Community Enhancement Grants (City of Gresham)

Community Enhancement Grants (City of Gresham) is sponsored by City of Gresham. Eligible projects include those aimed at improving the appearance of a neighborhood, preserving the natural environment, enhancing public safety, providing recreational opportunity, or benefiting underserved populations.

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Community Enhancement Grants Community Resources Toggle sub-menu Community Enhancement Grants Fences and Property Lines Keeping Chickens in Gresham Neighborhood Associations Community Enhancement Grants This program supports projects that improve the quality of life for the Gresham community. The Community Enhancement Advisory Committee awards about $100,000 to projects that serve city residents.

The grant program is funded by community enhancement fees collected at Gresham Sanitary Service facility. The next grant cycle will open fall of 2026.

IRS-recognized nonprofits and charitable organizations Schools and institutions of higher learning Local government advisory committees, departments and special districts Individuals and organizations working with a fiduciary sponsor The Community Enhancement Grant Committee met on Monday, June 2 to award funds to 2025's applicants. Watch meeting recording.

Can include, but is not limited to: Job skills/work opportunities for the unemployed/homeless Safety, cleanliness or appearance enhancements Preserving wildlife and recreational areas for public enjoyment Heritage and preservation of Gresham’s history Eligible projects include those aimed at improving the appearance of a neighborhood, preserving the natural environment, enhancing public safety, providing recreational opportunity or benefiting under-served populations.

For questions about eligible activities, email NeighborhoodServices@GreshamOregon. gov The Community Enhancement Advisory Committee allocates the grants. Looking to fund a cultural event?

See our cultural events grant program page. The application for the next grant cycle will be available soon. For more information email NeighborhoodServices@GreshamOregon.

gov. Program background and grant recipients Gresham’s Community Enhancement Program started in 2017 after the longtime waste collection site on Northwest Birdsdale became a solid waste franchise of Metro. Metro gives the City $1. 50 per ton for all solid waste collected at the station, which is awarded to community organizations as enhancement grants.

Metro’s community enhancement grants improve economic opportunities, neighborhood livability, public safety and more in areas with a garbage transfer facility. As/Is Church Hope Center Yard: Taking advantage of the late summer light, the Hope Center Yard provides a safe place for children and families to play and participate in outdoor activities in the Rockwood neighborhood.

$6,500 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Children: Grant funds support critical advocacy for at least 50 youth residing in the City of Gresham. CASA provides support and advocacy for children and youth who are going through the foster system. $10,000 College Possible: College Possible makes college admission and success possible for students from low-income backgrounds through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support.

Gresham High School hosts the flagship program, where nearly 80 juniors and seniors are served. $5,000 Center for the Arts Foundation: Music Mondays in the Plaza bring diverse musicians and musical style to downtown Gresham and provides family-friendly outdoor events during the summer months.

$5,000 Gresham Historical Society : Gresham Historical Society will coordinate critical repairs to the interior and exterior of the 1913 Gresham Carnegie Library, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. $7,500 Gresham Outdoor Public Art: The Indigenous Arts Festival is a free two-day event with music, art, a pop-up street fair, and activities for children.

$3,000 Rockwood Common: The Rockwood Common Tool Library provides tools to check out for a variety of home repairs, gardening, and other DIY projects. $12,142. 85 VFW: Provide service and support through food distribution throughout the year, as well as maintain veteran memorials, and offer social and outreach programs to local vets.

$25,000 Play Grow Learn: Throughout the summer, provide a series of events providing resources, recreation, and outreach to underserved youth in Gresham. $10,000 Gresham Japanese Garden: The Yozakura Festival celebrates Japanese traditions while fostering community engagement and inclusivity.

$2,500 Heart for the Arts: Provides free, accessible art programs and resources for underserved K-12 students that focus on "Empowering Youth Through Creativity". $5,000 Day One Tech: Tech in the City is a free summer pop-up series bringing culturally responsive, hands-on STEM activities to parks and neighborhoods across Gresham.

$10,600 East Gresham PTSO: Build two “Buddy Benches” to provide seating to kids on the playground and provide a place for them to meet for recess. $1,800 Total 2025 grant funds awarded: $100,000. As/Is Church Hope Center Yard: A safe place for outdoor activities for families in Rockwood, $6,500.

Boxes of Love: Clothing and essential items for children and infants entering foster care. $10,000. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA): Advocacy support for children and youth in the foster system, $10,000.

College Possible: Gresham High School provides coaching and support for low-income students to help make college possible, $5,000. Second Home: Host home housing and services to youth experiencing homelessness, $8,000. Gateway Gresham Elks Lodge: Food staples to Gresham Community $2,500.

Gresham Senior Center: Assistance for storm repairs to support community activities, $2,000. Kefi Care Programs: Activities for people with development disabilities and their families, $12,000. Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO): Events to help underserved entrepreneurs to learn about financing a business, $2,300.

Quadriplegics United Against Dependency (QUAD) Inc. : Increase accessibility to apartment complex and community garden at Central Station Apartments, $5,000. Rockwood Market Hall: Rockwood Community farmers’ market, $10,000. Zarephath Kitchen and Pantry: Purchase outdoor furniture to protect clients from weather, $4,500.

