The Downtown Revitalization Grant (DR) Program provides funds to communities to implement comprehensive, integrated, and innovative solutions to the problems facing their downtown districts. These community revitalization projects must be part of a strategy that targets downtown service and business districts and will lead to future public and private investment. Qualified applicant communities must have a downtown district meeting the definition in 30-A M.R.S.A. Section 4301(5-A).
-
Eligible activities - include all those eligible under the Public Facilities, Public Infrastructure, Housing Assistance or Micro Enterprise Assistance programs as relevant to the revitalization of a downtown district; and eligible planning activities necessary to complete the Project Development Phase.
-
Exclusions: See Section 1H (4) (5).
-
Match – All communities applying for DR Program funds must certify that they will provide a minimum cash match equivalent to 25 percent of the total grant award. This minimum 25% match must consist of private sector investments directly related to the project. Any additional project funding over the minimum 25% may come from any source public and/or private. All match must be fully committed at time of application.
-
Planning Requirements: Applicants must have completed a comprehensive downtown revitalization planning process within the past five years. Communities with plans older than five years must demonstrate that their plans are under active implementation, the action plan remains valid, or have been updated within the past 5 years. The proposed DR activities must be in the plan as recommended actions necessary for downtown revitalization.
-
Maximum DR Award: $300,000
-
Bonus Points for Applicants with Maine Downtown Center Designation: Applicants will receive three bonus points if they have been designated as a Main Street Maine Community by the Maine Downtown Center, or one bonus point if they have been designated as a Maine Downtown Network Community.
-
Demonstration of National Objective: Applicants must demonstrate that the project meets the National Objective of 1) benefiting 51% or greater low/moderate income persons or 2) preventing or eliminating slum or blighting conditions. Census information, a certified town-wide income survey, or an officially adopted declaration of slum/blight conditions conforming to the requirements of Title 30-A M.R.S.A 5202 and HUD must be submitted to OCD. These demonstrations must be made as part of the Letter of Intent and Verification of CDBG National Objective submitted to OCD.
Please see the current Program Statement for further program details.