Code of Maine Rules, Chapter 7, Section 498-7-2 - Method of Distribution | Code of Maine Rules

A. COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION GRANTS

The purpose of a Community revitalization (CR) Grant is to provide financing for local housing, economic development and public facility activities which are part of a community development strategy and which will lead to future public and private investments.

1. Threshold Criteria: The State will distribute CDBG funds to local governments through the annual Community Revitalization Selection Process. The threshold criteria for the process are listed below:

(a) Eligible Applicants: All units of general local governments in mine, including plantations, are eligible to apply for and receive CDBG funds form the State. County governments may apply on behalf of unorganized territories.

(b) Ineligible Applicants: Entitlement communities of Portland, Bangor, Lewiston and Auburn, and established counties and unorganized territories, except as described in (a), above.

(c) Project Eligibility: Upon receipt by the office of Community Development, applications will be reviewed to determine the eligibility of the activities that the applicant proposes to undertake with CDBG funds. Those activities which do not appear to be eligible under 24 CH, Part 570, Subpart C, 201 et seq. will be excluded from further consideration, and the applicant will be notified of the determination. In the event that an application contains more than one proposed activity, ineligible activities would be excluded and the remaining eligible activities would continue through the selection process.

(d) Federal and State Certifications for Local Governments: All communities applying far CDBG funds must certify that they will:

(i) minimize displacement and adhere to a displacement policy;

(ii) take action to affirmatively further fair housing and comply with the provisions of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968;

(iii) not attempt to recover certain capital costs of public improvements funded in part with CDBG monies;

(iv) establish a community development plan;

(v) meet all required State and Federal public participation requirements;

(vi) comply with the Federal requirements of Section 319 of Public law 101-122 regarding government-wide restriction on lobbying; and

(vii) provide a local match equivalent to 20 - 50 percent of the total project budget.

2. Special Program Requirements: CR applicants must also comply with the following special program requirements:

a. Past Performance: In order to be eligible to apply for the 1992 program, communities that received grant funds in 1987 must have conditionally closed their grants by October 16, 1991. Communities that received grant funds in 1988 must have expended 100% of their funds by October 16, 1991. Communities that received grant funds in 1989 must have obligated 100% of the funds by October 16, 1991. Communities that received grant funds in 1990 must have obligated at least 50% of the funds by October 16, 1991. Communities that received grant funds in 1991 must have obligated at least 25% of the funds by October 16, 1991.

b. Exceptions: Grant recipients may only submit a request to DECD for a waiver of this special requirement under the following extraordinary circumstances: 1) the recipients has received unanticipated program income and is unable to meet the above performance requirements because of the federal rule that program income must be expended prior to the expenditure of grant funds, or 2) program delays have occurred that are beyond the control of the grantee due to acts of nature or unforeseen changes in scheduled availability of essential leveraged funds.

3. Selection Process: The selection process will consist of two phases: an application phase, and a project development phase.

a. Phase I Application: The maximum length of an application is ten pages. It is designed to be a description of a community's problems that it would like to address with CDBG assistance. The application deadline is October 16, 1991. These applications will be evaluated on the following:

(i) Problem Statement (20 points): The Problem Statement is a description of the problems or needs the applicant wishes to address with CDBG assistance.

(ii) Proposed Solution (30 points): The Proposed Solution is a description of how the applicant would like to use CDBG assistance to solve the problem(s) discussed in the Problem Statement.

(iii) Citizen Participation (20 points): Citizen Participation is a descriptive demonstration of how local citizens, community groups and others were involved in the identification of the problems) and solutions discussed in the application.

(iv) Commitment (20 points): Commitment is a description of the other resources that will be contributed to the project. These may include commitments obtained or sought to date. Commitments, along with an estimated timeframe regarding when various aspects of the program will be undertaken, may be reviewed.

