Notice_of_Availability_of_State_and_Federal_Funds Notice of Availability of State and Federal Funds

1/27/10 N.Y. St. Reg. Notice of Availability of State and Federal Funds

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 4

January 27, 2010

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS

 

OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY

1220 Washington Avenue State Office Building Campus, Bldg. 7A Albany, NY 12242

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AT HIGH RISK OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ATTACK

Fiscal Year 2010 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program

Fiscal Year 2010 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides funding support for target hardening activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack.

Applications will be accepted from January 4th, 2010 through March 16th, 2010 through the Office of Homeland Security's electronic grants management system (E-Grants) for programs to support nonprofit organizations (as described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code) that are at high risk of international terrorist attack and are located within one of New York's five UASI-eligible urban areas: 1) New York (includes the Cities of New York and Yonkers and the Counties of Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk); 2) Buffalo (includes the City of Buffalo and the Counties of Erie and Niagara); 3) Albany (includes the Cities of Albany, Troy and Schenectady and the Counties of Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady); 4) Rochester (includes the City of Rochester and Monroe County); and 5) Syracuse (includes the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County). The program seeks to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, State and local government agencies, and Citizen Corps Councils.

For an application and instructions, contact: Office of Homeland Security, Attn: Steve Tierney, 1220 Washington Ave., State Office Campus, Bldg. 7A, Albany, NY 12242, e-mail: [e-mail], 1-866-837-9133

HOUSING TRUST FUND CORPORATION

Office of Community Renewal Hampton Plaza 38-40 State Street Albany, NY 12207

NON-ENTITLEMENT UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

2010 NYS Community Development Block Grant, Annual Competitive Round Program, Open Round Economic Development Program and New York Main Street Program

The New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Office of Community Renewal announces the availability of approximately $40 million in NYS Community Development Block Grant funding for the 2010 Annual Competitive Round, the Open Round Economic Development Programs and approximately $5 million in New York Main Street funding for the 2010 Round.

NYS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The New York State Community Development Block Grant Program (NYS CDBG) is a federally funded program authorized by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 administered by the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Office of Community Renewal (OCR). The NYS CDBG Program provides funding to eligible communities for the development of projects providing decent and hazard-free affordable housing, access to safe drinking water, proper disposal of household wastewater, access to community-needed services in local facilities, foster economic opportunities through the support of projects that create and/or retain permanent employment opportunities principally benefiting low- and moderate-income persons. Activities funded under the NYS CDBG Program must benefit low- and moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight or meet community development needs having a particular urgency; 70% of NYS CDBG funds must benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are non-entitlement units of general local government (villages, towns, cities or counties), excluding metropolitan cities, urban counties and Indian Tribes that are designated Entitlement communities. Non-entitlement areas are defined as cities, towns and villages with populations of less than 50,000, except those designated principal cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and counties with populations of less than 200,000.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Annual Competitive Round Program

2010 Annual Competitive Round funds are available for the funding of community development projects in the categories of: Housing (rehabilitation including mobile and manufactured home replacement*; home ownership; residential water and wastewater systems); Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure. A community may propose a project that addresses a particular area of need or may propose a project that undertakes a strategy that addresses community development needs within a particular area.

*The NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Manufactured Home Replacement Initiative targets $5 million in HOME funds and HOME and CDBG projects will give preference to projects that replace mobile homes (pre-June 1976) and manufactured homes (post-June 1976) in dilapidated condition with new HUD certified, ENERGY STAR Qualified manufactured homes. Applicants seeking funding for projects that meet the requirements of the Manufactured Home Replacement Initiative will be given preference, which will be based upon the proportion of the award that is allocated to the replacement of dilapidated mobile and manufacture homes with new manufactured homes. The 2010 NYS HOME Program Request for Proposals and the 2010 NYS CDBG Annual Competitive Round Application provides the preference criteria for replacement of mobile and manufactured home projects.

Open Round Economic Development Program

2010 Open Round Economic Development funds are available for economic development, microenterprise and small business activities. Each activity must involve the creation or retention of permanent, job opportunities that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons, through the expansion and retention of business and industry in New York State. Funds provided to a microenterprise where the owner(s) qualifies as a low- and moderate-income person meets this requirement.

OCR provides funding for economic development activities for the following purposes:

1. To provide financial assistance to businesses for an identified CDBG eligible activity which will result in the creation or retention of permanent job opportunities principally benefitting low- and moderate-income persons; or

2. To construct publicly owned infrastructure improvements, which are necessary to accommodate the creation, expansion or retention of a business which will result in the creation or retention of permanent job opportunities principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

Eligible uses of NYS CDBG Economic Development funds include, but not limited to: acquisition of real property; financing of machinery, furniture, fixtures and equipment; building construction and renovation; working capital; inventory; and employee training expenses. Use of CDBG funds toward construction and renovation costs are subject to Davis Bacon Wage Rate requirements.

Eligible applicants must apply to the OCR on behalf of the business seeking NYS CDBG funds. The OCR makes awards directly to the applicant community and does not make direct loans or grants to businesses.

