Sec. 34.04.01.06. General Grant Allocation Procedures

A. Application Solicitation.

(1) At least once during each fiscal year the Trust shall solicit applications for the award of grants under the Program.

(2) At least 90 days before an expected award of grants to grantees, the Trust shall issue a public announcement of the availability of funds under the Program as follows:

(a) The announcement shall consist of a description of the application process, total anticipated funding available, eligible grantees and activities, and the timetable for application submission, project selection, and grant award;

(b) The announcement may contain suggested recommendations on the types of projects to which the Trust intends to give special consideration for funding;

(c) The Trust shall endeavor to send direct mail announcements to preservation organizations statewide;

(d) The Trust shall issue a press release containing the public announcement.

(3) Applications shall be made upon standard forms prescribed by the Trust. Each application shall include sufficient information and documentation to:

(a) Evaluate the historical or cultural significance of the property;

(b) Determine the relationship of the project to the types of projects that the Trust has noted for special consideration under §A(2)(b) of this regulation;

(c) Determine the ownership and all lessees or substantial users of the property;

(d) Evaluate the current and proposed condition and use of the property;

(e) Evaluate the extent, if any, to which the proposed activity will change the type of use or increase the intensity of the existing use of the property;

(f) Evaluate the nature and cost of the proposed activity;

(g) Evaluate the readiness of the project to initiate activity and to be completed within an established time frame;

(h) Evaluate the administrative capability of the applicant and project sponsor;

(i) Determine the level of contribution by the appropriate local jurisdiction to support the project proposed to be financed; and

(j) Support other factors as determined necessary by the Trust.

(4) The Trust may require applicants for grants to pay an application fee to cover some portion of the cost of processing the grant.

(5) The Trust shall direct applicants to submit one or more letters of support for the proposed activity from the chief elected officials of the local jurisdiction within which the proposed activity will be located.

(6) The Trust may fund applications at levels lower than requested. Not all applicants may be funded.

B. Selection Criteria.

(1) The Trust shall review and evaluate grant applications in accordance with the following selection criteria:

(a) Relative historical or cultural significance of the resource to be treated;

(b) Urgency of the need for financial assistance for the project;

(c) If applicable, the project's degree of relationship to the types of projects that the Trust has noted for special consideration under §A(2)(b) of this regulation;

(d) Extent to which the project will contribute to the cumulative equitable Statewide geographic distribution of funds based on the concentration of historic properties;

(e) Inclusion of long term preservation measures that will protect the resource to be treated;

(f) Comprehensiveness of the scope of the project;

(g) Administrative capability of the applicant and project sponsor;

(h) Extent to which the project stimulates or promotes other historic preservation activities;

(i) Informational and educational value of the project;

(j) Demonstration and innovation value of the project;

(k) Extent to which there is any proposed contribution by the appropriate local jurisdiction to support the project proposed to be financed;

(l) Readiness of the project to initiate activity and to be completed within an established time frame; and

(m) Additional criteria which the Trust considers to be appropriate.

(2) The Trust may assign differing weights to the criteria set forth in §C(1) of this regulation and the weights may vary from time to time.