(v) Distress (10 points): OCD will derive a community's distress score from following four areas:

(aa) Housing (2.5 points): a composite score consisting of two factors: the percent of substandard housing and the percent of households with income less than $15,000 per year and spending 25% of their income on housing costs. The percentages will be derived from the 1980 Census.

(bb) Economic Conditions (2.5 points): a composite score derived from two factors: a ranking based on the unemployment rates of the Labor Market Areas in which the community is located plus a quarter point for each percentage point the community's municipal unemployment rate is above the State's average unemployment rate.

(cc) local Fiscal Capacity (2.5 points): a score determined by ranking the effective (state equalized) tax rates for each applicant within population categories include 5,000 and above, 4,999 to 2,500, 2,499 to 1,000, and 999 less.

(dd) Poverty Level (2.5 points): a score derived by using the percent of persons in a community below 150% of the poverty level as defined in the 1980 Census. The poverty level percentages will be ranked within the four population categories discussed above.

b. Phase II Project Development:

(i) Invitation to Proceed: Successful applicants will be invited to proceed to Phase II. It is important to remember that an invitation is not a guarantee of funding. These applicants continue the process by completing the following criteria:

(aa) Project Planning: Details of the project including engineering, cost analysis and market feasibility study.

(bb) Project Eligibility: Proposed activities are verified for eligibility pursuant to 24 CFR, Part 570, Subpart C, 570.201 et seq.

(cc) Project Benefit: The proposed activities are verified to meet one the national objectives pursuant to 24 CFR, Part 570, Subpart A;, 570.200 (a) (2) of either providing direct benefit to low and moderate income persons or removing slum and blighting influences within that community ( 24 CFR, Part 570, Subpart A, et seq.).

(dd) Management Plan: The community will determine how they will be administering and managing their program.

(ee) Regulations: Both State and Federal regulations will be reviewed for compliance.

(ii) Planning Grants: Pursuant to Section 2(B) of this Proposed Statement, communities will receive financial assistance, on an as needed basis, in the form of planning grants to cover a portion of the costs associated with project development. The extent to which such assistance is needed shall be determined by OCD staff. Additional planning costs may be reimbursable expenses firm subsequent full funding.

4. Approval Process: The emphasis during the second phase will be to develop a partnership between the State, region and community to determine the best project that will meet the community's identified needs. OCD's Project Development (PD) Specialist assigned to the community will work closely with the town to identify eligible solutions. Through this process, the PD Specialist will insure the verification of benefit, project cost justification and project budgets and schedules. Those communities successfully completing the Phase II criteria shall contract with DECD in order to receive CDBG funds. Communities not having a signed contract with DECD within six months of receipt of a Phase II invitation will forfeit said invitation. The Director of the office of Community Development reserves the right to waive this requirement in light of extenuating circumstances.

The maximum grant amount will be $400,000 for one year with an $800,000 maximum for two years. Community wide public facilities shall be limited to $200,000 per year. Project implementation shall begin upon execution of a contract. OCD staff will remain involved with the community through the end of the project to provide technical assistance and to monitor compliance with federal and state regulations.

B. PLANNING GRANTS

The purpose of the Planning Grant is to enable communities to gather, analyze, and provide information required by the CR Grant process.

1. Threshold Criteria: The State will award planning grants to communities, provided that they meet the following threshold criteria:

(a) been invited into Phase II of the CR Selection process;

(b) demonstrate a need for financial assistance; and

(c) demonstrate the means to execute the grant award.

2. Special Program Requirements: Not applicable.

3. Selection Process: Communities will be required to submit a Planning Grant Proposal that describes how they will use these planning grant funds in order to complete the Phase II requirements necessary to contract with the Office of Community Development.

4. Approval Process: OCD will award Planning Grants on a competitive basis. The staff will review the threshold criteria, the applicant's proposal, and an evaluation of the applicant's past performance under past Planning Grants.

C. RESERVED GRANTS

The purpose of a Reserved Grant is to provide funding for the second year of CR Grant initially determined in the previous program year.

