Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 168 - Arkansas Economic Development Commission › Rule 168.00.18-001 - Community Assistance Grant Program

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
I.
Introduction
Overview
Pursuant to authority granted by § 15-4-209, the Arkansas
			 Economic Development Commission (AEDC) shall administer the Community
			 Assistance Grant Program (CAGP).
The objective of the CAGP is to foster AEDC's mission statement
			 "to create economic opportunity by attracting higher paying jobs, expanding and
			 diversifying our state and local economies, increasing incomes and investment,
			 and generating positive growth throughout Arkansas" by providing grant funds to
			 cities of the first class, cities of the second class, incorporated towns,
			 unincorporated communities, counties, or governmental entities of the State of
			 Arkansas for eligible community and economic development projects. All project
			 expenditures shall be completed within eighteen (18) months after the date of
			 the grant award, unless such date has been extended by AEDC at the request of
			 the grantee.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
900 West Capitol, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-1121
II.
Rulemaking Authority
The AEDC has authority, at § 15-4-209(b)(5) to promulgate
			 rules necessary to administer the CAGP.
III.
Community Assistance Grant Program
		  Funding
The AEDC may utilize any funds legally appropriated and available
			 to the CAGP to provide grants to eligible applicants for eligible community and
			 economic development projects.
CAGP grants may be awarded, pending availability of funds, at the
			 discretion of the Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development
			 Commission (Executive Director), or his or her designee. The amount of grant
			 award shall be determined by the AEDC based upon eligibility criteria,
			 availability of funding, and program demand for funds which may result in grant
			 offers that are less than application requests.
Funds shall not be made available for the following
			 expenditures:
* Routine repair, maintenance, and operation including supplies,
			 utilities, and salaries;
* State or private fairgrounds;
* Principal and interest on any financed debt;
* Any and all travel, training, or other personnel-related
			 expenses;
* Obligations incurred prior to grant award;
* Expenditures that are unsupported by documentation;
* Lobbying expenses;
* Purchases of alcohol;
* Entertainment expenses, including meals and activity
			 fees;
* Purchases of material and services that result in benefits
			 accruing to areas outside the State of Arkansas; and
* Other expenses specified at the discretion of AEDC.
IV.
Definitions
1. "AEDC" means the Arkansas Economic
		  Development Commission;
2.
		  "Eligible applicant" means a city of the first class, city of the second class,
		  incorporated town, unincorporated community, county, or governmental entity of
		  the State of Arkansas;
3. "Eligible
		  community and economic development project" means a project which effectuates
		  the construction, improvement, upgrading, renovation, retrofitting, equipping,
		  rehabilitation, purchase, or addition of assets owned, leased, or otherwise
		  under the jurisdiction of the eligible applicant including, without limitation,
		  government buildings, community centers, transportation infrastructure,
		  memorials, parks, amphitheaters, libraries, recreational facilities,
		  fire-protection equipment, cemeteries, utilities, museums, public health
		  facilities, public safety facilities, police equipment, emergency shelters,
		  recycling centers, county fairs, childcare centers, senior centers, youth
		  centers, or real estate;
4.
		  "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic
		  Development Commission;
5. "Leased"
		  means the grant of use and possession of an asset for a term of at least ten
		  (10) years beyond the date of award of a Community Assistance Grant Program
		  award; and
6. "Review Committee"
		  means an ad hoc committee comprised of at least three (3) AEDC staff members,
		  with grant review and administration experience, selected by the Executive
		  Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, or his or her
		  designee, to review and recommend for funding eligible community and economic
		  development projects submitted by eligible applicants under the Community
		  Assistance Grant Program.