19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 30, § 1
All CDBG funded activities must meet one of the three National Objectives of the program. These objectives are:
Benefit to low and moderate income persons, Preventing or eliminating slums or blights, or Meeting community development needs having a particular urgency.The Maine CDBG Program serves as a catalyst for local governments to implement programs which meet one of the three National Objectives, and:
are part of a long-range community strategy; improve deteriorated residential and business districts and local economic conditions, provide the conditions and incentives for further public and private investment, foster partnerships between groups of municipalities, state and federal entities, multi-jurisdictional organizations and the private sector to address common community and economic development problems, and minimize development sprawl consistent with the State of Maine Growth Management Act, and support the revitalization of downtown areas.DECD, through the Office of Community Development (OCD), offers programs to assist municipalities to achieve their community and economic development objectives. The 2002 Program Statement provides a description of the selection criteria that OCD will use to allocate CDBG funds among communities. Programs are grouped under three broad categories - Community Development, Economic Development and Planning.
The entitlement communities of Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston and Portland are not eligible to receive State CDBG program funds.
Beginning with the 2000 CDBG grant awards, communities must employ a certified grant administrator and/or rehabilitation technician (as employee or consultant) or send whoever will be administering their program to the next offered grant administrator training program. The CDBG Program Director must approve waivers of this requirement in writing.
Application deadlines - 4:00PM EST on the dates listed:
Housing Assistance.....................February 22, 2002
Public Facilities.........................January 18, 2002
Public Infrastructure......................January 18, 2002
Public Service...........................April 5, 2002
Downtown Revitalization....................February 8, 2002
Downtown Initiative.....Limited to the Town of Lincoln, Beginning April, 2002
Urgent Need...............1st come basisbeginning March 1, 2002
Development Fund................................Open
Regional Assistance Fund.........................Open
Micro-Loan...........................March 8, 2002
Economic Development Infrastructure......Ongoing beginning January 3, 2002
(official application acceptance, 1st Thursday of every month)
Business Assistance Program.......................Open
Regional Super Park........................August 2, 2002
Interim Financing Program.........................Open
Community Planning.......................March 8, 2002
Project Development Phase Planning Grants..................Open
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
2002 Program Budget
| FY 2002 CDBG Budget | $17,062,000 | |
| Administration | 441,240 | |
| Technical Assistance Administration | 170,620 | |
| Regional Council Technical Assistance | 145,140 | |
| Special Projects Matching Fund | 100,000 | |
| 1. Housing Assistance Grants | 2,700,000 | |
| 2. Public Infrastructure Grants/Loans | 3,600,000 | |
| 3. Public Facilities Grants | 1,800,000 | |
| 4. Public Service Grants | 200,000 | |
| 5. Urgent Need Grants | 200,000 | |
| 6. Downtown Revitalization Grants | 800,000 | |
| 7. Downtown Initiative Grant Set-Aside (Town of Lincoln) | 400,000 | |
| 8. Regional Super Park Program | 1,000,000 | |
| 9. Development Fund 1 | ||
| 10. Interim Financing Program | ||
| 11. Economic Development Fund | 5,000,000 | |
| Business Assistance Economic Development Infrastructure Regional Assistance Fund | ||
| 12. Micro Loan Program | 200,000 | |
| 13. Community Planning | 250,000 | |
| 14. Project Development Phase Planning Grants | 55,000 | |
| 15. Section 108 L oan Program 2 | ||
1 Funds will not be allocated to the Development Fund Program for the 2002 Program; however, Development Fund Program repayments will be used to make DF awards during the 2002 Program Year. DF loan repayments are estimated to be $650,000 during this period.
2 If the DECD application to HUD for the Section 108 L oan Program is approved, the 2002 Final Program Statement will be amended to include a description of the method for distribution and use of loan repayments to DECD.
The following state and federal regulations APPLY TO ALL PROGRAMS:
All communities applying for CDBG funds must certify that they will:
minimize displacement and adhere to a locally adopted displacement policy in compliance with Section 104(d) of the Act; take action to affirmatively further fair housing and comply with the provisions of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968; not attempt to recover certain capital costs of improvements funded in part with CDBG funds; establish a community development plan; meet all required State and Federal public participation requirements; comply with the Federal requirements of Section 319 of Public Law 101-122 regarding government-wide restriction on lobbying; with the exception of administrative or personnel costs, verify that no person who is an employee, agent, consultant, officer, or elected official or appointed official of State or local government or of any designated public agencies, or subrecipients which are receiving CDBG funding may obtain a financial interest or benefit, have an interest in or benefit from the activity, or have an interest in any contract, subcontract or agreement with respect to CDBG activities; review the project proposed in the application to ensure it complies with the community's comprehensive plan and/or applicable state and local land use requirements.Communities participating in multi-jurisdictional applications may submit their own application for the same program as long as they demonstrate that there will not be a duplication of program activity/benefit.
Significant changes were made to the "Growth Management Act" by the 119th Legislature that affect the award of CDBG grants after January 1, 2001. OCD will provide information separate from the Program Statement outlining these changes and their impact on the award of CDBG grants for "growth related capital investments" as defined in the statute.
All units of general local government in Maine, including plantations, are eligible to apply for and receive CDBG funds. County governments may apply on behalf of unorganized territories. Groups of local governments may apply for multi-jurisdictional or joint projects. Multi-jurisdictional applications require designation of one local government as the lead applicant and consent for that designation by each participating local government. Counties may apply for Economic Development Infrastructure, Business Assistance, Development Fund, Regional Assistance Fund or Public Service grant programs on behalf of a collaboration of communities.
Applicants will be placed in rank order from highest to lowest according to the scores determined by the scoring team. Final scores will be determined by dropping the lowest score assigned by a scoring team member and averaging the remaining scores and applying any applicable bonus points. Starting at the top of the scoring list, applicants will be invited to proceed to the Project Development Phase. An invitation into the Project Development Phase or notification to complete a final application is not a guarantee of funding. Successful communities will receive an amount determined by the OCD for their project.
19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 30, § 1