The following conditions shall apply to grants provided under this subpart:

1. (1)

   1. (A) Maximum total grant available per district is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per year.
   2. (B) For multiple-district applications, grants of up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per project per district per year may be approved;
2. (2) Grants shall be awarded for only two (2) years for the same or similar projects;

3. (3)

   1. (A) Grant funds must be matched by local cash funds or cash equivalents on a ratio of one dollar ($1.00) local to two dollars ($2.00) grant.
   2. (B) Local funds may be used only once for any matching requirement;

4. (4)

   1. (A) At the time the grant application is submitted under 14 CAR § 1-1105, the conservation district must ask the Department of Agriculture for a determination that its proposed cash equivalents be eligible for the matching requirement.
   2. (B) The request must concisely describe the type and the source of the proposed noncash matching.
   3. (C) Prior to or at the time of grant award, the department will notify the requesting district of the acceptability of noncash matching as cash equivalents for the requirements of subdivisions (3)(A) and (B) of this section; and

5. (5) In cases where the grant is used to fund personnel, it must be used for:

   1. (A) Newly hired personnel; or
   2. (B) Additional hours of existing employees.