Section 498-18-4 - PLANNINGA. PHASE II PLANNING GRANTSThe 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, Business Assistance and Downtown Revitalization Programs 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 andStateCertifications: Communities applying for Phase II Planning Grants must certify they will comply with all applicable federal and state CDBG program certifications.2. 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.3. 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 with most communities receiving no more than $2,000.4. Maximum Grant Award : $2,500B. COMMUNITY PLANNING GRANTSThe 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: Community Planning Program funds will be distributed through an annual grant application selection process. EligibleActivities: 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 ineligible or non-planning activities will not be considered.
Project Benefit: The proposed activities must meet one of the CDBG Program's national objectives - providing benefit to low and moderate income persons, or preventing or removing slum or blighting influences.
2. Special Program Requirements:(a)Past Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 1999 Community Planning program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to 1995 must have closed their grants prior to application. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1996 must have conditionally closed their grants prior to application. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1997 must have obligated 50% of their benefit activity funds prior to application. Exceptions: Applicants may request a waiver of this requirement under the following circumstances: l) program delays have occurred beyond the control of the grantee due to unforeseen changes in availability of funds or acts of nature or 2) the recipient has received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been delayed or 3) the job creation goals of a previous grant have not been fulfilled.
(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 application length is six pages. The application deadline is March 12, 1999.
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 their impact on the community.(b)Development of Strategy(40 points): A description of the tasks associated with formulating a solution for your community's problems. Description of how the project will address a CDBG 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 an application.C. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMSThe Technical Assistance Program provides selected communities with funds to contract with regional organizations to provide application development, grant administration and general program assistance to Maine's communities.
19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 18, § 4