571—56.5(456A,481A) Grant application submissions.

1. 56.5(1)  Form of application. Grant applications shall be on forms provided by the department and shall follow guidelines provided by the department.
2. 56.5(2)  Application deadline. Grant applications (one original and five copies) must be received by the department by February 1.
3. 56.5(3)  Match and local funding. Applicants are expected to finance 25 percent of development grant projects or 50 percent of equipment grant projects, either through cash, donated materials and labor, or another preapproved in-kind match. An applicant shall certify that it has committed its match before the 90 percent up-front grant payment will be made pursuant to 571—56.11(456A,481A). A letter of intent signed by the mayor, the chairperson of the board of supervisors, the chairperson of the county conservation board, or the CEO or chief financial officer of an agency, organization, or corporation and submitted with the application showing intent to include matching funds in finalized budgets will be accepted as proof of commitment. Applicants must forward proof of local funding to the department by June 1. If proof of local funding is not submitted, the application will be removed from the list of approved projects.
4. 56.5(4)  Competitive bids. Any development or equipment grant expense of more than $15,000 that is funded by grant dollars must be purchased through a competitive bid or quotation process. Records of such processes must be submitted with close-out documentation. Items purchased by any other means are not reimbursable under the grant.

[ARC 9230C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]