1. Threshold Criteria: reserved grantees meet the following threshold criteria;

(a) be an eligible applicant, pursuant to Section 2(A)(1)(a) and (b) of this Final Statement;

(b) the proposed activities must meet one of the national objectives described in 24 CFR, Section 570.200(a)(2);

(c) undertake eligible activities, pursuant to 24 CFR, Section 570.201 et seq. and approved during the 1991 Phase II process;

(d) complete the Federal Certifications for Local Governments as described in Section 2(A)(1)(d) of this Final Statement; and

(e) complete the required CDBG application materials.

2. Special Program Requirements: reserved grantees must meet the following special program requirements:

(a) Eligible applicants are restricted to the following 7 communities:

Biddeford

Fort Kent

Lubec

Presque Isle

Swans Island

Waldoboro

Warren

(b) Evidence that applicants are on line with the 1991 expenditure schedule as submitted in their contract. Reserved Grant communities must have demonstrated reasonable progress in staffing, program design and contracting for their current program.

(c) In the aggregate, 70% of the expenditures proposed by reserved Grantees must result in benefit to low and moderate income persons.

3. Selection Process: Not applicable.

4. Approval Process: The following actions constitute the approval process for reserved grants:

(a) Applications from Reserved Grant communities will be invited during the 1992 Phase II Process.

(b) Each Reserved Grant application will be reviewed by the community's PD Specialist. The PD Specialist will:

(i) Review status reports of Reserved Grant communities;

(ii) Compare the reserved grant application to the second year of the project as proposed in the previous year's Phase II process;

(iii) Review activity schedule and management plan for acceptability based on project design and budget; and

(iv) Develop recommendations for the CDBG Program Manager regarding the application's acceptability, grant conditions and funding level.

(c) Recommendations an Reserved Grant applications will be reviewed by the CDBG Program Manager. Based on the information presented, the Program Manager will recommend to the Director and the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development that the Reserved Grant community:

(i) Be funded at the requested level;

(ii) Not receive a reserved grant (if ineligible costs were incurred during the administration of the previous year or the project is no longer feasible); or

(iii) Be funded at a reduced level (the amount of reduction will be determined by the changes in the project's activities and schedules as originally proposed or by evidence that the project cannot accomplish its original goals).

(d) The Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development will announce reserve grant awards during the 1992 Phase II process.

D. DEVELOPMENT FUND

The purpose of the Development Fund (DF) is to provide financial resources to local governments which in turn assist businesses to create jobs or housing opportunities for low and moderate income people.

1. Threshold Criteria: DF applicants must meet the following threshold criteria:

(a) be an eligible applicant, pursuant to Section 2(A)(1)(a) and (b) of this Proposed Statement;

(b) the proposed activities must meet one of the national objectives described in 24 CFR, Section 570.200(a)(2);

(c) 51% of the jobs or housing units created as a result of CDBG expenditures proposed by the DF applicant are provided to persons of low and moderate income;

(d) undertake eligible activities, pursuant to 24 CFR, Part 570, Subpart C, 570.201 et seq.;

(e) complete the Federal Certifications for Local Governments as described in Section 2(A)(1)(d) of this Proposed Statement; and

(f) complete the required DF application materials.

2. Special Program Requirements: DF proposals also must comply with the following special program requirements:

(a) Necessary or Appropriate: The DF loan for profit businesses must be for projects that are necessary and appropriate. The application must describe the need for DF assistance, reasonableness of the amount requested, the repayment plan, and assurance that the assistance provided is commensurate with the community benefits that will accrue from the project. Clear and sufficient evidence must be provided that the project cannot proceed without DF participation.

(b) Financing Plan: The DF application is to present a financing plan for a project in which the DF loan comprises the lesser of $100,000 or 40% of total project cost. Project activities and use of funds to calculate the non-DF financing must represent a new investment or a new project. The financing necessary to support at least 60% of the total project cost must be documented by binding commitment letters submitted with the application. Project activities or uses of funds used to calculate the non-DF financing also must represent new investment.

