Section 498-15-4 - PLANNING METHODS OF DISTRIBUTIONA. PHASE II PLANNING GRANTS The Phase II Planning Grant Program enables communities to gather, analyze, and provide information required by the Phase II Project Development process.
1. Threshold Criteria: The State will distribute Phase II funds to communities or community partnerships, provided they meet the following threshold criteria: (a) Eligible Applicants: Only communities invited into Phase II of the Housing Assistance, Public Facilities/Infrastructure, Economic Development Infrastructure, and Micro-Loan Programs are eligible to apply for and receive Phase II Planning Grants from the State.(b) Eligible Activities: Phase II Planning funds may be used for planning activities necessary to complete Phase II requirements as described in applicable funding programs listed in 1(a) above.(c) Need and Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate a need for financial assistance and the means to execute the Phase II Planning grant award.(d) Federal and State Certifications for Local Governments: All communities applying for Phase II Planning Grants must certify they will comply with all applicable federal and state CDBG program certifications.2. Special Program Requirements: Not applicable.3. Selection Process: Communities will submit a Phase II Planning Grant Proposal that demonstrates need for financial assistance to complete applicable Phase II requirements and will describe bow the funds will be used to complete those tasks.4. Approval Process: OCD staff will review threshold criteria and the applicant's proposal. Phase II Planning Grants will be awarded on a competitive as-needed basis. Recipients and amount of assistance shall be determined by the OCD staff.B. GENERAL PURPOSE PLANNING GRANTS The General Purpose Planning Grant (GPPG) Program provides financial assistance to communities or community partnerships that have clearly identified a local community or economic development problem and lack the resources to develop a strategy for solving that problem.
1. Threshold Criteria and Certifications: The State will distribute GPPG funds to local governments through the annual General Purpose Planning Grant Application Selection Process. The threshold criteria and certifications for the process are listed below: Eligible Activities: GPPG funds may be used for planning only activities that include studies, analyses, data gathering, preparation of plans and maps, and identification of actions that will implement plans. Planning for downtown revitalization is not an eligible activity. Engineering, architectural and design costs related to specific activities are not eligible. All applications containing proposed ineligible or non-planning activities will be judged not to have met the project eligibility criteria. In all cases the applicant will be notified in writing of the determination made by OCD.
2. Special Program Requirements: GPPG applicants must also comply with the following: (a) Past Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 1996 General Purpose Planning Grant program, communities that received Community Revitalization (CR) grants in 1991 must have conditionally closed their grants by March 22, 1996. Communities that received CR grants in 1992 must have expended 100% of their benefit activity funds by March 22, 1996. Communities that received GPPG grants in 1993 must have obligated 100% of their benefit activity funds by March 22, 1996. Communities that received GPPG grants in 1994 must have obligated at least 50% of their benefit activity funds by March 22, 1996.
Exceptions: Grant recipients may request a waiver of this special requirement under the following circumstances: 1) program delays have occurred that are beyond the control of the grantee due to acts of nature or unforeseen changes in availability of leveraged funds or 2) unanticipated program income has been received and the grantee is unable to meet the above performance requirements.
(b) Maximum GPPG award amount: The maximum award is $10,000.3. Selection Process: Applications for GPPG's will be accepted March 22, 1996. Prior to consideration of a grant award, the proposals must meet the threshold criteria and the special program requirements. Applications will then be reviewed based on the following criteria:(a) Description of Problem (30 points): A description of the problems the community wants to solve, how the problems were identified, and the impact of the problems on the community.(b) Description Of How Funds Will be Allocated (40 points): A description of the tasks associated with formulating a solution for your community's problems. A description of how GPPG program will work with local government towards the development of strategies that work towards common goals and meet a national objective. An estimate of the amount of GPPG funds needed and an itemized breakdown of the proposed planning budget must be included.(c) Project Leverage (20 points): A description of other resources (local, state, federal, private) that will be contributed to the project. These may include commitments obtained or sought to date.(d) Citizen Participation (10 points): Description of how citizens, community groups and others were involved in the identification of the problem and the development of a strategy.C. QUALITY MAIN STREET STRATEGY GRANTS The Quality Main Street Strategy (QMS) Program provides financial assistance to communities for the development of strategies to revitalize main streets and downtowns.
1. Threshold Criteria and Certifications: The State will distribute QMS funds to local governments through the annual Quality Main Street grant application selection process. The threshold criteria and certifications for the process are listed below. (a) Eligible Activities: QMS funds may be used for planning only activities related to the economic revitalization of a main street that include studies, analyses, data gathering, preparation of plans and maps, and identification of actions that will implement plans. Engineering, architectural and design costs related to specific activities are not eligible.(b) Match: AD communities applying for Quality Main Street Funds must provide a local match equivalent to 10 percent of the total grant award.2. Special Program Requirements: QMS applicants must also comply with the following: (a) Past Performance: Any community that previously received a Quality Main Street Grant is not eligible to apply for this program in 1996.(b) Growth Management or Community Planning Program: Applicants for QMS must define their status within Maine's Growth Management Program. Communities that have accepted planning assistance funds, have a consistent comprehensive plan, and/or have accepted implementation funds must conduct their QMS planning in accordance with their growth management policies or with their community Planning Program.(c) Maximum QMS Grant Amount. The maximum award is $20,000.(d) Benefit of Planning: Communities must describe how the project assisted with QMS funds, if implemented, would meet one of the national objectives of the CDBG program as described in Section 104 b 3 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.3. Selection Process: The selection process will consist of two phases: an application phase (Phase I), and a project development phase (Phase II). Phase I Application: The maximum length of an application is ten pages. It is designed to be a description of a community's Main Street and Downtown problems that it would like to address with Quality Main Street Planning Grant Funds. The application deadline for QMS is March 22, 1996. Prior to consideration of a grant award, the proposals must meet the threshold criteria and the special program requirements. A minimum score of 85 will be required for funding. The applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria.
(a) Description of Economic and Physical Condition of Downtown: (40 points): Description of the economic and physical condition of the downtown and their impact on the community. Identification of events and issues unique to the downtown.(b) Description of How Funds will be Allocated (30 points): Description of the tasks associated with formulating a solution for the community's problems.(c) Project Coordination (20 points): Description of the other resources to be contributed to the planning initiative.(d) Citizen Participation (10 points): Description of the involvement in the identification and proposed solution presented by local citizens, community groups and others.D. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS The purpose of the Technical Assistance Grant Program is to provide grant funding to the following preselected lead communities that will act on behalf of communities, within the existing Regional Council planning districts.
The communities have been selected on the basis of their willingness to assume the responsibility of administering this grant. These communities will assume certain administrative work, but will not receive any greater program benefit than neighboring communities that receive technical assistance for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
The following communities may provide technical assistance services under contract with their respective Regional Council to provide information about the Community Development Block Grant Program to communities in their region and to assist interested communities in preparing grant applications in the program categories:
Bath
Caribou
Eastport
Ellsworth
Freeport
Kittery
Mechanic Falls
Orono
Rockland
Winslow
The Department will contract directly with the Lincoln County Planning Office.
19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 15, § 4