Section 001-32-IV - GrantsA.Purposes and LimitationsThe Commissioner may transfer monies comprised of the interest earned on the cash balance of the fund and the interest portion of loan payments, to the Agricultural Development Fund under 7 M.R.S.A. Chapter 10 to be used by the Agricultural Development Fund for the purpose of funding grants for eligible purposes, or may use such monies to make direct grants to individuals, firms, corporations, or other organizations for the purpose of allowing the applicant to obtain technical assistance in connection with the applicant's adoption of, or contemplation of adoption of (including education relating to) new and innovative technology to support agricultural production and marketing.
B.Procedure for Making Transfers to the Agricultural Development Fund and Direct Technical Assistance Grants1. The Commissioner may make transfer funds under this Section IV to the Agricultural Development Fund at such times, in such amounts, and for such purposes (but subject to the limitations expressed in Subsections IV(A) and (C) ), as he or she may determine to be appropriate, in his or her discretion. The award of grants under the Agricultural Development Fund will be governed by the statute and rules applicable thereto.2. In order to obtain a technical assistance grant directly from the Department under the Program, an application must be filed with the Department pursuant to Sections IV(D) and (F) with the information required therein, and in addition, such additional information as may be required for demonstrating the requirements of Section IV A(2) have been met. The Commissioner may prioritize grant applications and shall approve or deny grant applications, in his or her discretion, and may do so at any time.C.General LimitationThe aggregate amount of direct technical assistance grants and transfers to the Agricultural Development Fund under this Section IV shall not exceed $250,000 per year. At the discretion of the Commissioner, unused designated grant dollars from the previous fiscal year, not to exceed $250,000, may be added to available grant funds in the current fiscal year. Individual direct technical assistance grants may not exceed the lesser of (1) 75% of the total cost of the technical assistance project; or (2) $7,500.
D. Criteria for Eligibility for Direct Technical Assistance GrantsAn applicant is eligible to be considered for a direct technical assistance grant under the Program pursuant to Section IV(A) upon a demonstration to the Commissioner's satisfaction that the applicant is an agricultural enterprise or is an organization or association, the primary purpose of which is the promotion of the interests of agricultural enterprises, and that at least one of the following apply:
1. the applicant is implementing, or will be implementing, new and innovative technology in the operation of its agricultural enterprise and the applicant is in need of technical assistance to effectively implement the new and innovative technology; or,2. the applicant is considering implementing new and innovative technology and needs technical assistance to determine whether the new and innovative technology would assist its business; or,3. the applicant is providing information or education to agricultural enterprises regarding new and innovative technology. In addition, the Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, require the applicant to demonstrate one or more of the following:
4. that the new and innovative technology will materially assist the applicant's business;5. that if a grant is made and technical assistance received, the new and innovative technology is likely to be commercially feasible;6. that the applicant is not able to benefit from the technical assistance without the grant;7. that the applicant will contribute or obtain funds from other sources for a portion of the cost of the technical assistance;8. that the applicant has successfully utilized grants previously received from whatever source; and,9. that the applicant has the needed expertise to effectively utilize the technical assistance and/or new and innovative technology.E.Procedure for Disbursement of Direct GrantsThe successful technical assistance grant applicant must present a written estimate or quote as to the cost of eligible technical assistance. Except as set forth below, the Commissioner shall issue a check for the grant only upon presentation of a certificate of completion signed by the applicant and by any contractors who provided eligible technical assistance. For good cause shown by the applicant, as determined by the Commissioner, a check may be issued prior to the rendering of the technical assistance so long as the applicant certifies it will use the grant only for the purposes for which it was granted, and so long as the applicant agrees to later provide to the Department such evidence as may be requested by the Commissioner that the technical assistance was rendered.
F.Required Contents (Direct Technical Assistance Grant Applications)Technical assistance grant applications shall contain the following:
1. identification of the proposed amount of the grant, and the total cost of the technical assistance sought by the applicant;2. information detailing the nature of the applicant's business, the exact uses of grant proceeds and the sources and uses of all other funds to be used for the project; and,3. information about the technical assistance for which the grant is sought, including the name and qualifications of the provider, a description of the assistance to be provided, and an explanation of how the new and innovative technology for which the assistance is sought is expected to help the applicant's business.01-001 C.M.R. ch. 32, § IV