19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 33, § 4
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.
Stage 1: Review Team Analysis- Members of the five-person OCD Review Team will assign a Review Point Total for each application reviewed. Review Point Totals will consist of the sum of the four scoring areas below and be determined by the total of each sub-scoring area. A maximum of 100 points is obtainable.
*A description of the scope, magnitude and severity of the identified problems - 5 points
*How the problems were identified - 5 points
*Past effort to deal with the identified problems - 5 points
*Impact of the problem on LMI persons or slum/blight conditions - 5 points
*Why CPG funds are critical for the project - 5 points
*A description of the planning tasks proposed to solve the identified problems; specific use of CPG funds - 5 points
*Project timeline, including a start date, tasks completed to date and how CPG funds will be expended in a timely manner - 8 points
*How community partnerships including local government, citizens, agencies and local businesses will work together to develop effective solution strategies - 8 points
*Budget Page review - 5 points
*How the planning efforts would lead to solution strategies that would benefit LMI persons or alleviate slum/blight conditions - 5 points
*Experience of the applicant community with planning projects - 4 points
*How other cash resources (local, state, federal, private) will contribute to completion of the project - 3 points
*How firm is documentation of the cash commitment - 3 points
*Matching Funds Table review - 5 points
*% which firm cash commitments exceed minimum 20%
0% - 15% - 1 points
16% - 30% - 2 points
31% - 50% - 3 points
More than 50% - 4 points
*Establishment of cash value equivalent and direct relationship to project for all in-kind commitments - 5 points
*How overall citizen participation process directly relates to identification of solution strategies and application development - 4 points
*Effective use of any media (newspapers, radio, TV, etc) to further public awareness and participation - 4 points
*Relevance of listed meeting/hearing activities/comments (not counting required public hearing) on application and project development - 4 points
*Involvement of potential LMI project beneficiaries in development of application and project - 4 points
*How attendance, comments, etc. at the required public hearing relate to the application development and citizen participation process - 4 points
Stage 2: Final Application Score- Each application will receive a Final Application Score consisting of adding the sum of an average of the five Review Point Totals after dropping the highest and lowest and the Community Evaluation Factor. A minimum Final Application Score of 80 points will be required for an application to be considered for funding. Starting at the top of the scoring list, applicants will be invited to proceed to the Project Development Phase as funds allow.
The Project Development Phase Planning Grant Program enables communities to gather, analyze, and provide information required by the Project Development Phase process.
The Technical Assistance Program provides 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.
The Special Project Matching Fund (SPMF) provides matching funds to projects that are not funded through the normal CDBG application process. SPMF funds will be used for alternative OCD grant activities and partnerships that are consistent with the furtherance of community or economic development activities and CDBG National Objectives in the State of Maine. Approval for the use of SPMF funds is through the Director, Office of Community Development.
A set aside of $200,000 will be used to match the Lead Hazard Control Program administered by the Maine State Housing Authority. Funds will be spent solely for lead hazard reduction activities on CDBG income eligible households. Administration will not be an eligible use of funds. OCD in conjunction with MSHA will select an eligible unit of local government as a grantee for the Lead Hazard Control Fund. Dwelling units located in the entitlement communities of Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston, South Portland and Portland are not eligible to receive assistance through the Lead Hazard Control Fund. Units located in the City of Biddeford will also be ineligible if it gains status as an entitlement community for the 2005 CDBG program.
19- 498 C.M.R. ch. 33, § 4