1. (a) To apply for an HIM grant, the applicant shall submit the following information and documentation to the department

   1. (1) Municipality name;
   2. (2) Municipality unique entity identifier (UEI);
   3. (3) Municipality tax identification number (TIN);
   4. (4) Municipal contact person’s name;
   5. (5) Municipal contact person’s title;
   6. (6) Municipal contact person’s email;
   7. (7) Municipal contact person’s phone number;
   8. (8) Type of municipality city, town, village district, or county in which there are located unincorporated places;
   9. (9) Municipal website address;
   10. (10) Housing champion designation award date;
   11. (11) State of New Hampshire vendor number;
   12. (12) Type of infrastructure improvements which funds are being requested;
   13. (13) Location of infrastructure improvements;
   14. (14) Whether the improvement is new, an upgrade, or expansion;
   15. (15) Total project projected costs;
   16. (16) HIM grant amount requested by Municipality based on a 25 percent matching requirement and the specific purpose of the funds;
   17. (17) Budget outlining costs and committed monies for the project;

   18. (18) A narrative describing the level of need for the infrastructure improvement in the municipality, as documented in the municipality’s master plan, asset management plan, capital improvement plan, and infrastructure, utility master plan which includes:

       1. a. Project goals;
       2. b. Scope of the work, including for each task the name of the task, time frame for the task, who will perform the task, and a brief summary of each task including purpose and output;
       3. c. Project partners including municipal boards and committees, individuals, community organizations, or any other participating partners;
       4. d. Additional sources of funding which are committed, partially committed, or likely to become available;
       5. e. How the project fits into a larger infrastructure plan which creates future-proof systems and creates greater housing opportunities; and
       6. f. A digital copy of the conceptual or approved design plan;
   19. (19) The number of future housing units as a result of the proposed infrastructure improvements;
   20. (20) Project timeline;
   21. (21) If it is a joint community project, and if so, a list of all communities involved as well as their HC designation;
   22. (22) Any information or documentation the department determines necessary for a comprehensive review of the municipality’s qualifications for the grant;
   23. (23) All documentation that the applicant is authorized to make statements and to apply for the housing infrastructure municipal grant on behalf of the municipality listed in this application;
   24. (24) Attest that the applicant is authorized to make statements and to apply for the housing production municipal grant on behalf of the municipality listed in this application;
   25. (25) An acknowledgement that the names and businesses addresses of all applicants, and amounts of awards made to them, will be public information subject to disclosure under RSA 91-A;
   26. (26) An authorization that the state of New Hampshire and the department can share the information provided in the application with other state or federal governmental agencies, contractors, and service providers in order to assess the application or administer this program;
   27. (27) An acknowledgement that the applicant agrees to respond within 30 days and cooperate fully with any post-award requests for information related to this program; and
   28. (28) A signed statement from the applicant that the information in the application is true and correct to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief, subject to RSA 641:3.
2. (b) Unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, the department shall keep all financial information confidential to the extent allowed under RSA 91-A.
3. (c) Prior to the opening of the application period, the department shall publicize the application, as well as instructions for accessing and completing the application and any other application requirements. Application requirements shall reflect both the general requirements of the HC designation application outlined in Bea 504.11(a).
4. (d) If additional funding becomes available, the department shall publicize additional application rounds including instructions for accessing and completing the application and application requirements.
5. (e) Municipalities shall submit only one application per grant application cycle.
6. (f) Applications shall be reviewed and scored competitively.
7. (g) The department shall evaluate applications prior to scoring.

8. (h) The evaluation shall result in one or more of the following actions:

   1. (1) Acceptance of the application and review for scoring or award;

   2. (2) An opportunity to cure application deficiencies, such as:

      1. a. Requesting clarifying information; or
      2. b. Requesting additional or revised supporting documentation; or
   3. (3) Rejection of the application if it does not comply with required application criteria after an opportunity to cure any application deficiencies, or the applicant is ineligible.

9. (i) The department shall evaluate applications for the HIM grant program based on department priorities and available funding including:

   1. (1) The municipality’s HC designation score and HC designation application contents and information;
   2. (2) The soundness and completeness of approach and plan for the proposed project;
   3. (3) The municipality’s capacity to carry out the proposed project; and
   4. (4) The project’s relationship to workforce housing projects that are recently completed, underway, or approved or general impact the municipality’s housing supply.

10. (j) Applications competitively reviewed shall be scored on the following 100-point scale:

    1. (1) Thirty points for the criteria in Bea 507.05(i)(1);
    2. (2) Twenty points for the criteria in Bea 507.05(i)(2);
    3. (3) Twenty points for the criteria in Bea 507.05(i)(3); and
    4. (4) Thirty points for the criteria in Bea 507.05(i)(4).
11. (k) The department shall notify each applicant in writing regarding whether or not a grant was awarded. If a grant was not awarded or fewer funds were awarded than requested, the written notice shall specify the reason(s) for the decision.
12. (l) In future application rounds, priority shall be given to municipalities that have not yet received an award in the HIM grant program with the provision of 10 bonus points in the scoring criteria for such applicants.

Source. #14043, eff 8-8-24