(c) DF Loan: The DF is provided as a grant to a unit local government. The local government must use designated grant monies as a loan to the business or the developer identified in the DF application. The loan must be provided under the terms stated in a DF Letter of Conditions and the contract between DECD and the local government.

(d) Repayment Terms: Thresholds regarding interest rates or repayment terms have not been established. Justification for the repayment terms relate to filling the financing gap, identifying the rate of return allowed through the repayment terms, or specifying the locational cost differentiations and the benefit derived from the assistance.

(e) LMI Benefit: In the aggregate, 70% of the program expenditures are provided to benefit persons of low and moderate income.

3. Selection Process: Eligible projects will be evaluated according to the following factors:

(a) Impact: The DF project will be evaluated as a viable business or housing development proposal. The following considerations will be the focus of the Impact factor.

(i) Chance of Success: The project demonstrates that a market exists for its product or service, the cost of the product or service is competitive in current market conditions, the cash flow projections are adequate to support operating expenses and indebtedness, and management has the capacity to carry out the business or development plan. The project must be complete in that there are no unidentified activities or project costs necessary to implement the project.

(ii) Financial Plan: The financing for the project is in place and legally binding commitments have been submitted; the proposal has an appropriate leverage ratio of private and public dollars and is structured to meet cash flow projections; and the project pro forma has been reviewed by an independent qualified accountant, preferably a CPA. The financing plan must be complete in that there are no unidentified uses of funds necessary to complete the project.

(iii) Equity: The proposed loan recipient has made an equity commitment to the project, preferably through a cash equity injection. other substantial participation may substitute for a cash equity injection with appropriate explanation regarding equity participation.

(iv) DF Loan repayment: Terms of the loan payback are to reflect what is necessary to allow a project to be implemented while providing the maximum and most expeditious return of CDBG - DF monies for reuse.

(v) Security: The proposed loan recipient presents collateral appropriate to secure the DF Loan and indicates willingness to enter into security agreements.

(vi) Benefit: The DF proposal will be evaluated on the basis of the community and economic benefits that will result from the project. Benefit considerations are given below.

(vii) Cost: The number of permanent jobs created or retained and the number of housing units assisted as per DF project dollars will be compared with current and past DF projects. The increase in local tax dollars resulting form the project will be evaluated. Overall project cost effectiveness also will be considered.

(viii) Low/Moderate Income Benefit: Additional consideration will be given to the proposed loan recipient for extra benefits or efforts on behalf of low and moderate income persons and families. The integration of job training programs, job advancement opportunities, education and training programs, and referral services from JTPA and Job Service will be part of this evaluation.

(ix) Community and Economic Development: Benefit to community and economic development will focus on how the proposal affects long term developments. This review will also examine the ripple affect of the proposal on the community. Considered in this area will be how the primary and secondary impacts of the proposal meets community needs and furthers community and economic development.

4. Approval Process:

(a) Application: Applications shall be submitted on the first Thursday of each month. DECD staff will review the applications to determine if the threshold criteria have been met. A credit analysis will be conducted by DECD or its designee for each job creation or housing proposal. Following staff analyses, applications will be evaluated by a review committee. As a review body, the DF Committee will make recommendations to the DECD staff and the Director. The DF Committee is appointed by the Director and consists of a representative of local government, a certified public accountant, and attorney, a representative of private financing, a business person, an at-large appointee, and a housing person.

(b) DF Committee Recommendations: The DF Committee will review staff reports and make recommendations to the Director for awards. The Committee will have four general options to recommend on any individual project. The options are:

(i) approval of requested amount and terms;

(ii) approval of requested amount but under different terms proposed;

(iii) rejection with staff recommendation for complete/partial resubmittal; and

(iv) rejection.

(c) Quarterly Allocation: The quarterly allocation will be limited to $187,500 plus any unobligated portion of allocations of previous quarters. This limit can be waived by the Director. The Director also reserves the right to reject any or all applications in any month.

