A.
HOUSING
ASSISTANCE GRANTS
The Housing Assistance Grant (HA) Program provides funding to
address housing problems of low and moderate-income persons.
1.
Special Threshold Criteria and
Certifications: Housing Assistance Program funds will be distributed
through an annual grant application selection process.
(a)
Eligible Activities:
Eligible activities are those directly related to assisting or creating
residential housing units including Acquisition, Code Enforcement, Conversion
of Non-Residential structures, Demolition, Historic Preservation, Housing
Rehabilitation, New Housing Construction, Relocation Assistance, and Removal of
Architectural Barriers.
(b)
Housing Assessment Planning Requirement: All communities applying
for Housing Assistance funds must have completed a comprehensive housing
assessment planning study within the past five years. Communities with plans
older than five years will be permitted to demonstrate that their plan is under
active implementation and is still valid or has been updated within the past
five years.
(c) All communities
applying for Housing Assistance funds must certify that they will:
(i) adhere to MRSA Title 10, Chapter 214,
Energy Efficiency Building Performance Standards Act, Section 1415- c (1), (1A)
and Section 1415-G in the construction of any new residential housing
units;
(ii) provide a
local match equivalent of 10 percent of the total grant
award.
(iii) adhere to Title 24 CFR
Part 35 regarding Lead Based Paint Hazards effective 9/15/2000.
2.
Special
Program Requirements:(a)
Past
Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 2001 Housing
Assistance program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to 1997
must have closed their grants prior to application due date. Communities that
received CDBG grants in 1998 must have conditionally closed their grants prior
to application due date. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1999 must
have obligated 50% of their benefit activity funds prior to application due
date.
Exceptions: Applicants may request a waiver of
this requirement under the following circumstances:
1) program delays have occurred beyond the
control of the grantee due to unforeseen changes in availability of funds or
acts of nature;
2) the recipient has
received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been
delayed;
3) the job creation goals
of a previous grant have not been fulfilled; or
4) special circumstances as determined and
approved by the OCD Director.
(b)
Maximum Housing Assistance Grant
Amount: $400,000
(c)
Maximum Housing Rehabilitation Costs: The amount of rehabilitation
grants or loans available to participants will be no more than $15,000 per
unit. Additional funds, up to a maximum of $7,000 may be available in the
following cases: replacement housing, foundation work, inadequate sewage
disposal, lack of potable water, presence of asbestos, lead-based paint, radon,
or other hazardous material, or accessibility modifications. Except for
acquisition/relocation and those activities listed above, all other eligible
housing Assistance program activities are limited to a maximum of $20,000 per
unit.
(d)
Maximum
Administrative Costs: This program allows expenditures for general and
rehab administration. The total general administration expenditures may not
exceed 10% of the grant amount. However, the total expenditures for both
general and rehab administration may not exceed $45,000 for programs completing
up to thirty housing units. An additional $1,500 in combined administration
will be allowed for each unit completed beyond thirty up to a maximum combined
administration total of $60,000.
(e)
Section 8 H ousing Quality
Standards: All units assisted or created with HA funds must, at a
minimum, meet HUD Section 8 M inimum Housing Quality Standards. This does not
apply to projects undertaken to correct specific health and safety issues only,
i.e. wells, septic, heating units.
3.
Application Process: This
process will consist of the following:
(a)
Submission of a letter of intent by 4:00PM on February 16, 2001. The letter of
intent (no more than 4 pages in length) to apply for Housing
Assistance Funds detailing:
the amount of funds requested
a description of how funds will be used and what will
be accomplished
identification of administrative tasks necessary to
implement the project
project schedule
identification of community officials, citizens,
developers or organizations responsible for implementing the project
(b) A
copy of the community's housing assessment plan:
The community's complete assessment plan
an executive summary of the plan
an action plan to address the identified
needs
identification and description of how the applicant,
groups, and private citizens will contribute financial and/or technical
resources to the project:
resources sought
the status of commitments (known and
sought)
a timeframe for the commitments
the basis for determining their value
(d)
Identify why CDBG funds are essential for the completion of the
project
4.
