Interstate Corridor
Community Livability Grant Program
FY 2008-2009 Funding

Application form (Word)
Application Form (PDF)
Budget form (Excel)
Budget form (5.0/95 Excel)
(No electronic submissions
will be accepted)
Map of ICURA boundaries
Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area Plan (2000)
Community Livability Implementation Strategy (2002)

PDC announces funds for FY 2008-2009

Fill-in formats of the application and budget are now available. Please follow the directions at the application link. Minor corrections have been made to the application form as of 3/20/08.

Note: Electronic submissions of the application are not accepted.

Applicant Information

The Portland Development Commission (“PDC”) administers tax increment funds for the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area (“ICURA”). The ICURA was created in 2000 and covers over 3,700 acres and parts of ten neighborhoods in North and Northeast Portland. One of the goals for the ICURA is to protect the livability of the community for existing and future residents. The Community Livability Grant Program (the “Grant Program”) is a tool to implement the Community Livability goals developed for the ICURA.

Through the PDC Community Livability Grant Program, grants for capital improvements are made available for community facilities or historic/cultural preservation projects in the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area (ICURA). The Community Livability Program invests in the facilities and other assets of the area that can increase the livability for residents and that keep this area of Portland unique. For the purpose of implementing the ICURA Community Livability Grant Program, a community facility is defined as a structure or area with a primary use that: promotes the arts, supports multi-cultural and/or intergenerational activities, provides child-care, a community meeting space, or which otherwise can meet the needs of the broader ICURA community.

The ICURA Community Livability Evaluation Committee (the “Evaluation Committee”) consists of members of the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (“ICURAC”), representatives of the ICURA neighborhoods and PDC staff. The Evaluation Committee will make recommendations to PDC. PDC will make the final decision on funding allocations, consistent with URA plan and the plan’s implementation strategies.

Application Deadline, Submittal Specifications

Applications for the FY 2008-2009 Grant Program must be received by no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2008.

Application is available for download as a PDF.

Applications can be hand-written, but must be legible. If typed, font should be at least 11-point type.

The narrative portion of the proposal must be limited to five (5) pages (not including the letters of support, map and/or pictures, budget, and schedule). Include a current property lease agreement if sponsor does not own the property.

Submit one original application, a brief cover letter, and an additional ten (10) double-sided copies of the application and cover letter.

Completed application packets should be hand-delivered or sent to Portland Development Commission c/o Susan Kuhn, 222 NW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 by 5:00 p.m. on Monday April 28, 2008.

No electronic submissions will be accepted.

Funds Available and Grant Amounts

Up to $300,000 will be available for projects in FY 2008-2009. Small and large capital improvement requests will be considered. The intent in selecting projects is to award those that best meet the evaluation criteria.

Please note that projects may be funded in-part, in-full, or not at all.

Applicant Drop-In Sessions

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one or more of the drop-in sessions to get answers to questions regarding project eligibility, the application, committee evaluation and the selection process. The Project Manager and a member of the Evaluation Committee will be available at the following times:

March 18, 2008: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Lorenzen Conference Center, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, OR 97227 (enter through hospital main entrance or from N. Graham Street)

March 18, 2008: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Lorenzen Conference Center, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, OR 97227 (enter through hospital main entrance or from N. Graham Street)

Questions may also be directed to the Project Manager by phone, e-mail or as available by appointment:
Susan Kuhn, PDC
503-823-3406
kuhns@pdc.us

Threshold Requirements

It is important to note that there are both policy and legal limitations on how urban renewal dollars can be allocated. The proposed project must meet the following threshold requirements to be considered for funding through the Grant Program.

The proposed project must be located within the ICURA boundary. View a map of the ICURA boundaries (in PDF format), or call Susan Kuhn at (503) 823-3406.

The proposed project must be a community facility, or a structure or feature of historic or cultural significance. Note: Parks/open space, housing, and transportation projects are not eligible for funding through the Grant Program.

Funding for the Grant Program is through tax increment financing (TIF) and, therefore, is tied to the physical improvements (including tenant improvements) of real estate projects within the URA. Funds shall not be used for ongoing administration, maintenance costs, or working capital.

The application must be sponsored by a neighborhood association, business association, or public or non-profit tax exempt entity (the Federal Tax Exempt ID number must be provided.)

Property that is not owned by Project Sponsor must have a current lease agreement with the property owner with a minimum remaining term of two years, but a preferred remaining term of at least five (5) years; if a lease agreement is not applicable, a letter from the owner acknowledging support for the project is required

The Grant Program application package must be complete. Incomplete applications or applications that do not comply with application specifications will be rejected.

