Code of Maine Rules › 19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › 498 - OFFICE OF TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › Chapter 9 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM: 1994 FINAL STATEMENT › Section 498-9-2 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
The purpose of a Housing Assistance (HA) Grant is to provide
				  financing to address acute housing needs of low and moderate income persons
				  residing in the State of Maine. These needs must be part of a community
				  development strategy which will lead to future public and private
				  investments.
1. Threshold Criteria:
				The State will distribute Housing Assistance funds to local governments through
				the annual Housing Assistance Selection Process. The threshold criteria for the
				process are listed below:
(a) Eligible
				Applicants: All units of general local government in Maine, including
				plantations, are eligible to apply for and receive Housing Assistance funds.
				County governments may apply on behalf of unorganized territories. Groups of
				local governments may apply for regional or joint housing activities.
				multi-jurisdictional applications require designation of one local government
				as the lead applicant and consent for that designation by each participating
				local government.
(b) Ineligible
				Applicants: Entitlement communities of Portland, Bangor, Lewiston and Auburn,
				are not eligible to receive HA funds. Except as described in 1 (a) above,
				County governments are not eligible applicants.
(c) Eligible Activities: Eligible activities
				include Acquisition, Code Enforcement, Conversion of Non-Residential
				structures, Demolition, Historic Preservation, Housing Rehabilitation, New
				Housing Construction, Relocation Assistance, and Removal of Architectural
				Barriers.
(d) Project Eligibility:
				Upon receipt by OCD, applications will be reviewed to determine the eligibility
				of the activities that the applicant proposes to undertake with Housing
				Assistance funds. Those activities must be included in Section 3.(c) above and
				be eligible under 24 CFR, Part 570, Subpart I, .482. Applications will only be
				accepted for activities directly related to the assistance to, or the creation
				of residential housing units. In the event that an application contains any
				Final activity unrelated to housing, or an activity riot listed in Section 1(c)
				above, the entire application will be judged not to have met the project
				eligibility criteria. In all cases the applicant will be notified in writing of
				the determination made by OCD.
(e)
				Federal and State Certifications for Local Governments: All communities
				applying for Housing Assistance funds must certify that they have/will:
(i) minimize displacement and adhere to a
				locally adopted displacement policy as set forth in Section 104(d) of the
				Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended;
(ii) take action to affirmatively further
				fair housing and comply with the provisions of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964
				and 1968;
(iii) adhere to MRSA
				Title 10, Chapter 214, energy Efficiency, Building Performance Standards Act,
				Section 1415- c(1), (IA) and Section 1415-G in the construction of any new
				residential housing units;
(iv) not
				attempt to recover certain capital costs of public improvements funded in part
				with Housing Assistance monies;
(v)
				establish a community development plan;
(vi) meet all required State and Federal
				public participation requirements;
(vii) comply with the Federal requirements of
				Section 319 of Public law 101-122 regarding government-wide restriction on
				lobbying;
(viii) with the exception
				of administrative or personnel costs, verify that no person who is an employee,
				agent, consultant, officer, or elected official or appointed official of State
				or local government or of any designated public agencies, or subrecipients
				which are receiving CDBG funding may obtain a financial interest or benefit,
				have an interest in or benefit from the activity, or have an interest in any
				contract, subcontract or agreement with respect to CDBG activities;
(ix) provide a local match equivalent to 10
				percent of the total grant award; and
(x) reviewed the project proposed in the
				application to be sure that it complies with. the community's comprehensive,
				plan and/or applicable state and local land use requirements.
(f) Prohibition on Multiple
				Grants: Units of local government and unorganized territories may not benefit
				from more than one Housing Assistance Grant per grant year.
(g) Prohibition on Subsequent Year Award:
				Units of general local government and unorganized territories that received a
				1993 single year Housing Assistance award may not apply for a 1994 Housing
				Assistance grant. Units of general local government that received a 1993 two
				year award may not apply again for a Housing Assistance grant until the 1996
				program. Prohibitions against subsequent year awards is program
				specific.