A. PHASE II
PLANNING GRANTS
The Phase II Planning Grant Program enables communities to
gather, analyze, and provide information required by the Phase II Project
Development process.
1. Threshold
Criteria: The State will distribute Phase II funds to communities or community
partnerships, provided they meet the following threshold criteria:
(a) Eligible Applicants: Only communities
invited into Phase II of the Housing Assistance, Public
Facilities/Infrastructure, Economic Development Infrastructure, and Micro-Loan
Programs are eligible to apply for and receive Phase II Planning Grants from
the State.
(b) Eligible Activities:
Phase II Planning funds may be used for planning activities necessary to
complete Phase II requirements as described in applicable funding programs
listed in 1(a) above.
(c) Need and
Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate a need for financial assistance and the
means to execute the Phase II Planning grant award.
(d) Federal and State Certifications for
Local Governments: All communities applying for Phase II Planning Grants must
certify they will comply with all applicable federal and state CDBG program
certifications.
2.
Special Program Requirements: Not applicable.
3. Selection Process: Communities will submit
a Phase II Planning Grant Proposal that demonstrates need for financial
assistance to complete applicable Phase II requirements and will describe bow
the funds will be used to complete those tasks.
4. Approval Process: OCD staff will review
threshold criteria and the applicant's proposal. Phase II Planning Grants will
be awarded on a competitive as-needed basis. Recipients and amount of
assistance shall be determined by the OCD staff.
B. GENERAL PURPOSE PLANNING GRANTS
The General Purpose Planning Grant (GPPG) Program provides
financial assistance to communities or community partnerships that have clearly
identified a local community or economic development problem and lack the
resources to develop a strategy for solving that problem.
1. Threshold Criteria and Certifications: The
State will distribute GPPG funds to local governments through the annual
General Purpose Planning Grant Application Selection Process. The threshold
criteria and certifications for the process are listed below:
Eligible Activities: GPPG funds may be used for planning only
activities that include studies, analyses, data gathering, preparation of plans
and maps, and identification of actions that will implement plans. Planning for
downtown revitalization is not an eligible activity. Engineering, architectural
and design costs related to specific activities are not eligible. All
applications containing proposed ineligible or non-planning activities will be
judged not to have met the project eligibility criteria. In all cases the
applicant will be notified in writing of the determination made by OCD.
2. Special Program Requirements:
GPPG applicants must also comply with the following:
(a) Past Performance: In order to be eligible
to apply for the 1996 General Purpose Planning Grant program, communities that
received Community Revitalization (CR) grants in 1991 must have conditionally
closed their grants by March 22, 1996. Communities that received CR grants in
1992 must have expended 100% of their benefit activity funds by March 22, 1996.
Communities that received GPPG grants in 1993 must have
obligated 100% of their benefit activity funds by March 22, 1996. Communities
that received GPPG grants in 1994 must have obligated at least 50% of their
benefit activity funds by March 22, 1996.
Exceptions: Grant recipients may request a waiver of this
special requirement under the following circumstances: 1) program delays have
occurred that are beyond the control of the grantee due to acts of nature or
unforeseen changes in availability of leveraged funds or 2) unanticipated
program income has been received and the grantee is unable to meet the above
performance requirements.
(b) Maximum GPPG award amount: The maximum
award is $10,000.
3.
Selection Process: Applications for GPPG's will be accepted March 22, 1996.
Prior to consideration of a grant award, the proposals must meet the threshold
criteria and the special program requirements. Applications will then be
reviewed based on the following criteria:
(a)
Description of Problem (30 points): A description of the problems the community
wants to solve, how the problems were identified, and the impact of the
problems on the community.
(b)
Description Of How Funds Will be Allocated (40 points): A description of the
tasks associated with formulating a solution for your community's problems. A
description of how GPPG program will work with local government towards the
development of strategies that work towards common goals and meet a national
objective. An estimate of the amount of GPPG funds needed and an itemized
breakdown of the proposed planning budget must be included.
(c) Project Leverage (20 points): A
description of other resources (local, state, federal, private) that will be
contributed to the project. These may include commitments obtained or sought to
date.
(d) Citizen Participation (10
points): Description of how citizens, community groups and others were involved
in the identification of the problem and the development of a
strategy.
C.
QUALITY MAIN STREET STRATEGY GRANTS
The Quality Main Street Strategy (QMS) Program provides
financial assistance to communities for the development of strategies to
revitalize main streets and downtowns.
1. Threshold Criteria and Certifications: The
State will distribute QMS funds to local governments through the annual Quality
Main Street grant application selection process. The threshold criteria and
certifications for the process are listed below.
(a) Eligible Activities: QMS funds may be
used for planning only activities related to the economic revitalization of a
main street that include studies, analyses, data gathering, preparation of
plans and maps, and identification of actions that will implement plans.
Engineering, architectural and design costs related to specific activities are
not eligible.
(b) Match: AD
communities applying for Quality Main Street Funds must provide a local match
equivalent to 10 percent of the total grant award.
2. Special Program Requirements: QMS
applicants must also comply with the following:
(a) Past Performance: Any community that
previously received a Quality Main Street Grant is not eligible to apply for
this program in 1996.
(b) Growth
Management or Community Planning Program: Applicants for QMS must define their
status within Maine's Growth Management Program. Communities that have accepted
planning assistance funds, have a consistent comprehensive plan, and/or have
accepted implementation funds must conduct their QMS planning in accordance
with their growth management policies or with their community Planning
Program.
(c) Maximum QMS Grant
Amount. The maximum award is $20,000.
(d) Benefit of Planning: Communities must
describe how the project assisted with QMS funds, if implemented, would meet
one of the national objectives of the CDBG program as described in Section 104
b 3 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.
3. Selection Process: The
selection process will consist of two phases: an application phase (Phase I),
and a project development phase (Phase II).
Phase I Application: The maximum length of an application is
ten pages. It is designed to be a description of a community's Main Street and
Downtown problems that it would like to address with Quality Main Street
Planning Grant Funds. The application deadline for QMS is March 22, 1996. Prior
to consideration of a grant award, the proposals must meet the threshold
criteria and the special program requirements. A minimum score of 85 will be
required for funding. The applications will be evaluated according to the
following criteria.
(a) Description of
Economic and Physical Condition of Downtown: (40 points): Description of the
economic and physical condition of the downtown and their impact on the
community. Identification of events and issues unique to the
downtown.
(b) Description of How
Funds will be Allocated (30 points): Description of the tasks associated with
formulating a solution for the community's problems.
(c) Project Coordination (20 points):
Description of the other resources to be contributed to the planning
initiative.
(d) Citizen
Participation (10 points): Description of the involvement in the identification
and proposed solution presented by local citizens, community groups and
others.
D.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
The purpose of the Technical Assistance Grant Program is to
provide grant funding to the following preselected lead communities that will
act on behalf of communities, within the existing Regional Council planning
districts.
The communities have been selected on the basis of their
willingness to assume the responsibility of administering this grant. These
communities will assume certain administrative work, but will not receive any
greater program benefit than neighboring communities that receive technical
assistance for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
The following communities may provide technical assistance
services under contract with their respective Regional Council to provide
information about the Community Development Block Grant Program to communities
in their region and to assist interested communities in preparing grant
applications in the program categories:
Bath
Caribou
Eastport
Ellsworth
Freeport
Kittery
Mechanic Falls
Orono
Rockland
Winslow
The Department will contract directly with the Lincoln County
Planning Office.
