<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" citation="COMAR 34.04.09.06" title_num="34" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="09" heading="Grant Allocation Procedures.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Annual Application Solicitation and Submission.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Once during each fiscal year for which funds are available in the Grant Fund for the award of grants, the Trust and the Commission shall jointly:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Solicit applications for the award of grants under the Program by issuing a public announcement regarding the availability of grant funds under the Program that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Includes a description of the application process;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>States the total anticipated funding available;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Identifies criteria for eligible grantees and projects;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Provides a deadline date for submission of grant applications;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Provides an estimated timeline for project selection and grant award; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>As appropriate, includes suggested recommendations on the types of projects to which the Trust and the Commission intend to give special consideration for funding;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Send the public announcement by email to African American heritage preservation organizations and other related organizations Statewide;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Issue a press release that includes the public announcement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Post the public announcement on the Trust's website.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Grant applications shall be submitted to the Trust in form prescribed by the Trust and shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A description of the scope and purpose of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A project budget, in a form acceptable to the Trust, that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Details anticipated project costs and expenses;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Identifies all sources and uses of project funds; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Includes the estimated total cost of the overall project;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Sufficient information and documentation to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Evaluate the historical or cultural significance of the property;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Determine the relationship of the project to the types of projects that the Trust and the Commission may have noted for special consideration under §A(1)(a)(vi) of this regulation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Determine the ownership and all lessees or substantial users of the property;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Evaluate the current and proposed condition and use of the property;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Evaluate the extent, if any, to which the project will change the type of use or increase the intensity of the existing use of the property;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Evaluate the nature and cost of the project;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Evaluate the readiness of the applicant to commence the project and applicant's ability to complete the project within an established time frame;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Evaluate the applicant’s administrative and financial capacity and capability; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ix)">
          <text>Establish that the applicant has site control of the property as required by Regulation .05C(2) of this chapter;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Copies of applicant's organizational documents; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Such other information as determined necessary by the Trust and the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Selection Criteria.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Trust and the Commission shall review and evaluate grant applications in accordance with the following selection criteria:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Relative historical or cultural significance of the project to the African American experience in Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Public necessity for the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Urgency of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>If applicable, the degree to which the project relates to the types of projects that the Trust and the Commission have noted for special consideration under §A(1)(a)(vi) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Estimated cost and timeliness for executing the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Extent to which the project will contribute to the cumulative equitable Statewide geographic diversity and distribution of funds considering relative concentrations of historic properties;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Inclusion within the project scope of long-term preservation measures that will protect the property or resource that is the subject of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Comprehensiveness of the scope of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>The applicant's capacity to administer the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Extent to which the project might stimulate or promote other African American heritage preservation activities;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>Informational and educational value of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>Demonstration and innovation value of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(m)">
        <text>Need for additional sources of funding for the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(n)">
        <text>Applicant's readiness to commence the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(o)">
        <text>Applicant's ability, including financial ability and capacity, to complete the project within an established time frame; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(p)">
        <text>Any additional criteria which the Trust and the Commission consider to be appropriate.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Trust and the Commission may assign differing weights to the criteria set forth in §B(1) of this regulation and the weights may vary from time to time.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Emergency Grants.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Secretary may reserve during any fiscal year up to 20 percent of the funds available during that year in the Grant Fund to be used for emergency project grants for grantees and projects that qualify as eligible under Regulations .04 and .05 of this chapter but not otherwise applied for under the annual procedures established under §A of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A project may qualify for an emergency project grant if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An unpredictable or unforeseen situation has occurred which may necessitate an immediate need to undertake the project; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The project is one which provides a special opportunity to undertake a qualifying activity within a narrow time frame.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An application for an emergency project grant shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be submitted to the Trust in form and content as proscribed under §A(2) of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include a description of the nature of the emergency and an explanation as to why the applicant cannot wait until the next annual grant application deadline date to apply for the grant.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>