Grants to Maine Local Governments to Increase Housing Avai

Grants to Maine Local Governments to Increase Housing Availability

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program - Housing Assistance Grant (HA) Program

GrantWatch ID# 177764

Agency: State

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Funding Source

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)

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

Important Dates

LOI Date: 03/24/23
Deadline: 05/19/23 4:00 PM Receipt Save

Grant Description

Grants to Maine local government agencies for housing projects that benefit residents in eligible locations. Applicants must submit a letter of intent prior to submitting a full application. Funding is intended for a range of capital improvement projects to provide housing for residents with low and moderate incomes. 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.

Fundable activities in the HA program include but are not limited to rehabilitation of occupied or vacant multi-family housing units, same site replacement housing, relocation assistance, acquisition, alternative housing, conversion of non-residential structures, demolition, historic preservation, lead-based paint removal, new housing construction as allowed by HUD regulations, provision of potable water or sewer, and removal of architectural barriers. All activities must be directly related to assisting or creating LMI residential housing units.

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.

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Recipient

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.

Ineligible

Maine Indian Tribes are not themselves eligible applicants.

Public infrastructure is not an allowable expense.

Pre-Application Information

Timeline:
- Letter of Intent to Apply: Due at DECD on or before March 24, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
- All applications must be received electronically by 4:00 P.M., Friday, May 19, 2023.

Matching Funds Requirements: Communities applying for HA funds for housing activities must provide a cash match of at least 20 percent of the total HA grant award.

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

Communities may not submit a HA application if they have received or benefited from two HA awards within the five (5) year period prior to the CDBG program year for which applications are being accepted. A waiver may be granted by the Director of OCD for cause.

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

Estimated Size of Grant

Maximum HA Grant Amount: $500,000

Except for approved new construction, conversion, acquisition and/or relocation, all other HA projects are limited to a maximum of $40,000 per housing unit assisted. This total includes all combined project activities. This maximum can be waived by the Director of OCD for cause.

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
59 State House Station
111 Sewall Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0059
P: (207) 624-7484
TTY: 1-800-437-1220

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