CDBGPF DEEC Grant Program Rating Criteria

All applications are summarized by DOLA staff with applicant input into a project summary  that evaluates the merits of the grant request in line with the project scoring criteria. There are two aspects of the overall rating:

1. A Base Score by which applications are evaluated and scored by the DOLA Regional Managers with program criteria on a 100-point scale, and
2. A Land Use Planning Compliance Score as determined by the Community Development Offices methodology also on a 100-point scale.

These two scores will be combined such that 80% of the overall rating will be the Base Score and 20% of the overall rating will be the Land Use Compliance Score. The overall score will be calculated as follows:

Overall Score = 0.8 x (Base Score) + 0.2 x (Land Use Compliance Score)

Base Score Rating Criteria

Benefit to Low/Mod Income Persons = 25

The project will provide a benefit to low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons. The project will either serve a predominantly LMI community directly or the population of the service area is predominantly LMI. Specific scoring tiers are as follows:

• High Score - The project will benefit a large LMI population and percentage of LMI persons.
• Medium Score - The project will benefit a medium population and percentage of LMI persons.
• Low Score - The project will benefit a a small population of which at least 51% are LMI persons.

Demonstration of Need Available = 25 Points

The problem is clearly identified and a quantifiable need is adequately described and documented. Specific scoring tiers are as follows:

• High Score - The problem, opportunity or challenge is clearly identified; financial need is clearly defined; high priority in applicant’s plan.
• Medium Score - The problem, opportunity or challenge is roughly identified; financial need is defined; 2nd or 3rd priority in applicant’s plans.
• Low Score - The problem, opportunity or challenge is not clear; financial need is not certain or the applicant is able to fund the project without CDBG; low priority in applicant’s plan.

Project Implementation and Sustainability = 30 Points

The project can be implemented in a reasonable period. The applicant has the capacity to maintain the operation and expenses associated with the project once construction is completed. Specific scoring tiers are as follows:

• High Score - The project will be completed within 6 months; funding is secured; local match present; applicant can fund the operating expense once construction is completed.
• Medium Score  - The project will be completed within 12 months; funding is secured and/or pending; local match present; applicant can likely fund the operating expense once construction is completed.
• Low Score - The project will be completed within 18 months; funding is not secured; no local match; applicant does not have a plan to fund the operating expenses once construction is completed.

Management Capacity and Project Expertise = 20 Points

The grantee has the requisite experience to complete the project or will hire a group or employees with adequate experience  to complete the project. Specific scoring tiers are as follows:

• High Score - Applicant has experience with federally funded and/or state funded infrastructure projects; applicant has local capacity to manage the project or will engage a group to help manage project requirements
• Medium Score - Applicant has experience with large scale infrastructure projects; applicant has local capacity to manage the project or will engage a group to help manage project requirements
• Low Score - Applicant has no experience with large scale infrastructure projects; applicant does not have local capacity to manage the project and has not decided to hire a group to assist with project components

Land Use Compliance Score

The Land Use Compliance Scores are calculated by the Community Development Office and are posted here. Note that some applicants may not be subject to the land use compliance assessment; these communities will automatically receive a score of 100.