FUNDING LIMITS AND REQUIREMENTS

Annual Competitive Round Awards

Towns, Cities and Villages:

Housing/Public Facilities	$400,000
Public Infrastructure (water/sewer only)	$600,000

Counties:

Housing/Public Facilities/Public Infrastructure

$750,000

Joint Applicants:

Public Infrastructure (water/sewer only)

$900,000

Open Round Economic Development Awards

Economic Development program

a. Maximum award amount of $750,000 (minimum $100,000).

b. NYS CDBG can fund up to 40% of a total project cost, not to exceed maximum award amount.

c. Projects must result in the creation or retention of at least one permanent, full-time equivalent (FTE) job for every $15,000 of NYS CDBG funds awarded.

d. NYS CDBG funds should be used as gap funding to induce project completion.

Small Business Assistance program

a. Award amounts of $25,000 to $100,000 for assistance to individual business.

b. Projects must result in the creation or retention of at least one FTE job per $25,000 of CDBG funds provided.

c. NYS CDBG can fund up to 40% of a total project cost.

d. Minimum of 20% owner equity contribution to the project is required. To induce sustainable green projects the equity contribution may be lowered to a minimum of 10% if the activity is certified by the community and OCR as a NYS CDBG Green project.

Microenterprise program

a. Maximum total allocation amount to applicant community: $200,000.

b. Individual grant amount to business: $5,000 to $35,000.

c. NYS CDBG can fund up to 90% of a total project cost.

d. Minimum of 10% owner equity contribution to the project is required.

e. Certified completion of an approved entrepreneurial assistance or small business training program is required. Cost of training for LMI entrepreneurs is an eligible CDBG expense.

The OCR may consider applications for projects exceeding the maximum FTE job created/retained or the funding limit where it is found that a project or projects may have a significant and transformational impact beyond the immediate public benefit or for projects with the potential for a regional or statewide economic impact.

APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

Annual Competitive Round Program

The 2010 Annual Competitive Round Application will be available on the Office of Community Renewal’s web site, www.nysdhcr.gov/AboutUs/Offices/CommunityRenewal on January 27, 2010. Applications are due no later than April 23, 2010. Applications are to be mailed or hand-delivered to: Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State Street, Albany, NY 12207. If mailed, applications must be postmarked no later than April 23, 2010. If hand-delivered, applications must be delivered by April 23, 2010 no later than 4:00 p.m.

The above-stated application deadline is firm as to date and hour. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, OCR will consider applications not received by 4:00 p.m. on, or postmarked by April 23, 2010 ineligible. Applicants should make early submission of their materials to avoid any risk of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems.

Open Round Economic Development Program

Interested applicants must consult the OCR and complete a pre-submission form to determine if an economic development project, meets CDBG and OCR program requirements. Based upon the results of the initial inquiry, the applicant may be invited to submit an application for funding for the 2010 Program Year. Applicants may submit initial inquiries any time after January 27, 2010, when the initial inquiry form will be posted to the NYS OCR website, www.nysdhcr.gov/AboutUs/Offices/CommunityRenewal.

NEW YORK MAIN STREET PROGRAM

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The New York Main Street Program (NYMS) provides funding to assist New York State communities with their main street/downtown revitalization efforts. NYMS will provide grants to stimulate reinvestment in mixed-use (commercial/civic and residential) “main street” buildings or districts in order to address issues of code compliance, energy conservation, accessibility, and to provide affordable housing and job opportunities.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include cities, towns, villages, and counties throughout New York State and non-profit organizations that are incorporated under the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. To be eligible for award, non-profit organizations must have been in existence for at least one year prior to contract execution.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Applications will be accepted for programs that propose funding for one or more of the following activities:

Building Renovation

Applicants may provide participating owners with matching renovation grants of up to $50,000 per building for first and/or second floor civic/commercial use, plus an additional $25,000 for each residential unit, not to exceed 75% of total project cost or $150,000 per building, whichever is less. Building renovation projects include facade renovations and interior work.

Downtown Anchors

Applicants may provide grants of up to $250,000 per building, but not exceeding 40% of total project cost, to building owners to help establish or expand cultural or business anchors that are key to local revitalization efforts. Anchor grant projects may include residential units on the upper floors.

Streetscape Enhancement

As an ancillary activity, Applicants may provide grants of up to $60,000 for programs to plant trees and other landscaping, install street furniture and trash cans, provide appropriate signs in accordance with a local signage plan, and to perform other appurtenant activities, that are to be provided to communities to enhance the NYMS target area. Streetscape Enhancement only applications are not eligible and will not be accepted.

FUNDING LIMITS

The maximum award amount is $500,000 and the minimum award amount is $50,000.

APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

Applications will be available electronically on the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal’s (DHCR) website, www.nysdhcr.gov on January 27, 2010. Applications should be submitted over the internet using the Community Development Online Application System, (CDOL). Applications are due no later than 4:00 PM on April 23, 2010. Applications received after the stated deadline will be considered late submissions and will be returned to the applicant.

Additional information and questions regarding the 2010 Annual Competitive Round, the Open Round Economic Development, or the New York Main Street program should be directed to OCR program staff at the earliest opportunity at 518-474-2057.