Selection Process: The selection process will consist of review and
evaluation of:
Completeness of the housing assessment plan
Level of housing need for low/moderate income
households in the community
Amount and certainty of financial and resource
commitments to the project
Extent to which the proposed project matches the
priority needs identified in the housing assessment plan
B.
PUBLIC FACILITIES and PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAMS
The Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure Grant (PF
& PI) Programs provide funding for local infrastructure and public facility
activities, which are part of a community development strategy leading to
future public and private investments.
1.
Special Threshold Criteria and
Certifications: Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure Program
funds will be distributed through an annual grant application submission and
review process.
(a)
Eligible
Activities: Eligible activities in the PF & PI programs are
construction, acquisition, reconstruction, installation, rehabilitation, site
clearance, historic preservation, relocation assistance
associated
with public projects, and infrastructure
in support of new affordable housing construction.
(b)
Local Match: All communities
applying for PF & PI funds must certify that they will provide a local
match equivalent to 20 percent of the total grant
award.
2.
Program Activities:
Activity
Breakdown: Applicants may
apply for one or more activities within either the Infrastructure or Facilities
groups, but cannot apply for activities from both.
| Public Infrastructure
| Public Facilities |
| Water system installation/improvements
| Community, child, senior and |
| Sewer system installation/improvements
| health centers |
| Water/sewer system hookups * | Fire
stations |
| Storm drainage | Sheltered workshops |
| Utility infrastructure | Homeless
shelters |
| Infras. to support new affordable housing
| Removal of architectural barriers |
| Streets/roads/sidewalks | Fire fighting
equipment |
| Parking, curbs and gutters | Salt, sand
storage shed |
| Transfer station |
| (*as a housing rehabilitation activity
| Public works garage |
| completed in conjunction with a public
| Pier/Wharf/Dams |
| infrastructure project) | Libraries |
| Historic Preservation |
| Parks & Recreation |
3.
Special Program Requirements:
(a)
Past Performance: In order
to be eligible to apply for the 2001 Public Facilities and Public
Infrastructure programs, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to
1997 must have closed their grants prior to application date. Communities that
received CDBG grants in 1998 must have conditionally closed their grants prior
to application date. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1999 must have
obligated 50% of their benefit activity funds by prior to application date.
Exceptions: Applicants may request a waiver of
this requirement under the following circumstances:
1) program delays have occurred beyond the
control of the grantee due to unforeseen changes in availability of funds or
acts of nature;
2) the recipient has
received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been
delayed;
3) the job creation goals
of a previous grant have not been fulfilled; or
4) special circumstances as determined and
approved by the OCD Director.
(b)
Maximum Public Facilities &
Public Infrastructure Grant Amounts
Public Infrastructure
|
Activity group
| Max. $ |
| Water system installation/improvements, Sewer system
installation/improvements, Water/sewer system hookups Storm drainage, Utility
infrastructure, Infrastructure in support of new affordable housing
| $400,000 |
| Streets/roads/sidewalks, parking, curbs and gutters
| $100,000 |
|
Public Facilities |
|
Activity group |
| Community, child, senior and health centers,
libraries Sheltered workshops, Homeless shelters, Pier/wharf Fire Stations
| $250,000 |
| Removal of architectural barriers
| $100,000 |
| (as a distinct, stand-alone project) |
| Historic Preservation | $100,000 |
| (as a distinct, stand-alone project) |
| Fire fighting equipment, Salt/sand storage shed
Transfer station, Parks and recreation facilities Public works garage, dams
| $ 50,000 |
(c)
Funding Restrictions: PF & PI funds may not be used to assist
infrastructure for the purpose of job creation. Job creation infrastructure
activities are eligible in the Economic Development Infrastructure Grant
program. With the exception of proposals for infrastructure in
support of new housing construction and sewer/water system
hookups, no housing activities may be assisted with PF & PI
funds. All other eligible housing activities are listed in the Housing
Assistance Grant program.
(d)
Demonstration of National Objective: Applicants must demonstrate
that their project meets a threshold of benefiting 51% or more low-to-moderate
income persons or will prevent or eliminate slum and blighting conditions.
Where necessary to demonstrate project LMI benefit, income surveys must use
HUD-approved methodology and be accepted by OCD. This
"demonstration" must be made as part of the
pre-application.
