Safe Routes to School
Micro-Grant Guide
What is the safe routes to school micro-grant?
Metro's SRTS Micro-Grants are available for schools and PTO's to apply for.
There are 25 SRTS Micro-Grants available each fiscal year and they fund up to $500 per request. Schools may only receive one micro-grant per school year. Applications for SRTS Micro-Grants will close for the fiscal year when all 25 have been requested.
There is no match of funding required and funds are provided on a reimbursement basis following the submission of a final report and documentation of expenses in the spring. Applications for can be submitted anytime.
1
Prepare to apply. Choose your
project, decide on how you will spend
the $500, and make sure you have a W9 form for your school or nonprofit PTO.
2
Submit your application. The application requires you to briefly explain your project and provide a list of materials or services you will buy.
3
Carry out your project. Once
approved for the grant, use up to $500
from school or PTO funds for your project, and save all your receipts for reimbursement.
4
Submit a short report about how your project went. After your report is received by Metro, they will send you the funds.
4 easy Steps to
getting
funded
All proposed activities will be reviewed by Metro staff for eligibility, but we encourage activities that prioritize:
No Idling!
-Supporting kids to walk and bike regularly to school through a walking school bus or bike bus - an organized group of students who walk or bike to school together with adult supervision, following a designated route with stops where students join the group
- Traffic safety activities that ensure kids walking and rolling to school are safe - which could include crossing guard programs, park + walk programs to encourage parents to park in a designated location and walk to school, or other ways to support student safety that encourages walking and rolling
- Activities that aim to reduce carbon emissions which could include no-idling campaigns or events that increase student access to walking or rolling
project suggestions
SRTS Micro-Grants are commonly used to fund Walking School Buses, Bike Buses, Bike Swaps, special Walk and Roll events, Bike Rodeos, and more. The money can be used to pay for any materials or services connected to the project.
Fund a Walking School Bus
Use the grant money to buy prizes, reflective rain gear for students who use a Walking School Bus (a group of supervised students who walk to school from a meeting point) or use it as a stipend to entice volunteers. Scroll down for more Walking School Bus suggestions!
Host a Bike Swap Event
Use the funds to pay a mobile bike mechanic to visit your school during a bike swap event. Families can trade in their bikes, get their bikes repaired, and Safe Routes to School can hand out free helmets.
Organize A Scooter Club
Purchase a scooter fleet and get free helmets from Beaverton SRTS to start an after school scooter club. The club can meet regularly to practice scooter skills and learn tricks in a safe environment.
Spending Suggestions For Walking school buses
Sometimes the hardest part of getting funding is trying to decide how you would spend it.
Here are three popular ways of using extra funds to build sustainable Walking School Bus routes.
5th grade party
volunteer stipend
collectable prizes
rain gear
reflective vests
Ask a group of 5th grade volunteers or a student Green Team to lead a regular Walking School Bus with an adult chaperone. Use the $500 to pay for the food and materials for their end-of-year celebration.
***Please note: grant funds cannot be spent on entertainment.
Purchase collectible prizes that are gifted to Walking School Bus participants each time they walk. Students can feel proud of their accomplishments as they collect more prizes.
To help you think of ideas for prizes and gear, we put together an Amazon list of suggestions.
Provide a regular Walking School Bus leader with an incentive such as a gift card to a grocery store, Amazon, or Powell's Books.
