19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 20, § 4

Current through 2025-03, January 15, 2025

Section 498-20-4 - PLANNING

A. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PHASE PLANNING GRANTS

The Project Development Phase Planning Grant Program enables communities to gather, analyze, and provide information required by the Project Development Phase process.

1. Threshold Criteria:

(a)Eligible Applicants: All communities invited into the Project Development Phase for a CDBG Program except for the Community Planning Grant, Housing Assessment Planning Grant and Development Fund Programs.

(b)Eligible Activities: Planning funds may only be used for planning activities necessary to complete Project Development Phase 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 Project Development Phase Planning Grants must certify they will comply with all applicable federal and state CDBG program certifications.

2. Selection Process: Communities will submit a Project Development Phase Planning Grant Proposal that demonstrates need for financial assistance to complete applicable Project Development Phase 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. Project Development Phase Planning Grants will be awarded on an as-needed basis. Recipients and amount of assistance shall be determined by the OCD staff.

4. Maximum Grant Award : $2,500

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: Community Planning Program funds will be distributed 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 projects are not eligible.

Project Benefit: The program activities must meet one of the CDBG Program's national objectives. The outcome of the planning activities, if implemented, must provide either a benefit to low and moderate-income persons, or prevent or eliminate slum or blighting conditions.

2. Special Program Requirements:

(a)Past Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 2001 Community Planning program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to 1997 must have closed their grants prior to application. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1998 must have conditionally closed their grants prior to application. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1999 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; 2) the recipient has received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been delayed; 3) the job creation goals of a previous grant have not been fulfilled; or 4) special circumstances as determined and approved by the OCD Director.

(b) Maximum CPG Grant Amount: $10,000.

3. Selection Process: The selection process will consist of two phases - an application phase and a project development phase.

Priority for funding will be given to the following categories in the numbers indicated: Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure (4), Economic Development (3) and Tourism Opportunities (3).

Phase I Application: The maximum application length is six pages. The application deadline is February 16, 2001.

Each application will be rated in relation to all others. A minimum of 80 points from the Problem Statement, Development of Strategy, Citizen Participation and Project Leverage is required for consideration to be invited into the Project Development Phase.

(a)Problem Statement (40 points): A description of the problems, how they were identified, the impact on the community and on LMI persons or slum/blighting conditions.

(b)Development of Strategy(40 points): A description of the tasks proposed to solve your community's problems. Description of how the project will address a CDBG national objective. Include a proposed budget and describe how funds will be used.

(c)Project Leverage(10 points): A description of other resources (local, state, federal, private) that will be contributed to the project.

(d)Citizen Participation(10 points):A description of how citizens, community groups, and project beneficiaries were involved in this application and how involvement will continue.

C. HOUSING ASSESSMENT PLANNING GRANTS

The Housing Assessment Planning Grant (HAPG) Program provides funding to communities or community partnerships to study their housing problems. Planning funds will enable communities to develop housing strategies that may be implemented with future CDBG funds. From program year 2001 and forward, housing assistance grant awards will be made to HAPG recipients or communities completing similar housing planning programs.

1. Threshold Criteria and Certifications: Housing Assessment Planning Grant funds will be distributed through an annual application selection process.

Eligible Activities: HAPG funds will be used to conduct a comprehensive study of housing issues for the community. The study will cover issues such as: number and age of units, condition, energy considerations, affordability, occupancy rates, need for new construction, rehabilitation, code enforcement, elderly, assisted living, special needs housing and financial resources to address housing needs. Engineering, architectural and design costs related to specific activities are not eligible.

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 eliminating slum or blighting influences.

2. Special Program Requirements:

(a)Past Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 2001 Housing Assessment Planning program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to 1997 must have closed their grants prior to application. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1998 must have conditionally closed their grants prior to application. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1999 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; 2) the recipient has received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been delayed; 3) the job creation goals of a previous grant have not been fulfilled; or 4) special circumstances as determined and approved by the OCD Director.

(b) Maximum HAPG Grant Amount: $15,000.

3. Selection Process: The selection process will consist of two phases - an application phase and a project development phase.

Phase I Application: The maximum application length is four (4) pages. The application deadline is February 16, 2001.

Each application will be evaluated by the OCD Review Team based on the criteria listed. The Review Team will gather information for the applicant to include: percent of poverty, degree of substandard housing, rent-burdened households and affordability index. This information will be obtained from census data, the Maine State Housing Authority and the State Planning Office.

The application will include a brief description of the housing problems of the community, how these were identified, public participation in determining housing issues and why the community is interested in addressing its housing problems.

(a)Problem Statement: A description of the problems, how they were identified, and their impact on the community.

(b)Development of Strategy: A description of the tasks associated with formulating a solution for your community's housing problems. Description of how the project will address a CDBG national objective.

(c)Citizen Participation: Description of how citizens, community groups and others were involved in the identification of the problem and the development of an application.

Successful applicants will be invited into the project development phase process. Upon completion of the housing study, applicants interested in implementing the action steps of their housing plan will submit a letter of intent to request Housing Assistance grant funds along with this housing study and other required information. The housing study will be reviewed by OCD prior to the 2002 CDBG program. The review will determine the communities selected for invitation into the project development phase of the 2002 Housing Assistance grant program.

D. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Technical Assistance Program provides selected communities with funds to contract with regional organizations to provide application development, development of alternative funding sources, grant administration and general program assistance to Maine's communities.

The Office of Community Development will use Technical Assistance funds to: conduct workshops, produce program materials, implement the CDBG Administrator's Certification Training Program and outreach to communities.

19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 20, § 4