Section 154.14-050 - Identification and certification of priority areas for grants - Evaluation of grant application - Scoring system - County population ranking - Regional projects - Report(1) The cabinet shall identify and certify the areas for grant funding designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Delta Regional Authority, or Interagency Working Group as a priority for obligation of match funds. Any area in Kentucky that is eligible for federal grant resources but is not a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, a Delta Regional Authority, or an Interagency Working Group designated community, may be eligible for obligation of state funds under this section. The cabinet shall not approve a project unless it finds that the project is in the public interest and the grant funds will be used for a public purpose. For purposes of this subsection, projects that are in the public interest and for a public purpose can include a derivative private benefit, if the cabinet finds the following: (a) The project will enhance a community or region;(b) The granting entity for which the cabinet's matching grant is being used requires a public purpose for grant eligibility; or(c) The cabinet in its judgment concludes the proposal will enhance the quality of life or services in a community or region.(2) The cabinet shall evaluate each applicant's eligible project according to the criteria described in this section for the purpose of compiling a recommendation and score for the eligible project pursuant to this section.(3) If a match applicant is selected as an eligible grant recipient approved under the Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024, it shall comply with any incentive agreements and reporting requirements deemed necessary by the cabinet to verify that the awarded grant shall go toward an eligible use.(4) In the administration of the Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024, the cabinet shall develop a scoring system for the project proposed by each match applicant based on the total projected return on investment and the relative positive impact in the community.(5) The scoring system shall include a:(a) Score in each category as specified in subsection (6) of this section; and(b) Total weighted score, which is the average of the scores in each category.(6) The scoring categories shall include but are not limited to:(a) Projected return on investment the project will yield, which includes an assessment of the: 1. Likelihood of project completion both with the cabinet's funding and without;2. Application content when evaluated against the federal grant program's publicly available scoring rubric or evaluation criteria, if any;3. Projected gross economic impact of the proposed project on the community;4. Projected number of jobs created by the proposed project and subsequent impact on the community;5. Determination of the cost of the project based on the cost expended by the cabinet if it obligates the requested grant amount to the applicant;6. Evidence of community support for the project;7. Likelihood that the applicant can successfully manage the federal grant's administration requirements; and8. Likelihood of success based on a federal agency prioritization of a particular applicant; and(b) Overall positive impact the project will have on the surrounding community as evidenced by clear and feasible projected outcomes of the grant-funded project.(7)(a) On or before May 1, 2024, and not later than May 1 every two (2) years thereafter, the cabinet shall determine a county population ranking for each county by adding the following two (2) factors:1. The population density ranking; and2. The ten (10) year percentage change in population ranking.(b) The required local match for each county shall be as follows:1. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is greater than or equal to one hundred ninety-three (193) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching funds equal to one percent (1%) of the state match;2. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less than one hundred ninety-three (193) but greater than or equal to one hundred forty-five (145) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching funds equal to two percent (2%) of the state match;3. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less than one hundred forty-five (145) but greater than or equal to ninety-seven (97) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching funds equal to three percent (3%) of the state match;4. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less than ninety-seven (97) but greater than or equal to forty-nine (49) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching funds equal to four percent (4%) of the state match; and5. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less than forty-nine (49) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching funds equal to five percent (5%) of the state match.(c) On or before November 1, 2024, and no later than November 1 every two (2) years thereafter, the cabinet shall report to the Legislative Research Commission and the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriation and Revenue the following information for each county:2. The population density ranking for that county;3. The ten (10) year percentage change in population ranking for that county; and4. The county population ranking for that county.(8)(a) For selected eligible grant recipients that are involved in a regional project, the cabinet may pool the potential allocation of funds available for each county represented by the eligible grant recipients for the grant amount awarded. (b) A county that is an eligible grant recipient involved in a regional project shall provide that county's local matching funds based on the county population ranking determined under subsection (7) of this section and each county's local matching funds may be pooled as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.(9) Beginning no later than November 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until the authorized appropriation is spent or returned, the cabinet shall compile and submit a report for each application approved by the GRANT Commission established in KRS 154.14-080 for the Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024. The report shall be electronically delivered to the Legislative Research Commission and the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue and contain the following information: (a) The name of the applicant, a description of the eligible project, and the location of each proposed project for which an application was approved;(b) The date the application was approved by the GRANT Commission;(c) The amount of funding authorized for each project approved;(d) The total amount of funding disbursed for each project approved; and(e) The round of funding for which each project received approval.(10) The Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024 shall begin April 15, 2024. The cabinet shall begin accepting applications for the program on May 15, 2024.Added by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 188,§ 5, eff. 4/12/2024.