Code of Maine Rules › 99 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 626 - MAINE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY › Chapter 3 - RURAL MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL SITE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-Amendment 1 › Section 626-3-3A - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOREST ECONOMY COMMUNITY GRANT PROJECTS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The Authority will not provide direct technical assistance,
				  but may provide grants for Applicants with Eligible Technical Assistance or
				  Planning Grant Projects that are Eligible Forest Economy Community Grant
				  Projects. The Authority may, through a service provider, provide application
				  assistance and administrative support to potential Applicants and/or successful
				  Applicants for Eligible Forest Economy Community Grant Projects, as determined
				  and approved by the Trustees.
A.
Grant Application Process
. From time to time, the Authority may
				determine to make technical assistance or planning grants available for
				Eligible Technical Assistance or Planning Grant Projects that are Eligible
				Forest Economy Community Grant Projects. At such times, the Authority shall
				ensure that notice of the availability of such grants is given to all
				potentially eligible Applicants within the state, as identified in the
				Sub-Grant Program Agreement. The Authority shall also ensure such potential
				Applicants are provided with the timeline for acceptance of applications, what
				must be submitted for an application, and such other information that the
				Trustees determine is appropriate. The notice and information may be provided
				by the Authority or by a service provider to the Authority.
B.
Grant Application Contents
.
				An Applicant shall submit an application complying with the requirements of
				this rule on forms developed by, or otherwise acceptable to, the Authority,
				with supporting information as required by this rule and additional information
				as requested by the Authority or its service provider. The following minimum
				information shall be required in the application, or in additional materials
				submitted by the Applicant or otherwise collected by the Authority or its
				service provider:
a.
Executive
				Summary
: Summary description of the project, work product, and desired
				outcome. Describe previous local level of reliance on the closed facility
b.  Statement of the amount of
				grant funding being applied for and matching funds, if any, to be received from
				the Sub-Grant Program or other sources.
c.
Sources/Uses Chart
: A chart identifying each of the
				Sources of funds for the project; the sum total of these Sources; each of the
				Uses of funds for the project; the sum total of these Uses. Sources and Uses
				totals must match.
d.  Description
				of what State agencies and/or regional economic development
				organizations/resources and/or consultants would assist in providing technical
				assistance or the planning services.
e.
Project Narrative
i.
				 Provide data/background demonstrating severe economic decline and
				employment loss, event/facility closure date, including but not limited to
				municipal tax revenues, residents formerly directly employed, residents and
				supply chain businesses that provided services to the site operators or
				employees.
ii.  Describe lack of
				staff capacity and thus need to hire someone to provide technical
				assistance;
iii.  Discuss need for
				grant assistance, likelihood of success, economic impact;
iv.  Discuss work product and expected
				outcome (jobs, direct and indirect; tax revenues, private
				investment);
v.  Discuss: existing
				facilities (on site and other, e. g. rail, ports, etc. ), community support
				(letters), regional collaboration/consistency with regional plan, time frame
				for completion of redevelopment plan, regulatory restrictions on use;
f.
Collaboration /
				Committee Formation Plan
: Describe the nature and extent of community
				support for the project, as well as the plan for formation of Redevelopment
				Committee made up of local residents and owner of site to steer redevelopment
				plan. To the extent the committee is not in place at time of application,
				formation or identification of the committee will be required under the Grant
				Agreement required under Subsection (D) below, prior to grant funding, for
				successful grant applicants.
g.
Contract
: Provide copies of all relevant private sector and/or
				government contracts or sample contracts related to the redevelopment,
				remediation, and/or marketing plan. To the extent not available at time of
				application, such materials will be required under the Grant Agreement required
				under Subsection (D) below, prior to grant funding, for successful grant
				applicants.
h.
Budget
: Estimate of cost of the overall redevelopment project,
				qualified expenses (include future costs only), planning/technical staff,
				materials, travel, other resources including municipal and private funds, or
				other match, including in-kind match.