Schoolhouse Supplies: Free classroom supplies to the Gresham-Barlow School District, $5,000. Salvation Army Gresham, Youth Music Program: Low-cost accessible music education to children ages 7 to 17 in the Rockwood neighborhood, $10,000. Thimbleberry Collective Farm: Education and opportunities to grow food in the community, $2,500.

Chess for Success : Bring the chess program into the Gresham-Barlow School District, $2,500. MetroEast Community Media: Four media pop-ups and a multimedia camps for adults and youth living in Gresham, $4,000. Center for the Arts Foundation: Music Mondays in the Plaza during the summer, $5,000.

East Hill Church: Holiday stockings and toys for children, $6,000. Growing Gardens: Replace ADA gardens damaged in winter storm and support workshops, $7,200. Total 2024 grant funds awarded: $120,000.

ARISE and Shine: ARISE and Shine Teen Club, $4,475 Boxes of Love Project, Inc.: Supporting Gresham's most vulnerable infants/children, $2,500 CASA for Children, Inc.: Critical advocacy for Gresham’s children in foster care, $4,000 Center for the Arts: Music Mondays on the Plaza and Wednesday Music in the Parks, $10,000 Family of Friends Mentoring: Expanding mentoring programs, $3,750 Gresham Butte Neighborhood Association: Peace plaza sculpture (Main City Park), $8,900 Gresham Historical Society: Gresham History Museum sustainable landscape initiative, $4,000 Growing Gardens: Gresham and Senior Center gardening, $2,000 Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association: Historic downtown beautification (flower baskets), $5,833 MetroEast Community Media: Summer technology pop-up camps, $4,642 Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon: Events to help underserved entrepreneurs strengthen their small businesses, $2,100 Mt.

Hood Community College: Mt.

Hood Jazz Festival, $5,000 Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra: Free concert in the park, $2,500 Total 2023 grant funds awarded: $59,700 MetroEast Community Media: Summer technology pop-ups: $7,500 College Possible: College access program for undeserved Gresham high school students: $5,000 Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon: Second Home program to house students without homes: $6,000 CASA for Children: Recruitment and supervision of CASA volunteers advocating for children in foster care: $4,000 Day One Tech STEAM: STEMS Legos on Wheels Activity Trailer: $6,000 Gresham Center for the Arts – Wednesday Music in the Parks: Wednesday Music in the Parks Concert Series: $3,000 Urban Forestry Subcommittee: Healthy canopy invasive species removal project: $1,100 Highland Elementary: Highland Atrium Backyard Habitat Project: $5,000 Gresham Center for the Arts – Music Mondays: Music Mondays on the Plaza: $4,000 Youth Life Skills Academy: Wednesday Night Basketball: $8,000 Gateway-Gresham Elks Lodge #1805: Gresham National Guard Christmas boxes: $2,500 Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association: Street trees pruning in downtown commercial core: $3,125 Gresham Senior Center: Educational trips and classes for seniors: $4,975 Total 2022 grant funds awarded: $60,200 Depave: Building a healing garden and fire pit: $5,000 IRCO: Pilot art/recreation programs for Pacific Islander youth: $5,000 Good News Community Health Center: Self-care classes for low-income seniors: $5,000 East Metro Arts, Culture & Community: Ambassador program at Nadaka Nature Park: $5,000 Beyond Black: Garden box project phase 3 multigenerational engagement: $3,750 My Father's House: Trash compactor for new jobs program, $3,750 Gresham Japanese Garden: Main City Park mural: $3,500 Extending Grace: Hispanic community outreach: $3,500 TherapyWorks NW: Barn repair for youth equine program: $3,500 New Avenues for Youth: Creating safe places for at-risk/homeless youth In Gresham: $3,000 Meadows Elementary PTO: Culturally specific books for Meadows Library: $3,000 Boxes of Love: Expansion of box program for foster babies at Mt.

Hood Medical: $2,500 North Gresham Neighborhood Association: Picnic tables and benches for Kirk Park: $2,500 Restore Hope: Filled stockings for children in foster care: $1,000 Total 2021 grant funds awarded: $50,000 Beyond Black: community mobile garden box project phase II, $5,500 Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon: Second Home program (two students), $ 6,000 Meadows Elementary Parent Teacher Organization: school courtyard garden, $2,000 Latino Network: Ballet Folklorico Corazones Alegres (22 students), $6,840 Sandy River Watershed Council: Mt.

Hood Community College Beaver Creek day cleanup, $3,500 Gresham United Methodist Ministries: community mural at the Rockwood Center, $4,000 Gresham Ebetsu Sister City Association: Main City Park internet, $7,500 Sam Barlow High School: 5K trail run/walk and kids fun run, $3,000 West Gresham Elementary School Parent Teacher Club: remembrance book, $5,000 Total 2020 grant funds awarded: $43,340 For more information about Community Enhancement Grants, email NeighborhoodServices@GreshamOregon.

gov .