(e)
Priority for Public Facilities and
Public Infrastructure Projects: Service and specialized service center
communities and activities supporting the revitalization of downtown areas will
be given priority during the evaluation and selection process for awarding PF
& PI program funds. A list of the service and specialized service center
communities is attached.
4.
Selection Process: The
selection process will consist of two phases: a pre- application phase and a
final application/project development phase.
Pre-Application: The pre-application deadline is
December 8, 2000. The pre-application will be in the form of a questionnaire
that will seek, at minimum, the following information:
1. Community, utility district and/or
administrative agency information
2. Amount of grant request and summary of
proposed use of funds
3. Specific
health, safety, and community concerns to be addressed
4. Beneficiary profile
5. Municipal, utility and/or administrative
agency financial information
6.
Utility rate structure and affect of project on rates (where
applicable)
7. Municipal tax
structure and affect of project on rates (where applicable)
8. Specific conditions that warrant the
project completion
9. How the
project was identified and prioritized
10. Funding sources sought and/or secured for
this project
Each pre-application will be reviewed and evaluated in
relation to those of similar sized communities in its activity group by the OCD
application review team. Communities will be grouped in population categories
per current Maine Municipal Association information as follows: less than 999;
1000 to 2499; 2500 to 4999; and 5000 and greater. The review team will
recommend a list of projects to the OCD Director to proceed into the final
application/development phase. Upon initial approval, a Project Development
Specialist will be assigned to the community to assist in the final
application/development phase and will remain as the staff representative to
the community until project completion.
C.
PUBLIC SERVICE GRANTS
The Public Service Grant (PSG) Program addresses community
resource needs by providing funds for operating expenses, equipment and program
materials for public service programs.
1.
Special Threshold Criteria and
Certifications: Public Service Program funds will be distributed through
an annual grant application selection process.
(a)
Eligible Activities:
Eligible activities include operating and program material expenses for child
care, health care, job training, recreation programs, education programs,
public safety services, fair housing activities, senior citizen services,
homeless services, drug abuse counseling and treatment, and energy conservation
counseling and testing. Structural changes such as construction, renovation or
rehabilitation are not eligible for PSG funding.
(b)
Project Benefit: Eligible
PSG projects provide benefits to a specific group of persons and not everyone
in an area. The clientele of PSG projects are limited to:
(i) persons who are members of the following
groups that are currently presumed by HUD to meet benefit requirements. The
presumption may be challenged if there is substantial evidence the group served
by the project is most likely not comprised of principally low/moderate income
persons.
Abused Children
Battered Spouses
Elderly Persons
Severely Disabled Adults
Homeless Persons
Illiterate Adults
Migrant Farm Workers
Persons Living with AIDS
- OR -
(ii) participants in a program designed to
limit the PSG funded benefit exclusively to eligible Low and Moderate Income
persons.
(c) All
communities applying for PSG funds must certify that:
(i) the public service represents a new
service to the community; or a quantifiable increase in the level of an
existing service;
(ii) a
local match equivalent to 20 percent of the total
grant award will be provided; and,
(iii) the activity will meet the need
or will continue after PSG funding is expended.
2.
Special
Program Requirements:(a)
Past
Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 2001 Public
Service program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to 1997 must
have closed their grants prior to application date. Communities that received
CDBG grants in 1998 must have conditionally closed their grants prior to
application date. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1999 must have
obligated 50% of their benefit activity funds prior to application date.
Exceptions: Applicants may request a waiver of
this requirement under the following circumstances:
1) program delays have occurred beyond the
control of the grantee due to unforeseen changes in availability of funds or
acts of nature;
2) the recipient has
received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been
delayed;
3) the job creation goals
of a previous grant have not been fulfilled; or
4) special circumstances as determined and
approved by the OCD Director.
(b)
Maximum Public Service Grant
Amount: $50,000
3.
Selection Process: The
selection process will consist of two phases - an application phase and a
project development phase.
Phase I Application: The maximum length of an
application is eight pages. The application deadline is April 6, 2001.
Each application will be rated in relation to all others. A
minimum of 80 points from the Problem Statement, Proposed
Solution, Citizen Participation and Commitment sections will be required for an
application to be considered for funding.
