The Department shall award operating assistance grants to nonprofit organizations to further the production or rehabilitation of limited income housing by those organizations or by individuals they help. A nonprofit organization is eligible for a grant if it meets the performance and other standards that the Department sets and: makes an application that: describes the housing project; includes evidence of acceptable performance in the prior year, if the nonprofit organization received a grant in the prior year; and is acceptable to the Department; has helped individuals to apply for loans from the Department; or was responsible for originating applications, as certified by a political subdivision approved by the Department.