9B-69.007. Implementation Grants (Transferred)

Two categories of implementation grant funds are available: 1) fifty-fifty matching grants and 2) non-match grants for projects with expenditures of less than $50,000. Applicants may apply for one implementation grant per designated area.

(1) Eligible Uses of Implementation Funds. Implementation grant funds shall be restricted to implementing project activities directly related to the adopted plan for the following.

(a) Administrative expenses shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the total grant award for salaries and benefits for administration of the grant; travel; overhead; office rental space; postage; mailing; printing; reproduction of documents; and other expenses directly related to implementing projects in the plan.

(b) The remaining eighty-five percent (85%) may be used for the following activities:

1. Targeting economic development;

2. Job creation;

3. Transportation;

4. Crime prevention;

5. Neighborhood revitalization and preservation;

6. Construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing, including home ownership and rental units within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

7. Job training to promote job development skills, pre-employment skills or on-the-job-training opportunities;

8. Youth services and training to promote youth pre-employment skills;

9. Crime prevention activities to decrease, prevent, and eliminate criminal activities within and adjacent to the urban infill and redevelopment area;

10. Drug prevention activities to decrease, prevent, and eliminate drug trafficking or drug related activities within and adjacent to the urban infill and redevelopment area;

11. Senior services that promote and encourage activities for seniors;

12. Construction of parks or renovation of existing recreation/community facilities to promote community and recreational activities within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

13. Environmental cleanup activities such as community marketing of cleanup activities, and environmental cleanup clinics/ programs;

14. Educational programs, after school programs, youth activities and to create youth dropout prevention programs and youth sports programs;

15. Health care programs that educate or provide direct services to the community on issues such as family planning, teenage pregnancy, preventative healthcare, mental health, and other similar programs;

16. Childcare and adult care programs to provide opportunities for individuals to work during daytime or evening hours;

17. Economic development activities related to providing job opportunities, attracting new businesses, and retaining existing businesses that provide goods and services to the urban infill and redevelopment area;

18. Home buyer assistance programs, down payment and closing cost assistance programs, home buyer counseling programs, and pre- and post-purchase counseling;

19. Demolition of existing buildings within the urban infill and redevelopment area that minimize, to the maximum extent possible, the displacement of residents and businesses in the area;

20. Reconstruction, rehabilitation, or preservation of existing buildings;

21. Development of vacant parcels within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

22. Improvement of infrastructure/public facilities within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

23. Improvement of public transit lines and services within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

24. Assistance to the governance structure to form a non profit organization under Chapter 617, F.S. and section 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Code to implement urban infill projects within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

25. Acquisition of real property for projects within the urban infill and redevelopment area;

26. Development of resident driven programs or other incentives to keep residents actively involved in the implementation of projects outlined in the plan, including grants to neighborhood associations to fund beautification projects; or

27. Relocation assistance and other support for individuals and businesses displaced as a result of redevelopment in the area.

(2) Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds.

(a) Substitution of Urban Infill and Redevelopment Assistance Grant funds for any public or private funds already committed to the project.

(b) Payment of existing debt on existing projects unless related to the purchase of foreclosed property in order to revitalize the urban infill and redevelopment area.

(c) Down payment or collateral for projects unrelated to activities addressed in the plan.

(d) Reimbursement for expenses, including administrative expenses, that were incurred prior to the effective date of the contract.

(e) Reimbursement for project activities which occurred prior to the effective date of the contract.

(3) Threshold criteria. For implementation grants, the following documentation must be submitted to meet minimum threshold requirements:

(a) Written evidence of firm commitments of match dollars and other pledges of financial support that have been committed to the project;

(b) A copy of the urban infill and redevelopment plan that includes the budget for the grant money requested, and all elements required pursuant to subsections 163.2517(3)(a)-(n), F.S., and subsections 163.2517(2)(a)-(b)2., F.S.; and

(c) Documentation that the local government has adopted the urban infill and redevelopment plan by ordinance in which the public must have been informed of the date and time for public hearings as required in subsection 163.2517(5), F.S.

(d) The Urban Infill and Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program shall obtain from the Department, documentation reflecting its review and approval of the local government’s comprehensive plan amendment to delineate the boundaries of the urban infill and redevelopment area pursuant to subsection 163.2517(4), F.S.

(4) Applications which do not meet minimum threshold requirements will not be scored.

Specific Authority 163.2523 FS. Law Implemented 163.2511, 163.2514, 163.2517, 163.2520, 163.2523, 163.2526 FS. History–New 7-25-00.