(a)
Problem Statement (40
points):
Scope of Problem: (40 points) -
Identification and description of the nature and magnitude of the problems to
be addressed with PSG funds and the problems facing service providers as they
address the issue.
(b)
Proposed Solution (40 points):
(i)
Project
Description: (10 points) - Description of how PSG funds will be
used to solve the problems. Include a project budget.
(ii)
Project
Feasibility: (10 points) - Identification of tasks, timetables and
the parties responsible to implement the proposed solution.
(iii)
Capacity: (10
points) - Identification and description of the qualifications and abilities of
those who will implement the project.
(iv)
Project
Continuation: (10 points) - Description of how the program will
continue after the PSG has ended or why there will no longer be a need for
these services.
(c)
Citizen Participation (10 points): Identification and description
of the process, including public meetings, hearings and other methods to
solicit involvement of residents, local organizations and public officials.
Describe how the application reflects citizen concern and beneficiary
involvement.
(d)
Commitment/Match (10 points): Identification and description of
how the community, organizations, and citizens will contribute financial and/or
technical resources to the project, the status of those commitments, and a
timeframe for the commitments.
D.
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
PROGRAM
The Downtown Revitalization Program (DR) will provide funds
to enable communities to implement comprehensive, integrated and innovative
solutions to the problems facing their downtown districts. These community
revitalization projects must be part of a strategy that targets downtown
service and business districts and will lead to future public and private
investment. Qualified applicant communities must have a downtown district
meeting the definition of PL 776 enacted by the
119th legislature.
1.
Special Threshold Criteria and
Certifications: Downtown Revitalization Program funds will be
distributed through an annual grant application selection process.
(a) Eligible activities include all those
eligible under the Public Facilities, Public Infrastructure, Public Service,
Housing Assistance, Micro Loan or Business Assistance programs as relevant to
the revitalization of a downtown district.
(b) Local Match - All communities applying
for Downtown Revitalization funds must certify that they will provide
a local match equivalent to 20% of the total grant
award.
2.
Special
Program Requirements(a)
Past
Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 2001 Downtown
Revitalization program, communities that received CDBG grants in or prior to
1997 must have closed their grants prior to application date. Communities that
received CDBG grants in 1998 must have conditionally closed their grants prior
to application date. Communities that received CDBG grants in 1999 must have
obligated 50% of their benefit activity funds prior to application date.
Exceptions: Applicants may request a waiver of
this requirement under the following circumstances:
1) program delays have occurred beyond the
control of the grantee due to unforeseen changes in availability of funds or
acts of nature;
2) the recipient has
received unanticipated program income and expenditure of grant funds has been
delayed;
3) the job creation goals
of a previous grant have not been fulfilled; or
4) special circumstances as determined and
approved by the OCD Director.
(b)
Planning Requirements:
Applicants must have completed either a CDBG funded Quality Main Street
Planning process or an equivalent downtown revitalization planning process
within the past five years. Communities with plans older than 5 years will be
permitted to demonstrate that their plans are under active implementation and
the action plan remains valid. The proposed DR activities must be cited in the
plan as recommended actions for downtown revitalization.
(c)
Maximum Award:
$400,000
(d)
Bonus Points for
Service and Specialized Center Communities Applicants will receive three
bonus points if they have been identified by the State Planning Office as a
service or specialized center community.
3.
Selection Process - The
selection process will consist of two phases: an application phase and a
project development phase.
Phase I Application: The maximum application
length is ten pages. The application deadline is January 19, 2001.
Each application will be rated in relation to all others.
A minimum of
80 points from the Problem, Solution,
Commitment and Citizen Participation sections will be required for an
application to be considered for funding.
(a)
Problem Statement (40
points):(i)
Scope of
Problems (25 points) - Identification and description of the
nature and magnitude of the identified problems to be addressed with DR
funds.
(ii)
Impact on
Economic Vitality (15 points) - Describe how the problems
negatively impact the economy of the community and persons of low-to-moderate
income.
(b)
Solution (40 points):(i)
Project Description (15 points) - Describe how funds
will be used. Include a project budget.
(ii)
Comprehensive Nature of
Solution (10 points) - Description of how the activities relate to
the community's total downtown revitalization effort.
