<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 05.20.05.04" title_num="05" subtitle_num="20" chapter_num="05" heading="Applications.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Applications for grants shall be accepted in one or more competitive rounds to be announced by the Department annually or as otherwise set forth in the Program guidelines.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An application submitted to the Department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Be on standard forms prescribed by the Department;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Be submitted by an eligible applicant;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Identify the sustainable communities within its jurisdiction or service area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>State the amount of grant requested;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Provide a comprehensive description of the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Application process for qualified businesses seeking to participate in the Program;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Criteria for rating qualified businesses that apply for grants; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Criteria for awarding grants to qualified businesses;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Provide a budget, in a form acceptable to the Department, that at a minimum shows anticipated project costs and expenses and anticipated sources of project revenue;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Propose benchmarks for evaluating whether the proposed project results in a desired outcome such as community stabilization or reversing the social, economic, and physical decline of the sustainable community in which the project is located;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Describe any public input the applicant has received on the proposed project, including the nature and extent of the public support for or in opposition to the proposed project;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Demonstrate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>That, upon completion, the local projects will be in compliance with all applicable zoning requirements and standards as well as the applicable building code of the local jurisdiction in which the local project is located; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The ability of the qualified business to gain site control of the local project through ownership, leasehold interest, contract, option, or other written agreement satisfactory to the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Demonstrate that the project can be completed within the time period of the grant agreement, as determined by the Department;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Describe whether historic properties or districts will be impacted and how the qualified businesses will comply with the requirements of State Finance and Procurement Article, §§5A-325—5A-326, and Financial Institutions Article, §13-1112(b), Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Include other information or documentation the Department may require.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>An application for a grant may be submitted to fund one or more projects.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>An applicant may file one or more applications in accordance with schedules established by the Department.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>