If, while nearing the end of the quarter, available funds are not sufficient to finance credit-worthy proposals, the review process will incorporate an objective needs factor (the distress factor described in Section l(A)(3)(v). Those proposals with the highest scare in the needs factor will receive assistance first.

E. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

The purpose of the Technical Assistance (TA) Grant program is to enable regional organizations to provide information about the CDBG program to communities in their area and to assist interested communities in preparing to participate in the program.

1. Threshold Criteria: The State will award TA Grants to a planning district provided that it meets the following threshold criteria:

(a) the recipient is a nonprofit regional organization;

(b) the recipient is governed by a board with representatives of local governments from the district for which the award is made; and

(c) We recipient has the staff capacity to provide CD technical assistance.

2. Special Program Requirements: Not applicable.

3. Selection Process: Regional organizations that desire to receive Technical Assistance Grants must submit a proposal by May 15, 1992 that describes how the organization will address the following technical assistance tasks:

(a) provide assistance to communities in preparation of Community Revitalization applications; and

(b) provide on an as-needed basis general technical assistance to communities interested in participating in the State's CDBG program.

4. Approval Process: DECD will award technical assistance grants on a competitive basis. The factors involved in the determination of awards will be the threshold criteria, the regions' proposals and evaluation of their performance under past TA Grants.

F. INTERIM FINANCE PROGRAM

The purpose of the Interim Finance Program (IFP) is to utilize undispersed monies in the State's Letter of Credit for grants to localities to assist businesses or developers create housing and job opportunities for low and moderate income people through short-term loans.

1. Threshold Criteria: UP applicants must meet the following threshold criteria:

(a) be an eligible applicant, pursuant to Section 2(A)(1)(a) and (b) of this Proposed Statement;

(b) The proposed activities must meet the low and moderate income objective as described below:

(i) at least 51% of the jobs created by UP expenditures must be provided to low and moderate income persons ( 24 CFR Part 570.208(a) (4)),

(ii) at least 51% of the housing units created by IFP expenditures must be occupied by low and moderate income households ( 24 CFR Part 570.208(a) (3)), or

(iii) the UP expenditures reduce the development costs for new multi-family, non-elderly housing construction where not less than 20% of the units will be occupied by low and moderate income households at affordable rents and the proportion of the total cost of developing the project to be borne by the IFP funds is no greater than the proportion of units in the project that will be occupied by low and moderate income households ( 24 CFR Part 570.208(a) (3) (i) ).

(c) undertake eligible activities pursuant to 24 CFR 570.201 et seq.;

(d) complete the Federal Certifications for Local Governments as described in Section 2(A)(1)(d) of this Proposed Statement;

(e) complete the required IFP application materials; and

(f) the application amount must be between $500,000 and $5,000,000. The Commissioner of DECD may waive the $500,000 minimum requirement if OCD determines that it is in the best interest of the State and if that Office incurs no additional administrative costs as a result of the smaller award.

2. Special Program Requirements: There are four requirements, in addition to the six listed above, which must be met for a project to qualify for the Interim Financing Program:

(a) Need for Financing: There must be a demonstrated need for an interim Financing Program loan in order for the project to be funded. That need nay be based upon either a gap in available funding for the project or on a determination that the costs of financing so adversely affect the project's rate of return that the project would not be undertaken without additional assistance. Interim Finance Program grantees must demonstrate that the proposed rate and term have been set to ensure that the assistance provided is the minimum needed and that the proposed assistance is necessary and appropriate to carry out an economic development project.

(b) Commitment of Non-CDBG Funds: The business being assisted must demonstrate that all non-CDBG financing, both permanent and interim, necessary for the project's completion has been secured.

(c) Community Benefit: The project must result in a substantial benefit to the community job creation/retention, tax revenue increases, new housing opportunities, or public facility improvements relative to the public dollar investment.

