Following a successful relaunch in 2024, Oregon DEQ's Materials Management program is ready to share some information about the next solicitation of the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grants. Updated features of the solicitation will include:
- Biennial grant cycle (instead of annual), with the next solicitation scheduled for early 2026
- Up to $2 million available for the 2026 grant cycle
- Extended application windows to provide applicants with additional time to develop strong proposals
- Expanded applicant support, including more information sessions, office hours, and webinars
- The first step of the solicitation period is a simple pre-application. Following an eligibility screen, the most competitive projects will be invited to submit a main application.
- Extra points will be awarded to first-time applicants during the main application round and we strongly encourage projects that address inequities in BIPOC, rural, and underrepresented communities to apply.
- Grant recipients will have up to 24 months to complete their projects.
Funding priority
To align with DEQ's 2050 Vision and Framework for Action, the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grant Program previously adopted a dedicated funding priority for each grant cycle. The 2026 grant cycle will have up to $2 million available to disburse across eligible projects.
The 2026 annual funding area is: Built for Well-Being: Reducing Exposure to Toxic Substances in Building Materials
Many building materials — such as carpet, paint, furniture, insulation, and contract textiles —contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to people and to the environment. The 2026 grant cycle will fund projects that help reduce exposure to these toxic chemicals. A helpful framework for identifying chemicals of concern is the Six Classes approach (more info below). Projects can focus on other chemicals and methods of reducing exposure to toxics in building materials with compelling rationale.
Read through the dropdown menu below for an overview of the 2026 grant cycle and important application information.