Rule 6-4-9.12 - General CriteriaA. Applicants may be contacted for clarification of information presented in the application after submission, but additional information that can affect the rating of the project cannot be submitted.B. A single activity should have a contiguous group of beneficiaries. Multiple activities may be considered on a case-by-case basis.C. Water projects that have fire protection as the primary purpose will be classified as a fire protection project unless there are major problems with the water system.D. If matching funds are being sought through another program (ARC, DEQ, RDA, EDA, CAP, etc.), applicants are required to submit evidence of the matching application.E. The State will review and rate all applications, but no award will be made (if F. applicable) until the final commitment and/or approval of matching funds. Applicants will have until__________to secure final commitment and/or approval of matching funds. If by that time final commitment and/or approval is not in place, the State will remove the application from funding consideration.F. Swimming pools will not be eligible for funding under the Self-Help category.G. CDBG funds may not be used for general operating and maintenance expenses. The general rule is that any expense associated with repairing, operating, or maintaining public facilities, improvements and services is ineligible. Examples of operating and maintenance expenses that are generally ineligible include: maintenance and repair of publicly owned streets, parks, playgrounds, water and sewer facilities, neighborhood facilities, senior centers, center for persons with disabilities, parking and other public facilities and improvements. Other examples of maintenance and repair activities for which CDBG funds may not be used include the filling of pot holes in streets, repairing of cracks in sidewalks, the mowing of grass in city or county parks, and the replacement of street light bulbs. This is taken from the State Community Development Block Grant Program's Guide to National Objectives and Eligible Activities for State CDBG Program pages 2-112 and 2-113.