Section 7-1204 - Financial Assistance(a)(1) The Fund may be used by the Department to provide financial assistance to local jurisdictions for: (i) Design plans for a transit-oriented development, provided that the transit-oriented development will be designed to meet equity goals established by the Department;(ii) Public infrastructure improvements within a transit-oriented development; or(iii) Gap funding for public or private development within a transit-oriented development.(2) A private entity, including a nonprofit entity, participating in the development of a transit-oriented development may partner with a local jurisdiction to submit an application for financial assistance under paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection.(b)(1) The Smart Growth Subcabinet established under § 9-1406 of the State Government Article shall establish eligibility requirements and objective scoring standards for the review of applications for financial assistance.(2) The Smart Growth Subcabinet established under § 9-1406 of the State Government Article may establish: (i) Different eligibility requirements and objective scoring standards for different types of financial assistance; and(ii) Scoring preferences for applications that demonstrate that the proposed project will: 1. Enhance access to transit for low-income and minority residents of the local jurisdiction;2. Enhance access to transit in areas with affordable housing and a diversity of job and educational opportunities; or3. Encourage development around underdeveloped and underutilized transit stations in transit-oriented developments.(c) The Department shall: (1) Publish the eligibility requirements and scoring standards on the Department's website; and(2) In collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development, support recipients of awards from the Fund by supporting any studies, plans, and code changes with technical services.(d) An application for financial assistance shall include: (1) Commitments from the local jurisdiction to:(i) Establish transit-supportive land use designations for real property within a transit-oriented development; and(ii) Implement, where practicable, improvements to the transit-oriented development that promote the complete streets policy adopted in accordance with § 2-112 of this article;(2) If a private entity partners with a local jurisdiction to submit an application for financial assistance, commitments from key stakeholders to develop the transit-oriented development; and(3) If the application is for a grant to support the design or construction of a proposed enhancement to a transit-oriented development, credible funding strategies that demonstrate full funding of the design or construction costs for the proposed enhancement on award of the grant.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 512, Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2023.