(d) Irrevocable Letter of Credit: The business being assisted by the Interim Finance Program grantee must secure an unconditional, irrevocable letter of credit for the full amount of the Interim Financing Loan (principal plus accrued interest to term) from a lending institution acceptable to DECD which will be assigned to the State. The State may accept a FAME guarantee in lieu of an irrevocable letter of credit.

3. Selection Process: Interim Financing Program grants will be made on a first come basis. Prior to consideration of a grant award all Interim Financing proposals must meet the six Threshold Criteria plus the four Special Program requirements listed above. Projects that meet these requirements may be awarded IFP grants, until the amount of funds available in the State's letter of credit has been committed. Following full commitment of the Interim Financing Program, the State will maintain a waiting list of eligible projects to be funded. If projected funds will not be available for a minimum of six months, the State reserves the right not to accept any additional applications.

4. Approval Process: Through its Technical Assistance Providers, direct mailings, and other marketing methods, the State will advertise the availability of funds within the Interim Financing Program. Communities interested in applying will: notify the State of its intent to apply, identify the proposed loan recipient and provide an application describing the project. Following the acceptance of a complete application by the State, the DECD or its designee will conduct a financial analysis of the project. DECD will determine if the Interim Financing Program grant/loan is needed, if all non-CDBG permanent and interim funds are committed, and if an irrevocable letter of credit is in place. The DECD staff will recommend the loan terms and interest rates to the Director of the Office of Community Development. The State will review all other program requirements. IF these requirements are met, the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development will make a grant award based on the project meeting all program requirements.

G. URGENT NEEDS GRANT PROGRAM

The purpose of the Urgent Needs Grants (UNG) Program is to provide financing to enable communities to address community development needs having a particular urgency.

1. Threshold Criteria: UNG Program applicants must meet the following threshold criteria::

(a) be an eligible applicant, pursuant to Section 2(A) (1) (a) and (b) of this Proposed Statement;

(b) pursuant to 24 CFR Part 570 Subpart C, 570.200 (a) (2) and 570.208 (c), seek to 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 urgent within 18 months prior to the submission of the applications;

(iii) the applicant is unable to finance on its own; and

(iv) cannot be addressed with other sources of funding.

(c) complete the Federal Certifications for Local Governments as described in Section (2) (A) (1) (d) of this Proposed Statement;

(d) complete the required UNG Program application materials; and

(e) seek an amount of assistance not in excess of $150,000.

2. Special Program Requirements: The urgent need to be addressed must be of such a nature that it requires emergency action to alleviate the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe injury or loss of life resulting from any natural or man-made cause.

3. Selection Process: Communities seeking to undertake a project on the basis of urgent need must submit an UNG Program application which includes the following:

(a) documentation of the nature and severity of the condition requiring assistance;

(b) certification that the activity is designed to address an urgent need;

(c) information that describes when the urgent need condition requiring assistance developed/occurred; and

(d) evidence to confirm that other financial resources to alleviate he need are not available.

Urgent Needs Grants will be made on a first come basis. Prior to consideration of a grant award, all UNG Program proposals must meet the five Threshold Criteria plus the Special Program requirement listed above. Grant proposals that meet these requirements may be awarded grants from the UNG Program, until the amount of funds available in the program has been committed. Having committed all funds in the program, the State reserves the right not to accept any other applications.

4. Approval Process: Following the acceptance of a complete application, the Director of the office of Community Development shall review the application and verify the information contained therein. If all requirements are verified and funds remain available in the program, the Director will make a grant award.

H. Affordable Housing Planning Grants

The purpose of the Affordable Housing Planning Grants (AHPG) program is to enable communities to gather, analyze, and provide information required for the development of projects to promote affordable housing.

1. Threshold Criteria: The State will award AHPG's to communities, provided they meet the following threshold criteria:

(a) be an eligible applicant, pursuant to Section 2(A) (1) (a) and (b) of this Proposed Statement;

(b) demonstrate a need for financial assistance not to exceed $15,000; and

(c) demonstrate the means to execute the grant award.

