Grants to Maine Local Agencies for Neighborhood Improvements in Eligible Areas

Hire a Grant Writer

Share this Grant

Intent to Apply Date

01/27/23

Save

Application Deadline

03/10/23 4:00 PM Receipt

Save

See more info

Geographic Focus

USA: Maine: Statewide, excluding Auburn, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland and all of Cumberland County (with the exception of Brunswick, Casco and Frye Island)

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program - Downtown Revitalization (DR) Program

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)

Agency: State

GrantWatch ID #177763

Grant Description

Grants to Maine local and county government agencies for neighborhood improvement projects that primarily benefit low and moderate-income residents in eligible locations. Applicants must submit a letter of intent prior to applying. Funding is intended to assist communities in implementing innovative, integrated, and comprehensive solutions to problems facing their downtown districts. All units of general local government in Maine, including plantations, except for the entitlement communities of Auburn, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland and all of Cumberland County with the exception of Brunswick, Casco, and Frye Island are eligible to apply.

These community revitalization projects must be part of a strategy that targets downtown service and business districts and will lead to future public and private investment. Qualified applicant communities must have a downtown district meeting the definition of PL 776 enacted by the 119th legislature.

All CDBG funded activities must meet one of three National Objectives of the program.

These objectives are:

Benefit to low and moderate income persons;
Prevention and elimination of slum and blight conditions; and
Meeting community development needs having a particular urgency.

Eligible activities in the DR Program include all activities eligible under the Public Facilities, Public Infrastructure, Micro-Enterprise, and Housing Assistance carried out in a downtown area. For details on eligible activities, see: https://www.maine.gov/decd/sites/maine.gov.decd/files/inline-files/2023%20DR%20App.pdf#page=8

Need help writing this grant?

Hire a Grant Writer

Eligibility:

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

All units of general local government in Maine, including plantations, except for the entitlement communities of Auburn, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland and all of Cumberland County with the exception of Brunswick, Casco and Frye Island are eligible to apply for and receive State CDBG program funds. County governments may apply on behalf of the Unorganized Territory. Groups of local governments may apply for multi-jurisdictional or joint projects. Multi-jurisdictional applications require designation of one local government as the lead applicant and consent for that designation by each participating local government. Counties may apply for the Economic Development or Public Service programs on behalf of a collaboration of communities. Eligible applicants, including counties as defined above may apply for CDBG assistance on behalf of the five Maine Indian Tribes.

Qualified applicant communities must have a downtown district meeting the definition of 30-A M.R.S.A. Section 4301(5- A), and proposed activities must be consistent with PL 776 enacted by the 119th legislature. Multijurisdictional applications from two or more communities must designate a lead community.

Planning Requirements: Applicants must have completed a comprehensive downtown revitalization planning process within the past five years. Communities with plans older than five years must demonstrate that their plans are under active implementation, the action plan remains valid, or have been updated within the past 5 years. The proposed DR activities must be in the plan as recommended actions necessary for downtown revitalization.

Ineligible:

Maine Indian Tribes are not themselves eligible applicants.

Pre-Application Information:

Letters of Intent are due at DECD on or before February 24, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

All applications must be received electronically by 4:00 P.M., Friday, March 10, 2023.

Units of local government may not apply for more than one DR program per grant year.

Communities may not submit a DR application if they have received or benefited from two (2) DR awards within the five (5) year period prior to the CDBG program year for which applications are being accepted.

Communities applying for DR funds must demonstrate they will provide a direct cash match of at least 25% of the total CDBG grant award. This minimum 25% match must consist of private sector investments directly related to the project. Any additional project funding over the minimum 25% may come from any source public and/or private.

Applicants for DR funding are limited to those communities receiving prior written OCD approval of their Letter of Intent to Apply. Applicants submitting a DR application without OCD approval of their Letter of Intent will not be scored.

Each applicant is required to hold a duly authorized public hearing during the Application process with a minimum of 10 days prior notice. The hearing must be advertised in local newspapers and posted according to local requirements.

Eligibility: https://www.maine.gov/decd/community-development/cdbg-program/eligibility

Additional Funding Information:

Estimated Size of Grant:

Maximum DR Award: $300,000

Term of Contract:

Funds will not be available until after July 1, 2023.

Applicants have six months to complete the project development phase process or notice of award may be rescinded.

Contact Information:

Submit Letters of Intent to ocd.loi@maine.gov

Applications must be submitted to ocd.application@maine.gov

Office of Community Development
Department of Economic and Community Development
111 Sewall Street, 3rd Floor
59 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0059
P: (207) 624-7484