012.02.96 Ark. Code R. 001

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 012.02.96-001 - Main Street Arkansas Downtown Revitalization Grant

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program's Main Street Arkansas Downtown Revitalization Grant Program is to assist active Main Street Programs in funding their local efforts to revitalize their downtowns through historic preservation and economic development. The grant funds must be used for the sole purpose of downtown revitalization efforts in the community. Examples of typical projects to be included in this grant program, as well as projects that cannot be funded by this program are listed in Appendix A.

AHPP will advertise the availability of grant funds as they become available and will distribute grant application packages to potential grantees. Grant awards are based on the criteria stated in Section III of the AHPP Grant Manual.

This manual outlines the requirements of the Main Street Arkansas Downtown Revitalization Grant Program. The requirements listed in this manual are in addition to those outlined in the AHPP Grants Manual. Both the Main Street and AHPP Grants Manuals should be read thoroughly.

For further information or assistance, please contact Main Street Arkansas at 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201; phone (501) 324-9880 (TDD 501-324-9811); FAX (501) 324-9184 or e-mail at Marian@dah.state.ar.us.

I.Grant Application. Review and Award Procedures

A.Application: The grant application must be filled out completely. No matching funds are required for this grant. Applicant agrees to abide by and comply with applicable federal and state regulations and policies including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [ 42 USC 2000 d-1]; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amemded [ 29 USC Section 794] ; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended [ 42 USC 6101 ]; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1991. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age or handicap. In implementing public access, reasonable accomondation to qualified handicapped persons shall be made in consultation with AHPP.

B.Review: The grant application must be postmarked on or before the stated deadline in the grant announcement. AHPP will review the applications using the criteria stated in Section III of the AHPP Grants Manual.

C.Award: Grants will be awarded as stated in Section III of the AHPP Grant Manual. Appendix B lists maximum dollar amounts awarded by size and scope of Main Street program. Grant contracts must be signed by the respective Main Street Program Manager. The contract is between AHPP and the respective Main Street Program.

II.General Grant Requirements

A.Active Main Street Status: Eligibility for this grant program requires active Main Street status, and as such the Community agrees to:

1. Maintain the focus of the local Main Street program on the downtown district;

2. Develop, implement, and maintain program commitment to the comprehensive Main Street Four Point Approach as advocated by the National Main Street Center;

3. Maintain an active board of directors for the local Main Street program;

4. Employ and maintain a professional Main Street manager who will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Main Street program in the Community. A description of the Main Street manager's duties and qualifications shall be agreed upon and executed by the Main Street manager and the local Main Street program. In the event the Main Street Manager position is vacated, the Community agrees to fill the position within a reasonable time with a person meeting the qualifications. The State reserves the right to review Main Street designation if the position is vacated for more than (4) months. Upon replacing a manager, the Community will be required to send the new Main Street manager a comprehensive Main Street training program {the first available or within four months) or provide records of prior attendance.

5. Maintain a full-time downtown office with the necessary travel and operating budget for the local program manager;

6. Expend funds of in-kind services for the implementing the Main Street program in accordance with the calendar year 1996 budget.

7. Develop an annual written workplan for the local Main Street program.

8. Establish a strong committee system to include but not be limited to the following committees: design, economic development or economic restructuring, promotion, membership/fundraising, and executive.

9. Maintain data for monitoring the progress of the Main Street program, submit monthly reports using a format provided by Main Street Arkansas, and provide other information requested by the State on or before the identified deadlines.

10. Promote and encourage program manager and board member attendance at the local, state, and national training opportunities, as identified by the State.

11. Authorize the local program manager's participation in Main Street manager meetings scheduled periodically around the state. The Community shall be responsible for the manager's travel costs and other expenses associated with these meetings. The program manager is expected to attend all meetings.

12. Assist as requested by Main Street Arkansas in arrangements for technical assistance and public relations visits to the community.

13. Participate fully in the end-of-the-year review visit.

14. Provide Main Street Arkansas with one copy of any materials relating to the Main Street program published or produced during the program year and provide up to four additional copies if requested.

15. Manage the provision of Main Street's design assistance to local property owners and merchants by:

a. establishing a design committee to assist the program manager in design projects;

b. having all design committee members and the program manager attend Main Street design training on appropriate facade improvements and the design process; training to be done in the Community by the State architectural design consultant.

B.Changes to Approved Project Work: No changes may be made to the approved project unless such requests for changes are submitted in writing to and approved by Main Street Arkansas staff. It is possible that the change may not be approved and could thus jeopardize funding for completion of the project. Main Street Arkansas staff will work to find a solution satisfactory to both the grantee and Main Street Arkansas for any changes.

C.Project Time Limits: Main Street Arkansas establishes deadlines for the submission of project documentation and the completion of project work in the grant contract. A grantee who is unable to meet a project deadline is required to submit a written request for an extension of time at least 14 days prior to the deadline. This request will be reviewed by Main Street Arkansas, and the grantee will be notified as soon as possible of the action taken. If the grantee does not meet an established deadline and does not submit a request for an extension, it may be necessary to reassign funds awarded to the project.

