Sec. 05.11.01.06. Grant Allocation and Criteria

A. Allocations.

(1) The amount of funds available in the fiscal year for operating assistance grants for each of the housing programs and for technical assistance grants shall be determined as of July 1 of each fiscal year.

(2) Initial determinations may be adjusted if appropriated funds available for the housing programs are increased or decreased after July 1 in any fiscal year.

(3) The Department shall determine annually the proportions of available funds to be allocated to production grants, capacity building grants, and technical assistance grants. Within a State fiscal year any available funds which are not used for the type of grant for which the funds were allocated initially may be used for the other type of grant or for loans.

(4) The Department shall notify nonprofit organizations and local governments, and in the case of technical assistance grants, the Department shall also notify local development corporations and local development agencies, of allocations, fund availability, and application cycles.

(5) Best efforts shall be made to award grants to facilitate the full use of program funds in accordance with initial allocations of funds.

B. Production Grants.

(1) Production grants shall be evaluated in one or more funding rounds in each fiscal year, at the discretion of the Department, taking into consideration the following factors:

(a) Geographic area served by the nonprofit organization;

(b) The number of eligible housing units produced by the nonprofit organization;

(c) The number of individuals the nonprofit organization assisted in obtaining loans through the special loans program;

(d) The number of homeowners or landlords assisted by the nonprofit organization with lead paint testing or assessment services in connection with the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant and Loan Program; and

(e) Other factors considered relevant by the Department.

(2) Preference shall be given to community-based organizations in evaluating production grants.

C. Capacity Building Grants. Capacity building grants shall be evaluated on a competitive basis in one or more rounds of competition, at the discretion of the Department, taking into consideration the following factors:

(1) The number of housing units anticipated to be developed consistent with realistic organizational goals;

(2) Expected growth and expansion of the nonprofit organization in the area of housing development;

(3) The extent to which the proposed organizational and staffing plan supports potential growth in capacity to meet housing production goals;

(4) Geographic area served by the nonprofit organization;

(5) Performance of an existing nonprofit organization in carrying out nonhousing activities; and

(6) Other factors considered relevant by the Department.

D. Technical Assistance Grants. Applications for technical assistance grants shall be evaluated on an ongoing basis, as applications are received in each fiscal year, taking into consideration the following factors:

(1) The need of the individuals or communities assisted by the applicant for community development projects or programs;

(2) The geographic area served by the applicant;

(3) The performance of the applicant in carrying out existing activities;

(4) The ability of the applicant to use the technical assistance grant to improve the ability of the applicant or those assisted by the applicant to provide or promote community development activities;

(5) Whether the proposed project has measurable outcomes; and

(6) Other factors considered relevant by the Department.