N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 2:76-17.8 - Annual funding eligibility

(a) For each county planning incentive grant funding cycle, the Committee shall establish the amount of the base grant available to each county that has received approval of an annual planning application pursuant to the following:

1. The Committee shall review the county's performance over the previous three funding cycles to determine if the county has expended State cost share funds on a timely basis. The degree to which the county has expended all previously allocated grant funding will determine to what extent the county is eligible to receive the minimum annual base grant for the next funding cycle according to the following:

i. If the county has expended at least 50 percent of the total grant funds appropriated to the county in the previous three funding cycles, the county is eligible for 100 percent of the maximum base grant available to it;

ii. If the county has expended at least 25 percent, but less than 50 percent of the total grant funds appropriated to the county in the previous three funding cycles, the county is eligible for 50 percent of the maximum base grant available to it; or

iii. If the county has expended less than 25 percent of the total grant funds appropriated to the county in the previous three funding cycles, the county is ineligible for a base grant award.

2. The Committee may adjust any county's base grant eligibility, or withhold a base grant entirely, based on factors including, but not limited to, projected expenditures as described in its annual planning application, availability of unexpended grant balances, past performance, and sufficient need.

3. The county shall expend funds within three years of the date the funds are appropriated or risk the loss of those funds and funding eligibility in subsequent funding cycles.

(b) For each funding cycle, the Committee shall establish a maximum combined amount of planning incentive grant funds that any county may receive from both its base grant and from the competitive grant fund.

1. The SADC shall identify the total amount of funds available for expenditure in the competitive grant fund for each funding cycle.

2. If at any time during the funding cycle, a board seeks final approval for an eligible farm for which there are insufficient funds remaining in the county's base grant, the request for final approval will be applied to the funding available in the competitive grant fund pursuant to N.J.A.C. 2:76-17.14.

i. Competitive grant funds will be available to counties having received approval of an annual planning application submitted pursuant to N.J.A.C. 2:76-17.7, regardless of base grant eligibility.

3. Counties may continue to qualify for funds available in the competitive grant fund up to the total maximum grant eligibility established pursuant to (b) above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:76-17.8

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 1549(a), effective 8/3/2020