2. Special Program Requirement: AHPG applicants must also have a certified Local or Regional Housing Alliance in accord with Chapters 11, 12, and 13 of the Maine Affordable Housing Alliance rules.

3. Selection Process: Applications for AHPG's will be accepted on a first come basis. Prior to consideration of a grant award, the proposals must meet the three threshold criteria and the special program requirement. Proposals that meet the criteria nay be awarded AHPG funds, until the amount of funds available have been committed. Having committed all funds in the program, the State reserves the right not to accept any other applications.

4. Approval Process: Following the acceptance of a complete application, the Director of the Office of Community Development shall review the application and verify the information contained therein. If all requirements are verified and funds remain available in the program, Director will make a grant award.

I. EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND

The purpose of the Emerging Opportunity Fund (EOF) is to provide financial resources to local governments in Title IX areas designated by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) which can use the EOF assistance as leverage to obtain funds under the EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (Title IX) and the EDA Public Works Program (Title I).

1. Threshold Criteria: EOF applicants must meet the following threshold criteria:

(a) be an eligible applicant, pursuant to Section 2(A)(1)(a) of this Final Statement;

(b) the proposed activities must meet one of the national objectives described in 24 CFR, Section 570.200(a) (2);

(c) 51% of the jobs created as a result of CDBG expenditures proposed by the EOF applicant are provided to persons of low and moderate income;

(d) undertake eligible activities, pursuant to 24 CFR, Section 570.201 et seq.;

(e) complete the Federal Certifications for Local Governments as described in Section 2(A)(1)(d) of this Final Statement;

(f) complete the required EOF application materials; and;

(g) be designated by EDA as eligible to receive funds under the Title IX program, and must have submitted a Title IX or Title I preapplication to EDA and be working with EDA toward submission of a full application.

2. Special Program Requirements: EOF proposals also must comply with the following:

(a) EOF Funds: Provided an initial EOF application is successful, a grant contract will be executed between DECD and the local government to reserve EOF funds for the applicant, and an EOF letter of Conditions will be included in the contract to describe the terms that will govern the release of funds from the reserve. The local government must use the designated EOF funds as a match to obtain EDA Title IX or Title I funds. Depending on the EDA matching requirements, requests to use funds from the reserve may have to meet additional special requirements that are similar to those described in Section 2(D)(2) (a and b) of this Final Statement.

(i) EDA Title IX Economic Adjustment Assistance defined: Funds under the Title IX Program are used to assist areas experiencing long-term economic deterioration (LTED) and areas threatened or impacted by sudden or severe economic dislocation (SSED).

Long-term economic deterioration (LTED) : The LTED Program assists eligible applicants to develop and/or implement strategies designed to halt and reverse the long-term decline of their economies. The most common type of activity funded under the LTED Program is Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs), although other types of eligible Title IX activity may be funded.

Sudden and severe economic dislocation (SSED): The SSED Program assists eligible applicants to respond to actual or threatened job losses (dislocation) and other severe economic adjustment problems. It is designed to help communities prevent a sudden, major job loss; to reestablish employment opportunities and facilitate community adjustment as quickly as possible after one occurs; or to meet special needs resulting from severe changes in economic conditions. SSED assistance is intended to respond to permanent rather than temporary job losses. Assistance may be in the form of a grant to develop a strategy to respond to the dislocation (Strategy Grant) or a grant to implement an EDA approved strategy (Implementation Grant).

In light of the current high level of economic distress in rural areas, EDA is particularly interested in Title IX projects designed to mitigate serious rural economic adjustment problems.

(ii) EDA Title I Public Works Program defined: Funds under Title I Program are used to assist distressed communities attract new industry, encourage business expansions and generate long-term, private sector jobs through projects to improve water and sewer facilities primarily serving industry, build access roads to industrial parks or sites, and construct business incubator buildings.

