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Metro has announced a new grant program designed to help developers in emerging commercial districts tackle storefront improvements and other transformative projects.

$200,000 has been set aside for 2015, the first year of Metro’s 鈥�Enterprising Places鈥� grant program. A steering committee in charge of awarding grant funds will accept its first round of applications in late March, according to Metro spokesman Craig Beebe.

Enterprising Places grants of up to $50,000 each are available to people interested in completing revitalization projects in any of the 22 eligible districts in Portland and the surrounding communities.

There are two types of Enterprising Places grants available, Beebe said. Applicants can try for a 鈥渄istrict transformation鈥� grant to recruit new businesses and customers to the area, fill vacant storefronts, provide financial training to business and property owners to help them reinvest their money wisely or fund other transformative improvements. Also available are 鈥渟torefront improvement鈥� grants, which can be used to upgrade existing businesses to attract customers and increase district vitality.

The steering committee will consider applications on a quarterly basis, Beebe said.

To learn more about the program, the eligible districts and how to apply, visit .