| Grants & Incentives |
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| TGM Grant Info for 2007-09 |
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TGM Grants in the 2007-2009 Biennium: TGM grants support integrated transportation and land-use plans, Transportation System Plans (and TSP updates), and other planning activities that give Oregonians more transportation choices through improved pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and multi-modal street facilities. For more information about the TGM grant review process, contact cindy.l.lesmeister@odot.state.or.us or 503.986.4349.
TGM awards two types of grants:
Category 1: Transportation System Planning
Category 2: Integrated Land Use & Transportation Planning
For communities thinking about applying for grants in the future, here is a link to the 2007-09 grant application packet. Although the 07-09 grants were announced in May 2007, the application form illustrates the types of questions likely to asked in future rounds.
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| Bike-Ped Grants |
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The Oregon Pedestrian and Bicycle Program awarded nearly $5 million in 2007 to local governments for bicycle and pedestrian improvements within the rights-of-way of streets, roads, and highways. Grants generally range between $80,000 and $500,000 and may be used for pedestrian islands, bike lane striping, crosswalks, etc. The next grant cycle (2010-2011) will begin in the spring of 2008. For more information, contact Sheila Lyons at sheila.a.lyons@state.us or 503.986.3554.
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| Bike Safety Mini Grants |
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The Alliance for Community Traffic Safety in Oregon (ACTS Oregon) Bicyclist Safety Mini-Grants provide funding to public agencies and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations to promote the safety of bicyclists in Oregon. Funding is available statewide through a grant to ACTS Oregon from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Transportation Safety Division. Applicants may apply for up to $5,000.
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| Energy Tax Credits |
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The Oregon Department of Energy offers Business Energy Tax Credits (BETCs) to those who invest in energy conservation, recycling, renewable energy resources and energy-efficient transportation projects. The tax credit is 35% of the eligible project costs, which are the "incremental" cost of the energy-efficient system or practice that exceeds standard practices. Tax-paying businesses are the primary users of BETCs, but nonprofit institutions such as schools can also take advantage of the tax credits through the Pass-Through Option. Transportation projects that reduce fuel consumption may also qualify. High performance schools that are energy and resource efficient may also qualify for grants of up to $50,000 per project.
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| Main Street Program |
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Oregon Main Street is a statewide commercial district revitalization program administered through the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. This program, in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center, was created to assist communities in achieving viable commercial districts. In the 1970s, the National Trust for Historic Preservation developed its pioneering Main Street four point approach to commercial district revitalization.
The underlying premise of Main Street is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. This approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local owernship and a sense of community.
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| Planning Grants/Oregon Dept. of Land Conservation & Development |
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The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development provides grants and technical assistance to local governments to help them update comprehensive plans, land-use ordinances, and other planning regulations.
Planning grants are awarded to jurisdictions working within a structured periodic review process. Technical Assistance grants can go to jurisdictions with planning projects that fall outside the structured plan update process.
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| Preservation Incentives |
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Many older and historic communities in Oregon were designed and laid out in ways that encourage walking, biking, and use of transit. Pedestrian-friendly streets, compact development, and other features now being promoted through New Urbanism can often be found in the Old Urbanism. For these and other reasons, there is growing interest among developers, local governments, and others in financial incentives available to preserve and enhance "transportation efficient" communities that have existed for decades.
Federal tax credits are available to help developers rehabilitate older buildings in existing communities. Under the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, developers and property owners may claim:
- a 20% tax credit on expenses incurred in the rehabilitation of certified historic structures or buildings located in a district listed in the National Register of Historic Places; or
- a 10% tax credit on expenses incurred in the rehabilitation of non-historic buildings built before 1936.
These credits are available only for substantial rehabilitation projects. Thus rehab expenses must exceed $5,000 or the adjusted basis of the building. In addition, the buildings must be depreciable. That is, they must be used in a trade or business for the production of income. They may be used for offices, stores, industry, agriculture or rental housing, but they may not serve exclusively as the owner's home.
The State of Oregon's Special Assessments for Historic Properties offer 15-year property tax abatements under certain circumstances as an incentive to preserve and rehabilitate historic properties.
For more information about these incentives, contact the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, which administers this program as well as a tax abatement program available for historic properities.
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| Safe Routes to School Grants |
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Under the Oregon Safe Routes to School Program, grants can be used to identify and reduce barriers and hazards to children walking or biking to school. For more information, click on the link above or contact Julie Yip, program manager, at 503.986.4196 or julie.a.yip@state.or.us
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| TGM Grants: 2007-09 Biennium |
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The Oregon Transportation & Growth Management (TGM) Program awarded new grants in May 2007. TGM grants are used to carry out transportation and land-use planning activities that help to expand transportation choices for people. The newly funded projects will be carried out during the 2007-09 Biennium.
Local governments in Oregon will use TGM planning grants for a variety of purposes. These include: updating land use and transportation plans; making walking and biking safer and more convenient; improving access to transit; improving the pedestrian-friendliness of downtowns and Main Streets; amending local codes to encourage "transportation efficient" development; and creating better connections between local destinations.
Inquiries concerning the TGM Grants Program may be directed to the relevant regional office or to Cindy Lesmeister at Cindy.L.Lesmeister@odot.state.or.us (503.986.4349).
TGM Grant Awards: 2007-09 Biennium
TGM Grant Program Overview
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| Transportation Enhancements |
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Through the Oregon Transportation Enhancements Program, communities can obtain funds to carry out a variety of pedestrian, bicycle, streetscape and other improvements that enhance the cultural, aesthetic, or environmental value of transportation systems.
Eligible Transportation Enhancement Projects include: pedestrian and bicycle facilities, pedestrian and bicycle safety education, acquisition of scenic or historic sites, scenic or historic highway programs, landscaping, historic preservation, rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities (e.g., railroad stations), rail-trails, archaeological planning and research, and transportation museums. By law, enhancement projects "must have a direct relationship to the intermodal surface transportation system." For more information about the Oregon Transportation Enhancements program, contact Patricia Fisher, Oregon Transportation Enhancement Program Manager, at patricia.r.fisher@odot.state.or.us or 503.986.3528.
Federal Highway Administration Information on Transportation Enhancements
Transportation Enhancements: Guiding Principles
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| Vertical Housing Zones |
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Oregon Vertical Housing Development Zone Program: In 2001, the Oregon legislature authorized property tax exemptions for up to 10 years for certain mixed-use development projects in locally designated Vertical Housing Development Zones. At least cities in Oregon have created such zones: Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Central Point, Medford, Milwaukie, Eugene, Monmouth, and Springfield. The Vertical Housing Program is administered by the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.
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| Community Design for Governors |
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The Governors' Institute on Community Design works with governors and top staff members around the country to address state goals relating to community design and land use. Workshops can bring together a state governor and his/her cabinet to meet with nationally renowed experts and practitioners in design, planning, transportation, and land use. The Institute is a collaboration of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland, and the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency/Smart Growth Network. For more information, call 202.207.3354, ext. 24 or e-mail info@govinstitute.org
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