It is expected that the community benefit that is the purpose of awarding grant funds will be on-going. PDC may require the grant to be repaid if the community benefit intended is terminated within two (2) years of project completion.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposed projects that meet the threshold requirements will be evaluated on their strength in achieving the goals and principles of the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area Plan (2000) and of the Community Livability Implementation Strategy (2002). Priority will be given to proposed projects that best meet one or more of the evaluation criteria below. (The order of the list does not imply ranking or weighting).

Maintain, enhance and/or increase useable space of an existing community facility; or new construction of a community facility. Preference will be given to construction projects over pre-development and project planning requests.

Preservation of a structure or feature of historic or cultural significance or that otherwise recognizes and honors the diverse cultural and social heritage of the ICURA.

Meet identified need(s) in the community, particularly improving community livability and emphasizing the needs of the elderly, youth, people of low income and/or people with disabilities.

Benefit the broader ICURA community and demonstrate accessibility to the general public.

Complement investments in housing, economic development, parks/open space or transportation that are supportive of the goals of the ICURA.

Demonstrate public support.

Leverage other resources – public or private cash, in-kind donations or volunteers. Match is not a requirement, but is encouraged.

Demonstrate financial need for PDC funds.

Project budget is realistic, complete and feasible.

Project can be completed within one year of executing the Letter Agreement with PDC.

Selection Process

Selection of proposed projects to receive funding will be based on rating of applications against evaluation criteria. The Evaluation Committee will make recommendations of funding amounts for selected projects.

The Evaluation Committee will review all complete applications that meet threshold requirements. Applications that are incomplete or that do not meet the threshold requirements will be rejected by PDC staff.

The Evaluation Committee will rate remaining applications against the evaluation criteria.

The Evaluation Committee will make funding recommendations to the PDC ICURA Development Manager. The PDC ICURA Development Manager and the PDC Development Director will then make the final decision on the allocation of funds. Allocations will be consistent with the urban renewal plan and the plan’s implementation strategies.

All applicants will be notified of final actions. Awards will be announced through a press release, posted on the PDC website and e-mailed to ICURAC members.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Letter Agreement with PDC that outlines the responsibilities of both parties.

Neither PDC, ICURAC nor the Evaluation Committee are responsible for any costs the applicant may incur in preparing an application or proposal.

Disbursements

Grant award payments will be on a reimbursement basis. The grantee is responsible for paying vendor invoices in full and then submitting a copy of the invoice(s) along with a proof of payment to PDC for reimbursement. Cash contributions from other sources will be required to be spent before the grant is disbursed; if the final project cost is less than estimated in the application and/or the project scope is reduced, then any required cash contribution will be reduced proportionately.

In unique circumstances, PDC may be able to make exceptions to its typical reimbursement policy. If the applicant can demonstrate that they have a cash flow issue (that they cannot afford to await the 2-3 week reimbursement from PDC), PDC may be willing to pay invoices directly that are related to the funded project or identify some other payment arrangement that is mutually acceptable to PDC and the grantee.

Timeline

Announcement of Funds Available for FY 2008-2009:	March 4, 2008
Drop-In Sessions:	March 18, 2008
Grant Applications Due:	April 28, 2008
Notification of Awards:	June 30, 2008
Funds Available:	July 1, 2008

Other Information

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Administration of Grant Program: PDC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which proposal best serves the public good and to: (i) revise the solicitation, evaluation or selection process including extending the deadline or canceling without selecting a proposal; (ii) waive minor informalities and irregularities in a proposal received in response to this Grant Program; (iii) disqualify without recourse or appeal any of the proposals; and (iv) verify and investigate any of the information provided in the proposal.

Confidentiality: Proposals received by PDC shall become a matter of public record, subject to public inspection. To the extent that a proposer would like to obtain confidential treatment of written materials, the proposer should enclose such materials in an envelope sealed and marked "confidential" and deliver it to the PDC Office of the General Counsel. PDC does not guarantee confidentiality.

Previous Grant Program Awards

PDC awarded $50,000 in ICURA Community Livability Grants in FY 2006-2007 and $300,000 in FY 2007-2008. Projects that have received awards include: a wheelchair ramp for a community medical center; acoustic upgrades for community meeting space in a historic building; sustainable solutions for storm water runoff for a historic building; a new roof and exterior painting for an alternative school; and new trees and benches for a neighborhood school playground. Grant amounts have ranged from $5,000 to $104,000.