Sec. 41.6. Evaluation criteria

The department shall evaluate the proposals submitted, based upon the applicant's demonstration of the following:

(a) the applicant's understanding of the needs of minority-group members, women and dislocated workers;

(b) the applicant's understanding of the existing resources and service gaps in the community and region;

(c) the applicant's experience with and commitment to serving minority-group members, women and dislocated workers;

(d) the level of financial assistance and other in-kind contributions provided by other entities, including the level, source and nature of matching funds;

(e) the applicant's experience in providing training in business development and small business management;

(f) the applicant's capacity to provide individual counseling to participants;

(g) the applicant's capacity to provide ongoing technical assistance for graduates;

(h) the applicant's working relationships and ability to coordinate services with existing sources of small and new business assistance in the community and region;

(i) the quality of the training program's design, including outreach and promotion;

(j) the feasibility of the applicant's plan for implementing the training program;

(k) the level of experience and professional qualifications of the training program and instructional staff; and

(l) such other criteria as the department shall deem relevant.