Rule 6-9-6.4 - Eligibility CriteriaThe minimum criteria to qualify for a grant is as follows:
A. the project has a minimum investment of ten million dollars ($10,000,000);B. the project site utilizes at least fifty (50) acres of land under public control (meaning the land is held or controlled by a public entity, or held by a public option);C. the applicant proposes to use funds for the purpose of utility, infrastructure, and/or transportation development;D. the project produces a high level of public benefit;E. the project demonstrates best practices and complies with the required growth-to-drain ratio (meaning a one and five (1.5) growth to one (1) drain ratio of trees within a fifty-mile radius of the facility, which can be verified by the Mississippi Forestry Commission);F. the project will comply with and expand upon existing infrastructure in the community;G. the distribution of geographic size and location of the project; andH. the applicant can demonstrate the ability of the proposed project to be completed on time.MDA may require that recipients seek and secure technical assistance from the Mississippi Forestry Commission. The Mississippi Forestry Commission will provide administrative support to local forestry project grantees to ensure proper growth-to-drain criteria.
Senate Bill 2525, 2023 Regular Session; Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-55