Section 498-16-4 - 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:(a) Eligible Applicants: Only communities invited into Phase II of the Housing Assistance, Public Facilities/Infrastructure, Economic Development Infrastructure, Micro-Loan Programs, Business Assistance and Downtown Revitalization are eligible to apply for and receive Phase II Planning Grants.(b) Eligible Activities: Planning funds may only be used for planning activities necessary to complete Phase II requirements.(c) Need and Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate a need for financial assistance and provide a schedule for completion.(d) Federal and State Certifications: 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 how 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. COMMUNITY PLANNING GRANTS The Community Planning Grant (CPG) Program provides funding 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 Community Planning Program funds through an annual grant application selection process. Eligible Activities: CPG funds may be used for planning only activities that include studies, analysis, 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. All applications containing proposed ineligible or non-planning activities will not be considered eligible. The applicant will be notified in writing of the determination made by OCD.
Project Benefit: The proposed activities must meet one of the CDBG Program national objectives of either providing benefit to low and moderate income persons, or removing slum or blighting influences within that community.
2. Special Program Requirements:(a) Past Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 1997 Community Planning program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to 1993 must have closed their grants by December 1, 1996. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1994 must have conditionally closed their grants by December 1, 1996. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1995 must have obligated 50% of their benefit activity funds by December 1, 1996. Exceptions: Applicants must submit a request for a waiver of this special requirement under the following circumstances:
1) program delays have occurred beyond the control of the grantee due to unforeseen changes in availability of funds or acts of nature or2) the recipient has received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been delayed.(b) Maximum CPG Grant Amount: $10,000.3. Selection Process: The selection process will consist of two phases: an application phase (Phase I), and a project development phase (Phase II). Priority for funding will be given to the following categories in the numbers indicated: Housing(3), Public Facilities Infrastructure(6), Economic Development(3) and Tourism Opportunities(3).
Phase I Application: The maximum length of an application is six pages. The application deadline is April 11, 1997.
Each application will be rated in relation to all others. A minimum of 70 points from the Problem Statement, Development of Strategy, Citizen Participation and Project Leverage is required for consideration to be invited into Phase II.
(a) Problem Statement (30 points): A description of the problems, how they were identified, and the impact of the problems on the community.(b) Development of Strategy (40 points): A description of the tasks associated with formulating a solution for your community's problems. A description of how CPG program will work with local government towards the development of strategies that work towards common goals. and meet a national objective.(c) Project Leverage (20 points): A description of other resources (local, state, federal, private) that will be contributed to the project.(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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS The purpose of the Technical Assistance grant program is to provide funds to selected communities that will contract with Regional Councils to provide technical assistance services to themselves and the communities in their region.
Technical assistance services provided will include information about the CDBG program, its applicability for projects within a community and assistance to interested communities in preparing grant applications.
19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 16, § 4