Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 802 - DISBURSAL OF CHALLENGE GRANT FUNDS › Section 001-802-7 - Administrative Procedures

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Conservation
				practices shall be consistent with the Natural Resources Conservation Service
				(NRCS) Technical Guide.
B. All
				activities funded by this project shall be consistent with state and local laws
				and ordinances.
C. The District and
				Soil Conservation Service shall enter into a project agreement covering all
				aspects of the District's and NRCS's role in carrying the project to
				completion. Personnel will be hired and/or fired by the District. if technical
				services are a part of the project, day to day supervision of all personnel
				will be under the direction of the NRCS District Conservationist.
D. The District will obtain an agreement from
				any agency whose services are essential for completion of the project. These
				agreements shall accompany the application.
E. There will be no contingency funds. The
				Department expects the District to complete the project proposed with the funds
				requested.
F. Except in the case of
				multiyear projects all funds not used by the District for the completion of the
				proposed project will be returned to the Department by June 1st for
				reallocation. Any funds returned or not allocated will be distributed according
				to the procedures outlined in Section 6.
G. Multiyear projects (2 years) may be
				applied for, but all of the funding would be allocated during the first year.
				The portion of funds necessary to the second year of the project would be
				withheld until June 1st of that same fiscal year. The District must provide the
				Department a progress report by May 15th of that year. That report would be
				reviewed by the Department at their June meeting. The remaining portion of the
				funding would be awarded for the project contingent upon the Department finding
				that progress toward project goals is being made. If progress is lacking, the
				project would be terminated and the remaining funds reallocated to another
				project. The $20,000 ceiling will remain in effect unless otherwise stated by
				the Department.
H. Supervisors will
				review the progress of their District's Challenge Grant project(s) at each
				monthly meeting. A progress report will be included in the District
				minutes.
I. An additional progress
				report for the Department will be made at the District's first regular meeting
				following two months of project implementation. This report should reflect the
				expenditures of project funds at the end of that period and an estimate of the
				proposed expenditures through the completion of the project. That report should
				be reflected as a part of the minutes of that District meeting and the District
				should make every effort to alert the Department at that time of any potential
				problems foreseen in bringing the project to completion.
J. When the Department makes its announcement
				prior to January 1st of the availability of grant funds, it shall also specify
				the date when applications are due in the Department office, the date that
				grants will be awarded, and the date the project completion report is due in
				the Department office.
K. In the
				case of experimental projects or projects where data must be collected, the
				Department encourages the Districts to seek professional assistance for review
				of the experimental design and methodology.
L. Challenge Grant Funds may be used to
				purchase Capital Equipment if:
1. the District
				adequately demonstrates the need for a capital equipment purchase;
2. the plans for disposal of any proceeds
				from the sale of the equipment are approved by the Department;
3. the cost of the equipment does not exceed
				25% of the total Challenge Grant funds request;
4. the District provides a satisfactory
				explanation of equipment maintenance procedures and responsibilities.