1 Create a ZoomGrants™ account (below) or log in to your existing account (above) 2 Select a Program to apply for, then click the Apply button to get started 3 Answer the questions and/or fill in the fields in each tab 4 If necessary, upload any requested documents 5 Submit your application and wait for a decision 6 If you are selected to receive funding, you might be required to submit invoices or reports through your application
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By entering your initials here you certify this submission truthfully and accurately represents your application and is hereby submitted for review. Submission of this application does not, in any way, guarantee that your application will yield a favorable result.
Submission of this application also
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This Pre-Application section must be submitted and Approved by the Administrator (not ZoomGrants) before you can fill out the rest of the application. Click the Submit Pre-Application button at the top or bottom of this tab to submit this section to be reviewed.
Application Questions
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Please answer each question. Upload additional pages if needed.
1. Is your application for a Public Service or Non Public Service Project?
2. Project Name and Location (exact address):
3. Is your activity a new (never funded under the City CDBG grant) activity; currently funded with a quantifiable increase in the level of existing service or formally funded with a quantifiable increase in the level of service?
4. Briefly describe in what ways your activity is quantifiably increased in level of service. If your activity is new, write N/A.
5. Please check the appropriate Community Development Strategy that your proposed activity plans to undertake and input whether your project will increase availability/accessibility, affordability or sustainability. Please abbreviate your answer to fit into the field: "avail", "afford" or "sustain"
6. Please check the appropriate Community Development Strategy that your proposed activity plans to undertake and input whether your project will increase availability/accessibility, affordability or sustainability. Please abbreviate your answer to fit into the field: "avail", "afford" or "sustain"
7. Please provide a narrative describing purpose, objectives, population served, and major sources of funding.
8. Explain how the project or the resulting program will contribute to the achievement of the five priority needs and program goals listed in the Consolidated Plan for Community Development. The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan can be found on the Community Development website located at https://communitydevelopment.columbiasc.gov/consolidated-plans/
9. What are the proposed accomplishments or quantitative outcomes for the project or resulting program?
10. Input the Total Number of Persons to be served under your proposed project in each of the following categories (if not applicable please answer N/A):
11. Input the Total Number of Persons to be served under your proposed project in each of the following categories:
12. Input the Total Number of Persons to be served under your proposed project in each of the following categories:
13. Identify other agencies or organizations providing the same or similar programs that attempt to meet the community or neighborhood needs addressed by this project. Describe how you propose to collaborate with other agencies/organizations.
14. Describe how this award will contribute to maintaining, increasing, or improving the services or activities proposed in this application.
15. Identify the Targeted Redevelopment Area(s) where the activity or project will be located. Check all that apply. Maps of Redevelopment Areas can be found on page 16 of the NOFA Manual.
16. Project Narrative: Describe what activities (specific portions of overall project) for which CDBG assistance is requested.
17. Please define your service area to include Council District, Neighborhood/Community, and Census Tract(s) data.
18. For Acquisition, purchase/rehabilitation, construction, facility projects/demolition projects only: Has the following been conducted on property site or structure to be assisted? Please answer yes or no.
19. Date facility was built? (if not applicable please answer N/A)
20. Will children under the age of 6 be expected to reside in the facility for which assistance is requested (if not applicable please answer N/A)?
21. Provide the name of the consultant, architect, or contractor providing the cost estimates for the project (if applicable). Copies of the cost estimates must be attached. Consultants providing cost estimates are not eligible to bid on contracts.
22. If fees are or will be charged for project services or participation explain the fee structure. A copy may be uploaded. Describe any scholarship or sliding scale fee policies.
23. Please list financial support for this project from other private, state or federal programs. Indicate the amount, source and date of funding commitment.
24. If funding requests have been or will be submitted to other private, state, or federal sources for this project, itemize the source, the amount of assistance requested, and the anticipated date of commitment.
25. Briefly explain how the applicant will provide funding for additional or unexpected costs of the project.
26. What effect will the project have on future operational budgets of the applicant? Explain how the applicant will maintain or continue operation of the project? For rehabilitation projects, please provide timeline and the method of procurement.
27. Do you certify that your organization will not undertake any physical action, commit, expend, or enter into any legally binding agreement that constitutes choice-limiting actions before the Environmental Review (ER) process has been completed and approved by the Community Development Staff?