(b) Limit on Amount of EOF assistance: Each Title IX area designated by EDA will be eligible for one EOF grant. The EOF application must present a plan in which the EOF funding comprises the lesser of $200,000 or 70% of the matching funds required from the local government by EDA's Title IX or Title I program. The local government must also demonstrate that it is not possible to get funding from any other source for the portion of matching funds sought from the EOF.

(c) Program Income Plan: Thresholds regarding interest rates or repayment terms for EOF assistance to revolving loan funds under the Title IX program have not been established. Justification for the repayment terms relate to filling the financing gap, identifying the rate of return allowed through the repayment terms, or specifying the locational cost differentiations and the benefit derived from the assistance. To meet EDA Title IX matching requirements, program income generated from EOF funds may be retained by the local grantee or by the local grantee's assignee with the approval of DECD.

3. Selection Criteria: Eligible projects will be evaluated according to the following factors:

(a) Impact: The EOF project will be evaluated as a viable CDBG and EDA-proposal. The following considerations will be the focus of the Impact factor.

(i) Chance of Success:

LTED: To receive funding under the LTED/RLF Program, an area must be experiencing at least one of three economic problems:

1) very high unemployment;

2) lot, per capita income; or,

3) chronic distress (failure to keep pace with national economic growth trends over the last five years). Priority will be given to those areas with two or more of these indicators.

SSED: To receive priority consideration for funding under the SSED Program, an area must show actual or threatened permanent job losses that exceed the following threshold criteria.

1) If the unemployment rate of the Labor Market Area exceeds the national average, the dislocation must be the lesser of two (2) percent of the employed population, or 500 direct jobs.

2) If the unemployment rate of the Labor Market Area is equal to or less than the national average, the dislocation must be the lesser of four (4) percent of the unemployed population, or 1,000 jobs.

Financial Plan: The financing need for the project will be based on an assessment of its financial resources. The proposal must have an appropriate leverage ratio of private and public dollars.

(iii) Benefit: The EOF proposal will be evaluated on the basis of the community and economic benefits that will result from the project. Benefit considerations are given below.

(iv) Cost: The number of permanent jobs created or retained as per EOF project dollars will be reviewed on a case by case basis. The increase in local tax dollars resulting from the project will be evaluated. Overall project cost effectiveness also will be considered.

(v) Low/Moderate Income Benefit: Additional consideration will be given to the proposal for extra benefits or efforts on behalf of low and moderate income persons and families. The integration of job training programs, job advancement opportunities, education and training programs, and referral services from JTPA and Job Service will be part of this evaluation.

(vi) Community and Economic Development: Benefit to community and economic development will focus on how the proposal affects long term developments. This review will also examine the ripple affect of the proposal on the community. Considered in this area will be how the primary and secondary impacts of the proposal meets community needs and furthers community and economic development.

4. Approval Process:

(a) Application: Once the applicant has submitted a Title IX or Title I preapplication to EDA and is working toward a full application, it may submit an EOF application to DECD. DECD staff will review the EOF applications on a first come basis to determine if the threshold criteria have been met. An analysis will be conducted by DECD or its designee for each proposal.

(b) Staff Recommendations: Following the application analysis, staff will make one of the following three recommendations to the Development Director for awards:

(i) approval of requested amount and requested or different terms;

(ii) approval of lesser amount and requested or different terms; or,

(iii) rejection.

(c) Allocation: The EOF allocation will be limited to $450,000. EOF proposals that meet all criteria nay be awarded funds until the amount of funds available in the program has been committed. Having committed all funds in the program, the State reserves the right not to accept any further applications.

Code of Maine Rules19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT498 - OFFICE OF TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTChapter 7 - 1992 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT SMALL CITIES PROGRAM 1992 FINAL STATEMENTSection 498-7-2 - Method of Distribution

Code of Maine Rules
19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
498 - OFFICE OF TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 7 - 1992 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT SMALL CITIES PROGRAM 1992 FINAL STATEMENT
Section 498-7-2 - Method of Distribution