Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
I.
Introduction
Overview
Pursuant to authority granted by §
15-4-209, the Arkansas
Economic Development Commission (AEDC) shall administer the Community
Assistance Grant Program (CAGP).
The objective of the CAGP is to foster AEDC's mission statement
"to create economic opportunity by attracting higher paying jobs, expanding and
diversifying our state and local economies, increasing incomes and investment,
and generating positive growth throughout Arkansas" by providing grant funds to
cities of the first class, cities of the second class, incorporated towns,
unincorporated communities, counties, or governmental entities of the State of
Arkansas for eligible community and economic development projects. All project
expenditures shall be completed within eighteen (18) months after the date of
the grant award, unless such date has been extended by AEDC at the request of
the grantee.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
900 West Capitol, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-1121
II.
Rulemaking Authority
The AEDC has authority, at §
15-4-209(b)(5) to promulgate
rules necessary to administer the CAGP.
III.
Community Assistance Grant Program
Funding
The AEDC may utilize any funds legally appropriated and available
to the CAGP to provide grants to eligible applicants for eligible community and
economic development projects.
CAGP grants may be awarded, pending availability of funds, at the
discretion of the Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development
Commission (Executive Director), or his or her designee. The amount of grant
award shall be determined by the AEDC based upon eligibility criteria,
availability of funding, and program demand for funds which may result in grant
offers that are less than application requests.
Funds shall not be made available for the following
expenditures:
* Routine repair, maintenance, and operation including supplies,
utilities, and salaries;
* State or private fairgrounds;
* Principal and interest on any financed debt;
* Any and all travel, training, or other personnel-related
expenses;
* Obligations incurred prior to grant award;
* Expenditures that are unsupported by documentation;
* Lobbying expenses;
* Purchases of alcohol;
* Entertainment expenses, including meals and activity
fees;
* Purchases of material and services that result in benefits
accruing to areas outside the State of Arkansas; and
* Other expenses specified at the discretion of AEDC.
IV.
Definitions
1. "AEDC" means the Arkansas Economic
Development Commission;
2.
"Eligible applicant" means a city of the first class, city of the second class,
incorporated town, unincorporated community, county, or governmental entity of
the State of Arkansas;
3. "Eligible
community and economic development project" means a project which effectuates
the construction, improvement, upgrading, renovation, retrofitting, equipping,
rehabilitation, purchase, or addition of assets owned, leased, or otherwise
under the jurisdiction of the eligible applicant including, without limitation,
government buildings, community centers, transportation infrastructure,
memorials, parks, amphitheaters, libraries, recreational facilities,
fire-protection equipment, cemeteries, utilities, museums, public health
facilities, public safety facilities, police equipment, emergency shelters,
recycling centers, county fairs, childcare centers, senior centers, youth
centers, or real estate;
4.
"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic
Development Commission;
5. "Leased"
means the grant of use and possession of an asset for a term of at least ten
(10) years beyond the date of award of a Community Assistance Grant Program
award; and
6. "Review Committee"
means an ad hoc committee comprised of at least three (3) AEDC staff members,
with grant review and administration experience, selected by the Executive
Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, or his or her
designee, to review and recommend for funding eligible community and economic
development projects submitted by eligible applicants under the Community
Assistance Grant Program.
V.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicant eligibility requirements include the following:
1. The applicant is a city of the first
class, city of the second class, incorporated town, unincorporated community,
county, or governmental entity of the State of Arkansas;
2. The applicant has submitted a completed
application, on forms supplied by the AEDC, that has been signed by the
governing official authorized by the applicant's jurisdiction to conduct
business on its behalf;
3. The
application is for an eligible community and economic development project that
meets the objective of the CAGP;
4.
Requested funding is for eligible project costs;
5. The amount of funding available to any one
(1) project in any state fiscal year shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars
($50,000);
6. The application is
accompanied by a resolution passed by the city council or quorum court,
whichever is appropriate, instructing the governing official authorized by the
applicant's jurisdiction to conduct business on its behalf to apply for CAGP
funding; and
7. The applicant shall
complete the application submittal and review processes delineated in Sections
VI and VII of these rules.
VI.
Application Submittal
Process
Potential applicants for CAGP funds shall submit two (2)
completed applications signed by the governing official authorized by the
applicant's jurisdiction to conduct business on its behalf, in accordance with
AEDC submittal instructions, utilizing forms provided by AEDC.
1. Applications shall include:
A. The name, address, and phone number of the
applicant;
B. The contact person's
name, title, and contact information;
C. Sources(s), amount(s), and uses(s) of AEDC
and non-AEDC funds, including a completed budget delineating cost estimate
breakdowns and backup documentation for all items;
D. A brief description of the
project;
E. A statement of project
need, including a discussion of any emergencies or urgent need to be addressed
by the project;
F. A list of
beneficiaries of the proposed project, how they will benefit, and how they will
utilize the project;
G. A copy of a
deed, title, lease, or other instrument showing proof of public ownership, or
legal possession, of properties being improved by this project;
H. A signed certification letter from the
governing official authorized by the applicant's jurisdiction to conduct
business on its behalf agreeing to accept responsibility for administering any
grant award;
I. A copy of a signed
resolution passed by the city council or quorum court authorizing the local
elected official to apply for CAGP funds on behalf of the local jurisdiction;
and
J. Other information as
requested by AEDC.
VII.
Application Review and Approval
Process
No financial commitment shall be made by the Executive Director,
or his or her designee, to an applicant until the applicant has completed the
following AEDC review and approval process.
A. All applications will be date-stamped and
reviewed in order of receipt by the Review Committee, assigned by the Executive
Director, or his or her designee, for completeness and eligibility, including a
determination that;
(i) The applicant is a
city of the first class, city of the second class, incorporated town,
unincorporated community, county, or governmental entity of the State of
Arkansas;
(ii) The application is
complete, signed, and includes all attachments;
(iii) The scope of the project meets the
definition of eligible community and economic development project;
(iv) The sources and uses of funds are
sufficient to ensure the successful completion and initial operation of the
project; and
(v) Project costs are
eligible for funding.
B.
Applicants may be subject to an interview or site visit, or both, during the
application review process;
C. The
Review Committee may ask applicants for additional information before
recommending projects for funding;
D. The Review Committee will provide a
project summary of each project reviewed to the Executive Director, or his or
her designee;
E. The Executive
Director, or his or her designee, may seek the advice of boards and commissions
advising AEDC or other officials with expert community and economic development
knowledge in making final funding decisions;
F. The Executive Director, or his or her
designee, will specify which applicants may receive funding;
(i) Unsuccessful applicants will be notified
in writing by the Executive Director, or his or her designee.
(ii) Approved applicants will receive a grant
award notification letter outlining the amount, terms, and conditions of the
funding.
G. Grant funds
will be disbursed to successful applicants;
H. All project expenditures shall be
completed within eighteen (18) months after the date of the grant award, unless
such date has been extended by AEDC at the request of the grantee; and
I. A final report including
cancelled checks and receipts of all funds expended along with the state's
portion of any unspent funds, shall be submitted to AEDC no more than sixty
(60) days following the project's completion or within the eighteen (18) month
period of the grant award, or other date as approved by AEDC, whichever comes
first.
VIII.
Effective Date
These rules are effective on or after July 1,
2018.