D.Reassignment of Funds: The AHPP grant selection committee will meet to determine the reassignment of any unused grant funds previously awarded. The funds may be reassigned to another Main Street program with a current grant application on file, or returned to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program depending on such factors as the amount of funds involved, the needs at the time the funds become available and when within the grant cycle the funds become available. All available information will be used during the decision process to assure an equitable reassignment of funds.

III.Grant payments:

A.Payments: All grant payments will be made directly to the grantee (the Main Street Program). The grantee should use the following procedure:

1. Submit an Arkansas Historic Preservation Program invoice, provided in your grant package, to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program listing all allowable expenses. Attach a copy of the vendor's invoice itemizing the costs. (A list of allowable expenses is contained in the AHPP Grant Manual).

2. Depending on the grant payment option specified in the grant contract, the grantee may submit a request for all of the grant charges on one invoice or for partial payment. No more than four (4) invoices can be submitted on any grant project during a grant cycle.

3. Payment requests should be submitted on AHPP invoice forms. Partial payment requests must be accompanied by progress reports and full or final payment requests must be accompanied by the final project report (invoice forms and progress and final report forms are provided in the AHPP grant package). No payment will be made to the grantee unless requests are accompanied by progress or final reports as applicable.

4. AHPP will process the invoice and a state warrant will be mailed to the grantee within approximately ten working days.

B.Financial Records: Grantee is required to maintain accurate records of all expenditures to the project and keep on file for three (3) years after the close of the grant. Grantee should provide all financial records for audit by the Arkansas Legislative Audit if requested.

IV.Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to submit reports to Main Street Arkansas during the grant cycle according to the grant agreement.

A.Progress Reports: Progress reports are required.

B.Final Project Report: A Final Project report is required within 30 calendar days after the completion of the project.

V.Site Visits: As work on the project progresses, Main Street Arkansas staff may make periodic site visits. Once work has begun on the project, the site visits may be made without notification to the grantee. The Arkansas Historic Preservation program photographer may make at least one site visit to photograph the project work, if applicable.

Attachment 1

DOCUMENTS/FORMS AHPP PROVIDES TO YOU

1. Grant Application Package:

a. AHPP Grant Manual

b. Main Street Grant Manual

c. Grant Application

d. Grant Schedule

2. Grant Award Package:

a. Award Letter

b. Grant Contract

c. Invoice Form

d. Program Report Form

e. Final Project Report Form

DOCUMENTS/REPORTS REQUIRED FROM GRANTEE

1. During Application Process:

a. Completed Grant Application Form

b. Black and white photos (where applicable)

2. After Grant Award:

a. Signed AHPP Grant Contract with revised budget if applicable

b. Progress reports

c. AHPP invoices

d. Written request for changes to approved project

e. Written request for extension in grant time line

f. Final project report

APPENDIX A

Examples of Types of Programs To Be Funded By the Main Street Arkansas Downtown Revitalization Grant Program

Establishment or maintenance of a mini grant program for downtown businesses and property owners

Publication of a Main Street newsletter to educate the community about the program.

Establishment or maintenance of a business incentive program to attract businesses to your downtown area.

Sponsorship of a workshop or series of workshops to benefit business owners or property owners in your community.

Contracts with consultants to work toward establishing a historic district in the downtown area and/or creating a Certified Local Government in the downtown.

Contracts with consultants to conduct market analysis in the community, including customer surveys, building surveys, or business surveys.

Matching funds for any grant program that will directly benefit the downtown revitalization effort.

Start-up funding for a community oriented event or program, whether an on-going program such as a farmers market, or a one-time event such as a Heritage Week event.

Establishment or maintenance of a business incubator program in the downtown.

Development of a video or slide presentation documenting the downtown program's progress.

Establishment or maintenance of an incentive program to encourage upper floor development.

Main Street Arkansas Grant funds will not be granted for salaries or operations with the following exception:

Purchase of office communication equipment such as computer, printer, facsimile, copier.

APPENDIX B MAIN STREET ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION GRANTS

Maximum Dollar Amounts are Size and Scope of Local Program

Urban (Over 50,000 population)
North Little Rock	$4,000
Regular Cities (5,000 - 50,000)
Batesville	3,500
Blytheville	3,500
Harrison	3,500
Helena	3,500
Magnolia	3,500
Mena	3,500
Rogers	3,500
Russellville	3,500
West Memphis	3,500
Cities 5,000 - 50,000 partnered with another organization
Benton	3,000
Camden	3,000
Conway	3,000
El Dorado	3,000
Small Cities
Lonoke	2,500
Ozark	2,500
Part-time programs
Hardy	2,000
Smackover	2,000

012.02.96 Ark. Code R. 001

8/8/1996