Code of Maine Rules
19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
498 - OFFICE OF TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 36 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM 2008 PROGRAM STATEMENT
Section 498-36-4 - PLANNING & SPECIAL PROJECTS

Universal Citation: 19 ME Code Rules ยง 498-36-4

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. COMMUNITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM

The Community Planning Grant (CPG) Program provides funding 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: CPG funds will be distributed through a twice-yearly grant application selection process.
(a) Eligible Activities: CPG funds may be used for planning only activities that will include studies, analysis, data gathering, preparation of plans and maps, and identifications of actions that will implement plans. Engineering, architectural, and design costs related to specific projects are not eligible.

(b) Project Benefit: The program activities must meet one of the CDBG Program's national objectives. The outcome of the planning activities, if implemented, must provide either a benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, or prevent or eliminate slum or blighting conditions.

(c) Use of CPG Funds for Comprehensive Planning: Communities designated as 51% or greater LMI by the 2000 U.S. Census and HUD may apply for CPG funds for completion of their local comprehensive plan which must conform to all State Planning Office standards and Maine State Law.

2. Special Program Requirements:
(a) Maximum CPG Grant Amount: $10,000

(b) Match: All communities applying for CPG funds must certify that they will provide a cash match equivalent to 25 percent of the total grant award. This match may consist of all non-CDBG loans, grants, endowments, etc contributed to the project.

3. Selection Process: The selection process will consist of two phases - an application phase and a project development phase.
(a) Application: The maximum length of an application is four pages, not counting required attachments. The application deadlines for the CPG Program are 4:00PM on April 4, 2008 and August 1, 2008. Each application will be rated in relation to all others in a two-stage process.

Stage 1: Review Team Analysis - Members of the five-person OCD Review Team will assign a Review Point Total for each application reviewed. Review Point Totals will consist of the sum of the four scoring areas below and be determined by the total of each sub-scoring area. A maximum of 100 points is obtainable.

(i) Impact (35 points):

*A description of the scope, magnitude and severity of the identified problems - 7 points

*How the problems were identified - 7 points

*Past efforts to deal with the identified problems - 7 points

*Impact of the problem on LMI persons or slum/blight conditions - 7 points

*Why CPG funds are critical for the project - 7 points

(ii) Development Strategy (35 points):

*A description of the planning tasks proposed to solve the identified problems; specific use of CPG funds - 8 points

*Project timeline, including a start date, tasks completed to date and how CPG funds will be expended within 12 months or less - 12 points

*How community partnerships including local government, citizens, agencies and local businesses will work together to develop effective solution strategies - 5 points

*How the planning efforts would lead to solution strategies that would benefit LMI persons or alleviate slum/blight conditions - 6 points

*Experience of the applicant community with planning projects - 4 points

(iii) Project Leverage (10 points):

*Budget Page review - 3 points

*Matching Funds Table review - 3 points

*% which firm cash commitments exceed minimum 25%

0% - 15% - 0 points

16% - 30% - 2 points

31% - 50% - 3 points

More than 50% - 4 points

(iv) Citizen Participation (20 points):

*How overall citizen participation process directly relates to identification of solution strategies and application development - 4 points

*Effective use of any media (newspapers, radio, TV, etc) to further public awareness and participation - 4 points

*Relevance of listed meeting/hearing activities/comments (not counting required public hearing) on application and project development - 4 points

*Involvement of potential LMI project beneficiaries in development of the application and project and how the required public hearing relates to the application development and citizen participation process - 4 points

How other local resources (cash and in-kind) are directly related to the project and the establishment of a cash value equivalent for all in-kind commitments - 4 points

Stage 2: Final Application Score - Each application will receive a Final Application Score consisting of dropping the highest and lowest Review Point Totals and adding the average of the remaining three Review Point Totals. Starting at the top of the scoring list, applicants will be invited to proceed to the Project Development Phase as funds allow. There is no minimum Final Application Score required for an application to be considered for funding.

B. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Technical Assistance Program provides funds to contract with regional organizations to provide application development, development of alternative funding sources, grant administration, and general program assistance to Maine's communities.

The Office of Community Development will use Technical Assistance funds to: conduct workshops, produce program materials, implement the CDBG Administrator's Certification Training Program, and outreach to communities.

C. SPECIAL PROJECTS MATCHING FUND

The Special Project Matching Fund (SPMF) provides matching funds to projects that are not funded through the normal CDBG application process. SPMF funds will be used for alternative OCD grant activities and partnerships that are consistent with the furtherance of community or economic development activities and CDBG National Objectives in the State of Maine. Approval for the use of SPMF funds is through the Director, Office of Community Development.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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