Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. The Local
Government Assistance Program (LGAP) provides financial assistance to local
units of government in rural areas. The LGAP program will be administered by
the Office of Community Development (OCD).
B. All municipalities and parishes within the
state of Louisiana that are identified by HUD as non-entitlement communities
are eligible to apply for assistance.
C. Local government classifications are
defined as: Villages (pop. 1-999), Towns (pop. 1,000-4,999), Cities (pop.
5,000-35,000) and Parish governments.
D. OCD shall develop an application procedure
satisfying the purposes and intentions of the LGAP.
E. The Office of Community Development
applies the following guidelines to any project or activity funded.
1. At the start of each fiscal year, the
director of OCD shall determine the equal funding level for all eligible
parishes based on the total amount budgeted as aid to local governments for
LGAP grants.
2. Applications will
only be accepted for the following eligible activities; fire protection, sewer,
water, renovations to essential governmental buildings, police protection, land
acquisition, demolition, equipment, roads, drainage, and reasonable engineering
costs (if associated with construction).
3. Repealed.
4. Funds from this program cannot be used to
pay consulting fees charged to a unit of government for the preparation of the
application, for administrative costs by agents of the project sponsor or any
third party. Also, funds cannot be used to pay for previously incurred debt,
improvements to private property, overtime for government employees,
administration, engineering only or planning only projects, or recreation
activities. LGAP funds are not intended for salary only projects or ongoing
salaried positions.
5. Parish
governments may request funding for projects that serve a parish-wide area or
an unincorporated area within the parish.
6. Applicants may not exceed stated funding
levels as outlined in the LGAP application guidelines for any fiscal year,
except in those circumstances where other eligible applicants within each
parish agree by resolution to allow funding levels to be exceeded.
7. Three-year contracts shall be issued for
LGAP grants by OCD. Contract extensions and changes to the project must be
requested in writing by the grantee and approved in writing by the executive
director of OCD.
8. No award shall
be made to an entity listed on the LLAs non-compliance list.
9. Applications received after deadline
established by OCD will not be considered.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with Act 27 of the 2006 Regular Legislative
Session.
