NY Econ Dev L § 176 (2021)
2021 New York Laws COM - Economic Development Law Article 5-C - Erie/barge Canal Development Program 176 - Erie/barge Canal Challenge Grant Program.

§  176.  Erie/Barge  canal challenge grant program. 1. There is hereby established within the department an Erie/Barge  canal  challenge  grant program  to  be  administered  in  coordination  with  the department of transportation for the purpose of providing municipalities  adjacent  to the  Erie/Barge  canal  with  matching  funds  to  plan  and  carry  out canal-related tourism activities; provided, however, that:  (a) no grant to any  municipality  shall  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty thousand  dollars  or forty percent of the total project cost, whichever is less;  (b) each applicant, whether a  single  municipality  or  two  or  more municipalities  acting  jointly,  shall  be eligible to receive only one such grant in any twelve-month period;  (c) no part of any such grant  shall  be  used  for  salaries  or  for services  regularly  provided  by the municipality or for administrative costs in connection with this grant;  (d) the municipality or a designated nonprofit  entity  has  committed sufficient  funds  to  fulfill  the  local  match  requirements  of this program;  (e) in-kind services shall not be considered part of the  local  match requirement; and  (f)  no  grant  shall  be  used for the direct benefit of a for-profit business unless (i) the funded activity shall further a  public  purpose and  have  a  clear,  long-term  benefit  to the applicant and (ii) such funded activity is not available to the business from  other  public  or private sources.   2.  Applicants  for  grants  may  be  a  municipality  or  two or more municipalities  acting  jointly.  A  municipality,  or   two   or   more municipalities acting jointly, may designate by resolution a county or a nonprofit entity to act on its behalf.   3.  The  commissioner shall establish and publish, on an annual basis, guidelines and a standard application form relative to the use of  funds to  be granted hereunder. In addition to such other information as shall be requested by the commissioner, applicants shall provide a description of:  (a) the activity or project for which a grant is requested and how  it relates to the canal;  (b) how the proposed activity or project will contribute to or enhance tourism development along the canal;  (c)  project  impact  including, where appropriate, an estimate of the number of people to be  served  by  the  project,  the  length  of  time visitors  may  be expected to spend in the area, the ratio between local residents and visitors to be served by the project, the duration of  the project; and  (d)  whether it is part of an overall tourism marketing or development plan.   4. In reviewing and selecting applicants to receive grants under  this program,  the  commissioner  shall  consider,  in  coordination with the department of transportation, the following:  (a) the nature and extent of economic distress  within  the  applicant community  and  the  need  for assistance.   Preference will be given to municipalities  which  meet  the  criteria  for  economic  distress   as established by the department;  (b)  the  potential  of  the proposed canal-related activity to make a significant and permanent contribution to tourism development within the applicant municipality and along the canal as a whole;  (c) the existence of a local tourism marketing or development plan  to enhance  tourism activity, and the extent to which the proposed activity is consistent with the plan;  (d)  the  nature  and  extent  of  local  support  for  the   proposed canal-related  activity including the commitment of additional financial resources;  (e)  the  degree  of  support  within  the  municipality  for  tourism development, in general, and  the  nature  and  extent  of  other  canal related activities, in particular, engaged in by the municipality or its designated   nonprofit   entity,   business   community   and  community organizations;  (f) preference shall be given to those applications submitted  by  two or more municipalities; and  (g)  preference  shall  be  given to applications creating new tourism activities.   5. Grants shall be awarded by September fifteenth of each year.