information about previous grants can be found on the DEQ website at http://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/Grants.aspx.

Contacts
Materials Management Project and Planning Grants:

Steve Siegel, phone (503) 229-5518

Reuse/Repair Workforce Development Grants:

Simon Love, phone (503) 229-6434