(iii)
Feasibility
(15 points) - Identification of tasks, timetables and the responsible parties
to implement the proposed solution.
(c)
Citizen Participation (10
points) - Identification and description of the process, descriptions of
public meetings, hearings and other methods to solicit the involvement of
residents, local organizations and public officials, and how the involvement
contributed to this application.
(d)
Commitment/Match (10
points): Identify and describe how the community, organizations, and
citizens will contribute financial and/or technical resources to the project,
and the status of those commitments.
(e) National Objective:
Applicants must demonstrate that the project meets the National Objective of 1)
benefiting low/moderate income persons or 2) preventing or eliminating slum or
blighting conditions. Census information, a target area survey or a declaration
of slum/blight conditions must be submitted with the application.
E.
URGENT NEED
GRANTS
The Urgent Need Grant (UNG) Program provides funding to
enable a community to address serious and immediate threats to health and
welfare.
1.
Special Threshold
Criteria and Certifications:(a)
Eligible Applicants: All units of general local government in
Maine, including plantations, are eligible to apply for and receive Urgent Need
funds. Counties may apply on behalf of unorganized territories.
(b)
Project Eligibility:
Pursuant to Section104(b) 3 of the Housing and Community Development Act of
1974, as amended, the applicant must address a community development need
which:
(i) poses a serious and immediate
threat to the health or welfare of the community;
(ii) originated or became a direct threat to
public health and safety no more than 18 months prior to the submission of the
application;
(iii) is a project the
applicant cannot finance on its own. "Cannot finance on its own" means, that
the town's tax burden, regulatory structure, utility user fees, bonding
capacity, previous or existing budgetary commitments, precludes it from
assuming this project's additional financial expenditure; and
(iv) cannot be addressed with other sources
of funding.
2.
Special Program
Requirements:(a)
Necessary
Documentation: The emergency situation must require immediate action to
alleviate the serious and imminent threat of injury or loss of life resulting
from a natural or man-made cause.
(b)
Application Submittal:
Applicants must submit a complete UNG application that includes all required
information and documentation.
(c)
Maximum UNG Amount: $100,000
3.
Selection Process: The
selection process will consist of two phases: an application phase and a
project development phase.
Phase I Application: An UNG application must
include the following:
(a)
documentation that the emergency situation was prompted by natural or man-made
causes that pose an imminent threat of injury or loss of life;
(b) certification that the proposal is
designed to address an urgent need and an immediate response is required to
halt the threat of injury or loss of life;
(c) information regarding when the urgent
need condition occurred or developed into a threat to health and
safety;
(d) evidence confirming the
applicant is unable to finance implementation on its own; and,
(e) documentation that other financial
resources are not available to implement the proposal.
Phase II Project Development: Urgent Need Grants
will be made on a first-come first-served basis. Prior to consideration of a
grant award, all UNG proposals must meet the four Threshold Criteria and the
Special Program requirements. Project Development Phase applications must
comply with the following:
(a)
Project Planning: Details of the project including engineering,
cost analysis, feasibility and structural analysis as necessary.
(b)
Management Plan: Details of
the structure and methods established by the community for program
management.
(c)
Regulations: Project Development Phase applications will be
reviewed for compliance with State and Federal regulations.
4.
Approval Process: The UNG
funds will be available beginning March 2, 2001.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
Following receipt of an application, OCD shall review the application and
verify that it contains all the required information. Notification to the
applicant of the CDBG Program Manager's decision will initiate the Project
Development Phase process necessary for contract award.
F.
City of Augusta - Capitol River
Improvement District
The City of Augusta will receive a special set-aside grant
for $500,000 for improvements to its downtown district. The project area
includes an economically and physically distressed portion of the downtown
generally defined as being from the Father Curran Bridge westerly up Bridge
Street to State Street, then northerly to a point adjacent to the Edwards
Manufacturing Company site, then southerly along Water Street to the Father
Curran Bridge.
The City must complete a Downtown Revitalization program
application and a "Project Development Phase" application. These documents must
demonstrate that all funded activities are eligible for CDBG funds, meet a CDBG
national objective and that the project will significantly contribute to the
downtown's revitalization.
