Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 151 - Labor and Industry Department
Chapter 5203 - SAFETY ACCOUNT GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM
Part 5203.0030 - APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Subpart 1. Notification by commissioner.

To initiate the process for awarding program grants and loans, the commissioner shall publish a notice in the State Register advising eligible applicants of the availability of safety grants and loans. The notice shall describe the maximum amount of funding available for a project and establish a deadline by which proposals must be submitted. In the notice, the commissioner may also limit the types of projects for which a grant or loan would be awarded in the funding round initiated by the notice.

Subp. 2. Proposals.

Following the publication of a notice in the State Register, eligible applicants who seek assistance must submit proposals to the commissioner. Proposals must be received by the commissioner by the deadline established in the notice.

Subp. 3. Determination of eligibility and completeness.

For all proposals received by the commissioner by the deadline established in the notice, the commissioner shall determine the eligibility of the applicant, the proposed project, the costs identified in the proposal, and the completeness of the proposal.

Subp. 4. Notice of determination of eligibility and completeness.

The commissioner shall notify the applicant of the commissioner's determination of eligibility and completeness of the proposal. If the commissioner determines that the applicant or the project is ineligible, the commissioner shall reject the proposal and notify the applicant. If the commissioner determines that any of the project costs are ineligible or that the proposal is incomplete, the commissioner shall notify the applicant of the ineligible portion of the costs or of the deficiency. The applicant has 14 days after receiving the notice to correct any inadequacies. Extensions shall be granted if requested in a timely manner and good cause exists for the extension. If the inadequacies are not corrected within the time allowed, the proposal shall be rejected.

Subp. 5. Evaluation of proposal.

The commissioner shall evaluate each proposal that is determined to be eligible and complete.

Subp. 6. Award of grant or loan.

The commissioner shall award a grant or loan for those projects that the commissioner determines best satisfy the criteria applicable to the program under which the applicant is requesting financial assistance. The commissioner shall notify those applicants that do not receive grant or loan awards. An applicant that does not receive an award may resubmit a proposal upon future notice by the commissioner under subpart 1.

Subp. 7. No grant or loan awards.

If the commissioner determines that no proposal will sufficiently advance the safety account's safety goals, the commissioner may decide not to award any grant or loan. The commissioner may then reinitiate the process for awarding grants and loans by publishing a notice under subpart 1.

Subp. 8. Safety surveys; consideration.

In the commissioner's evaluation of the proposal, the commissioner shall consider recommendations provided by on-site surveys of employers.