Sec. 05.20.04.04. Applications

A. Applications for grants shall be accepted in one or more competitive rounds to be announced by the Department annually or as otherwise set forth in the Program guidelines.

B. An application submitted to the Department shall:

(1) Be on standard forms prescribed by the Department;

(2) Be submitted by a community development organization or government agency;

(3) Be for a project that:

(a) Is located within a designated sustainable community; and

(b) Is for an eligible purpose;

(4) State the amount of grant requested;

(5) Provide a comprehensive description of the applicant and project including:

(a) The neighborhood revitalization plan that includes projects located in sustainable communities;

(b) A description of the community conditions and how the project or applicant will address those conditions;

(c) The ability of the project to address identified challenges within the community;

(d) A projected timeline for implementation of the project;

(e) The ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project in accordance with the projected timeline;

(f) Other public and private resources available for implementing the project; and

(g) The social and economic opportunities created by the project;

(6) Provide a budget, in a form acceptable to the Department, that at a minimum shows anticipated project costs and expenses and anticipated sources of project revenue;

(7) Propose benchmarks for evaluating whether the proposed project results in a desired outcome such as community stabilization or reversing the social, economic, and physical decline of the sustainable community in which the project is located;

(8) Describe any public input the applicant has received on the proposed project, including the nature and extent of the public support for or in opposition to the proposed project;

(9) If the project involves the applicant undertaking demolition, development, or rehabilitation, demonstrate:

(a) That, upon completion, the project will be in compliance with all applicable zoning requirements and standards as well as the applicable building code of the local jurisdiction in which the project is located; and

(b) The ability to gain site control of the project through ownership, leasehold interest, contract, option, or other written agreement satisfactory to the Department;

(10) Demonstrate that the project can be completed within the time period of the grant agreement, as determined by the Department;

(11) Contain the organizational documents of any applicant that is a community development organization;

(12) Describe whether historic properties or districts will be impacted and how the applicant will comply with the requirements of State Finance and Procurement Article, §§5A-325-5A-326, Annotated Code of Maryland, and Financial Institutions Article, §13-1112(b), Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(13) Include other information or documentation the Department may require.

C. An application for a grant may be submitted to fund one or more projects.

D. An applicant may file one or more applications in accordance with schedules established by the Department.