GRANT PROGRAM UPDATE
Applications Tier 1 Tier 2 Future Calendar Add't'l Docs Contacts
The RMC adopted new Grant Program Guidelines (55-page, 279-kb PDF file) on September 24, 2007. These guidelines will be used to allocate state bond funds to projects within our territory over the next few years. Section 2 of the Guidelines describes the two-step grant application process and its Tier 1 and Tier 2 classifications. Information on Future Rounds of Grants, the Grant Program Calendar, Additional Documents and Contacts (Program Managers) can be found below.
Step 1 (Applications)
All project applicants were asked to submit a completed Step I Grant Application and provide all requested supporting information.
RMC staff made a preliminary review and placed grant applications into Tier 1 (Projects which are ready for immediate implementation and meet specified criteria) or Tier 2 (Projects which are not ready for immediate implementation and/or do not meet specified criteria). This preliminary classification was subsequently revised in Step 2.
Section 1.4 of the Guidelines states, "To facilitate the comparison and aggregation of similar projects and assure that funds are available
for a wide range of projects, these grant funds will be applied to three program areas that can be
described in geographic terms. ... Project Applicants will be asked to identify which program area their project falls into." The maps listed below show the locations of grant applications as well as previously funded projects within the geographic program areas. Each map is 11 in. x 17 in. Note: Disregard the preliminary classification of applications into Tier 1 and Tier 2. The maps will be revised to reflect the final classification.).
- Mountains Target Project Area Map 1.2 mb PDF file)
- Rivers Target Project Area Map (3.4 mb PDF file)
- Urban Target Project Area Map (267 mb PDF file)
Step 2,
Tier 1 (Projects which are ready for immediate implementation and meet specified criteria)
Staff evaluation of Tier 1 projects were completed, and recommendations were submitted to and approved by the RMC Board on September 22, 2008.
Section 2.2 of the Guidelines states that ".. .project applicants ... will be evaluated using the Green Visions tools and Project Evaluation Criteria to score individual project applications." Green Visions Tools are online GIS (Geographic Informations Systems) planning tools created in partnership with the University of Southern California to promote habitat conservation, watershed health and recreational open space. Project Evaluation Criteria are in Appendix B of the Guidelines.
The Tier 1 project recommendations are shown in the following three files. They are 2 to 4 page PDF files..
- Tier 1 Recommended for funding
- Tier 1 Deferred to the next round for funding
- Tier 1 Incomplete applications
Step 2,
Tier 2 (Projects which are not ready for immediate implementation and/or do not meet specified criteria)
Tier 2 project recommendations are available in two files, each sorted in a different manner. Both are 20-page, 256 kb PDF files.
The funding recommendations for Tier 2 applications will be presented to the RMC Board at its meeting on October 29, 2008.
The grant program calendar shown below indicates that Tier 2 project applicants may elect to defer in this cycle and submit their grant applications for the next round of funding in spring 2009.
Section 2.2 of the Grant Program Guidelines states: "To facilitate funding parity for all three geographic program areas..., as part of the
Step 2 process, RMC staff will use the Green Visions GIS planning tools to identify areas of special
concern or “Target Areas,” which have identified project needs but few project applicants, based
upon a review of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects To the extent that the analysis indicates a scarcity of projects within the target areas, RMC staff will
recommend that the RMC Board allocate staff resources to provide assistance to potential project
applicants to increase the number of projects that may be submitted in subsequent funding rounds."
Future Rounds of Grants
It is anticipated that there will be subsequent rounds
of grants, subject to availability of funding. These
subsequent grant rounds will provide opportunities
for applicants to submit either new application(s) or to resubmit the same
project application(s) with new information. The grant program calendar show below indicates that this will occur in 2009.
The following calendar shows the schedule of grant program events, completed as well as upcoming.
GRANT PROGRAM CALENDAR
|
|
Date
|
Event
|
September 4, 2007 |
Approval of Grant Program Guidelines |
October 4, 2007 |
Rlease Grant Program Guidelines |
October 22, 2007 |
Grant Program Workshop |
November 21, 2007 |
Step 1 Application Due |
January 11, 2008 |
Completed staff review of Step 1 Applications |
January 18, 2008 |
Notice of Tier Status |
January 28, 2008 |
Board Review of Preliminary Ranking Recommendations & Identification of Target Areas |
June 23, 2007 |
First Possible Grant AwardRecommendation for Board Consederation - tier 1 Projects |
Ongoing - 4th Monday of each month |
Consideration of Funding Recommendations |
April 16, 2008 |
Application Workshop in Compton |
April 22, 2008 |
Application Workshop in El Monte |
May 1, 2008 |
Designation Form must be received in our offices by 5pm, either via mail or hand delivery.Postmark is not sufficient. This form applies to projects approved for Step 2 on March 28, 2008 ONLY. |
May 23, 2008 |
Step 2,Tier 1 projects approved on January 28, 2008: Application & Tier 1 Documentation (if applicable) must be received in our offices by 5pm, either via mail or hand delivery. Postmark is not sufficient. |
June 6, 2008 |
Step 2, Tier 2 projects approved for Step 2 on March 25, 2008: Application & Tier 1 Documentation (if applicable) must be received in our offices by 5pm, either via mail or hand delivery. Postmark is not sufficient. |
July/August, 2008 |
Tier 1 Site Visits |
September 2008 |
Tier 1 Funding Recommendations |
October 2008 |
Tier 2 Funding Recommendations |
January 2009 |
New Grant Cycle – Call for Projects/Updates |
Spring 2009 |
Applications Due |
Fall 2009 |
Funding Recommendations |
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
The following documents may be downloaded if needed.
- Sample Resolution (2-page Microsoft Word file)
- Sample Grant Agreement: (36-page Microsoft Word file) This is a sample only. The actual Grant Agreement will incorporate changes to comply with the requirements of Proposition 84.
- Sample Budget (Microsoft Excel file)
- Sample Timeline (Microsoft Excelfile)
- Mark Stanley, Executive Officer
Phone: (626) 815-1019, Extension 100
Email: mstanley@rmc.ca.gov