28. Do you certify that no federal funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress in connection with this project?
29. Do you certify that no officer, employee or agent of the City of Columbia or the applicant, who exercises any responsibilities with respect to the requested project has any personal financial interest, direct or indirect, in the requested project?
30. Do you hereby certify that your agency's governing body assures that the projects/activities to be assisted with CDBG funding will be implemented and administered in compliance with the regulations and other applicable federal requirements?
31. Do you hereby certify that your agency possesses the legal authority to make a grant submission and to execute a subsequent funding agreement with the City of Columbia and has not been suspended, disbarred, or prohibited from receiving federal funds?
32. Do you certify that your agency has met with or attended the local neighborhood/community organization to educate and inform them about the proposed project within the service area?
33. Do you hereby certify that your agency's governing body has adopted or has passed as an official act or resolution, motion, or similar action authorizing the person identified as the official authorized to submit the application for assistance?
34. Do you certify that you/your organization hold(s) all State/Local/Industry certifications that are required to provide the services for the activity for which you are applying.
35. Name of the person(s) who represented the organization at the Mandatory NOFA Workshop on November 9, 2023.
Budget
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Please give a narrative detailing funding sources and funding commitments to date for your proposed activity. Additionally, please label your line items as follows: Personnel, Operating, Contract Services, Activity Delivery, or Indirect Costs; and provide an explanation of the line items that your proposed activity will utilize. Some examples are provided below for the referenced cost categories. This list is not all-inclusive and may be subject to category designation change per specific circumstances of your activity. Personnel Costs Costs for staff/position reflect the actual time each position spends on CDBG grant Fringe Benefits Operating Costs • Supplies - Consumable commodities that have a useful life of one year or less; valued under $500 (Computers, tablets, laptops must have inventory ID’s) • Communication (telephone, telephone installation, leasing of phone equipment, and postage). • Printing (copying and printing, whether done in-house or through an outside printer; supplies- paper or fluids for copy machine owned or leased for program use) • Utilities – (gas, electricity, water, and trash removal. • Rent - Rental charges for real property; office space for the program. • Travel (local) - Costs for mileage reimbursement and conference expenses. • Mileage reimbursement (only travel by staff or volunteers for business for the CDBG activities) the Subrecipient. • Travel (other) - All travel and conference expenses (Out of state travel requires prior City approval.) • Insurance - Insurance-related costs required for the operation of the program. Contract Services Costs • Equipment Rental - Costs for the rental of equipment, which is essential for the operation of the program. • Contracted Services - Professional and technical services not performed by staff. • Audit Fees, Bookkeeping fees, or payroll services are eligible expenses – Prorated for a percent of CDBG funds relative to the overall budget. Activity Delivery Costs • Direct Client Services – bus tokens, utilities, child care, and other program costs paid on behalf of clients. • Equipment Purchase - Purchase of equipment essential for the operation of the program in those instances where it is more cost-effective to purchase equipment rather than rent it. Includes any item with a useful life of more than one year and a cost greater than $500. The purchase of equipment requires prior City approval. • Food/snacks - an integral part of the program such as after school, daycare, etc. Indirect Costs • Indirect costs are costs that are not directly accountable to a cost object (such as a particular project, facility, function, or product). Indirect costs may be either fixed or variable. Indirect costs include administration, personnel, and security costs. The agency must have a HUD-approved indirect cost allocation plan.
General Budget
Item Description
CDBG
Federal Funding
State/Local Funding
Agency Funding
Other
Personnel Costs
Operating Costs
Contract Services Costs
Activity Delivery Costs
Total USD$ 0.00
Total USD$ 0.00
Total USD$ 0.00
Total USD$ 0.00
Total USD$ 0.00
Budget Narrative (Discuss the items and amounts you entered above.)
Please include a narrative for each line item to include calculations on how you arrived at your total costs, justification for pricing, etc. Please provide detailed information, i.e., price per unit, hours worked per day x number of days per week, etc.
Tables
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Community Development staff will review monthly reports for compliance with federal regulations regarding the use of federal funds and the implementation of the program. The Monthly Activity Report MUST accompany your Monthly Reimbursement Report. Reimbursement requests will not be processed without the Monthly Activity Report and the Backup Documentation. You are required to answer all questions presented and upload all required documents. Questions may not show in numerical order.