Sec. 07.01.20.06. Grant Application Procedure

A. An agency or local government wishing to become an administering agency shall apply to the Department by submitting an application and include in the application the procedures that the administering agency will use locally to:

(1) Notify emergency food providers of the availability of Program grants;

(2) Complete a site visit to each applicant who is new to the Maryland Emergency Food Program prior to approval of an application;

(3) Make a site visit to each approved food provider at least once a year to ensure that the food provider is using the allocation to purchase food for needy individuals and families;

(4) Approve emergency food providers as recipients of Program grants; and

(5) Allocate Program grants among approved emergency food providers.

B. The Department shall:

(1) Adopt a formula and qualifications for allocating Program funds to the jurisdictions based on funding availability and jurisdiction-wide statistics for the:

(a) Number of individuals and families living in poverty;

(b) Unemployment rate;

(c) Number of individuals and families receiving food stamps; and

(d) As available, number of individuals and families requesting food assistance;

(2) Notify each local jurisdiction through the administering agency of the availability of Program funds based upon §B(1) of this regulation; and

(3) Approve the application before an administering agency may receive a Program grant.