Sustainable Water Management Consolidation Planning Grant
sUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT CONSOLIDATION PLANNING GRANT
Eligibility Criteria
An activity may be assisted in whole or in part with CDBG funds if the activity is defined as eligible under Section 105(a) of the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. The Sustainable Water Management Consolidation Planning Grant Program provides funds to assist units of general local government in the consolidation of non-profit/municipal water systems to create sustainable, financially solvent, and stable potable water systems. Examples of eligible costs are engineering fees to develop a preliminary engineering report, legal and recordation fees, and administrative costs relating to the consolidation of potable water systems. No SWMC Planning Grant funds can be used to fund plans and specifications or construction.
Funding Criteria
Each activity funded must meet the following national objective of principal benefit (at least 51 percent) to low/moderate income persons. Any such planning activity for an area or a community composed of persons of whom at least 51 percent are low and moderate income shall be considered to meet this national objective (as defined in 24 CFR 570.483(b)(5)).
Each eligible applicant may apply for (and receive) one SWMC planning grant under the FY 2019 LCDBG Program. There is no threshold requirement for eligibility to participate in the SWMC Planning Grant program. However, any potential applicants that fail to meet deadlines set forth by the Office of Community Development at any point in the process are subject to disqualification in consideration of funding for a planning grant.
All eligible units of general local government may participate in the SWMC Planning Grant program. However, capacity and past performance may be taken in consideration. These considerations assist with the State's ability to promote the timeliness of grantee expenditures. No grant will be made to an applicant that lacks the capacity to undertake the proposed program. In addition, applicants which have previously participated in the LCDBG Program must have performed adequately.
Allocation
$400,000 has been set aside for the SWMC Planning Grant program with an individual grant ceiling of $40,000.
Application
Interested units of general local government should submit a letter of interest to OCD including the following:
- Name(s) of and contact information for water systems involved in proposed project
- Brief description of proposed project
- Explanation of how proposed project will meet national objective of principal benefit (at least 51%) to low/moderate income persons.
Potential applicants may be required to attend a pre-application meeting with the OCD.
The OCD will determine which applicants will be invited to move forward with the application process. OCD will provide technical assistance to invited applicants to ensure compliance with procurement and citizen participation requirements.