-
Eligible Projects
The State of Minnesota CDBG-CV Program must be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and must meet a National Objective. The activities must be most critical to the locality and primarily for low-and-moderate income (LMI) residents.
Activities must be based on needs substantiated by the local government applicant. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with State and/or local health authorities before undertaking any activity to support state or local pandemic response.
The State of Minnesota is requesting applications from applicants for participation in the CDBG-CV program to address one of the following specific needs identified for this funding.
Public Service
This category is to provide a new or increased level of a public service.
- Provide subsistence assistance to income-eligible residents economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for rent payments, mortgage assistance or utility payments for up to 6 months of continuous assistance. A total of $3,000,000 CDBG-CV funds will be available for this activity.
- Provide Testing Kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. PPE includes and is not limited to gloves, masks, safety Plexiglas shield barriers, etc. to be utilized/distributed within grantee jurisdiction to comply with social distancing requirements. A total of $1,000,000 CDBG-CV funds will be available for this activity.
- Support food shelves/pantries by providing increased access to food and delivery support to those economically impacted by the pandemic and/or unable to access nutritious food. A total of $1,000,000 CDBG-CV funds will be available for this activity.
Retrofitting Buildings & Commercial Rehabilitation
The total allocation of the State of Minnesota CDBG-CV funds for this category is $4,500,000. This category is to provide for rehabilitation of existing food shelves/pantries and commercial buildings to address social distancing requirements for health and safety purposes, and improvements to HVAC systems. This category also includes improvements and rehabilitation activities such as repurposing buildings into patient treatment centers and already existing shelters, such as homeless and temporary housing shelters. Assumed maximum amount of $25,000 to commercial building owners, assumed maximum amount of $100,000 to repurposing buildings into a patient treatment centers, assumed maximum amount of $20,000 to food shelves/pantries and assumed maximum of $600,000 to rehabilitate existing shelters or other facilities to be used for emergency shelter.
Broadband Development
A total allocation of the State of Minnesota CDBG-CV funds for this category is $25,468,807. This category is to provide broadband infrastructure and/or components; enhancing internet access to support increased connectivity for telework, telemedicine, telelearning and televisit. This activity will typically benefit LMI persons, LMI clientele or LMI persons residing in a qualified area. Financing will be provided through grants.
CDBG-CV funds may be used towards the installation of main fiber lines, lines to towers and tower installation. Middle mile and tower installation will be allowed if last mile infrastructure will be included and will serve as the final leg in connecting the broadband network to end-users. The Broadband Development activities may request an assumed maximum of $5,000,000 per project.
-
Ranking Criteria
The CDBG-CV Program is based on a competitive application ranking. Applicants will be rated according to the following criteria: Need, Impact and Cost Effectiveness.
Scoring Criteria for Broadband Development Applications
Need - This area of rating will access if the proposed service area has a need for new or enhanced broadband infrastructure. Maximum points available are 90 points.
- Proposed size of service area.
- Percentage of low-to-moderate income households benefiting from this project.
- Need for assistance is required to connect communities to a broadband network.
- Lack of other available resources to access reliable broadband service.
Impact - This area of rating will assess how the project will provide the ability for low-to-moderate income households to obtain new or enhanced access to broadband services. Maximum points available are 90 points.
- How the project will assist communities in preventing, preparing for and responding to COVID-19.
- Proposed type of broadband infrastructure.
- Proposed average speed in Megabit per second (Mbps) available to households.
- Other assistance provided to income qualified households as a result of this project.
Cost Effectiveness - This area of rating will assess the overall cost effectiveness of the proposed project. Maximum points available are 90 points.
- Realistic and reasonable project budget.
- Commitment and use of other funding sources.
- Plan in-place to prevent duplication of benefit.
- Project timeline to provide reliable broadband access to communities.
- Capacity of project partners to successfully conduct and accomplish project activities and goals.
Scoring Criteria for Public Service Applications and Retrofitting Building and Commercial Rehabilitation Applications
Need - This area of rating will assess the project need, documented demand, proposed actions to meet the need and the benefit to the identified target group. Maximum points available are 90 points.
- Proposed activities are addressing the need to prepare, prevent or respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
- Proposed activities taking place in an eligible area with elevated COVID-19 outbreaks with supporting data from state or local health officials.
- Proposed activities are meeting one of the three National Objectives. The two National Objectives most applicable to the CDBG-CV Program are (1) benefit to low-and- moderate income (LMI) persons and (2) urgent need. Benefit to LMI persons may be either direct (actual people served) or area wide. The elimination of slum and blighting conditions will be used as the National Objective for commercial rehabilitation.
- The applicant has provided sufficient explanation concerning their ability to adequately document the benefit to LMI persons.
Impact - This area of rating will access the overall impact on the community. Maximum points available are 90 points.
- Proposed activities are addressing the program intent, incorporates the areas of focus and establishes performance measures for current and future assessments.
- Goals are specific, measurable, action-oriented, attainable, and realistic.
- Applicants must be able to document the long-term viability and the ability to link services if the type of facility requires specific services for their clientele.
- Project timeliness meeting grant deadline.
- Applicant identifies all the major tasks or components that will be required in carrying out the activity. Are there any potential issues or concerns?
- Will the applicant be primarily dependent upon CDBG-CV funding?
Cost Effectiveness - This area of rating will access the overall cost effectiveness. Maximum points available are 90 points.
- Local commitment and concerted efforts to elicit funds to leverage funding with other sources other than CDBG-CV funds. Are these funds committed?
- Applicant's budget is realistic with a reasonable estimate of resources necessary for each component of the project.
- Applicant's capacity and experience in administrating CDBG program projects or other related state and federal funding programs.
- Applicant should possess adequate administrative structures, management systems, and policies and procedures.
- Any established partnership with community groups, non-profits, and other agencies for funding or administration.
- Plan in-place to prevent duplication of benefit.
-
Application
Call for Applications
CDBG-CV Application Guide
CDBG-CV Application Cover Sheet
CDBG-CV Application Budget
CDBG-CV Public Service Application
CDBG-CV Retrofitting Buildings & Commercial Rehabilitation Application
CDBG-CV Broadband Development Application
-
CDBG -CV Grant Awards
-
Training & Workshop
Webinar
DEED hosted a webinar to provide potential applicants with an overview of the program and to answer any questions.
MN CDBG-CV Coronavirus Webinar
CDBG-CV Slide Deck
Webinar Questions and Answers
Additional Questions and Answers - May 12, 2021
-
Contacts
SCDP Manager
Natasha Kukowski
651-259-7425 or 800-657-3858
SCDP Staff
Zachary Klehr
651-259-7460 or 800-657-3858
Christian Nordeng
651-259-7455 or 800-657-3858