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Residents

Community Enhancement Grants

This program supports projects that improve the quality of life for the Gresham community. 

The Community Enhancement Advisory Committee will review grant applications in May.

  • Who May Apply
  • Eligible Activities
  • Apply
Who May Apply
  • IRS-recognized nonprofits and charitable organizations
  • Schools and institutions of higher learning
  • Faith-based groups
  • Local government advisory committees, departments and special districts
  • Individuals and organizations working with a fiduciary sponsor

Community Enhancement Committee Meeting 

The Community Enhancement Grant Committee met on Monday, June 2 to award funds to this year's applicants.

Meeting recording

Eligible Activities

Can include, but is not limited to:

  • Park programs and events
  • Senior programs
  • Youth programs
  • 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.

Apply

The Community Enhancement Advisory Committee are reviewing applications in May. Recipients will be notified after applications are reviewed. 

For more information email NeighborhoodServices@GreshamOregon.gov.

Program background and grant recipients

Program Background

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.

2025 Grant Recipients
  • 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
  • Gresham Senior Center: After suffering damage during the 2024 ice storm, this grant will provide an opportunity to celebrate the reopening of a Gresham community staple. $2,000
  • 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 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
2024 Grant Recipients
  • 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.
2023 Grant Recipients
  • 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

2022 Grant Recipients
  • 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

2021 Grant Recipients
  • 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

2020 Grant Recipients
  • 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

Contact

For more information about the Community Enhancement Grants, email NeighborhoodServices@GreshamOregon.gov.