NBDIP Guidelines

Please use the following guidelines, along with the criteria categories, in completing the Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Improvement Program Funding Request. All questions in each category may not apply to your community's project. Please answer the appropriate questions in a clear and concise manner. Each community may submit two funding requests, consisting of one major and one minor request or two minor requests. Major projects do not have a cost limit; however, a minor project should not exceed $50,000.

Qualifying Projects

Community Councils and Neighborhood Business Associations must be informed of each proposed project. In addition, each proposed project must meet the following criteria to be considered for funding:

  • Be located within a NBD.
  • Have private or other non-City financial investment.
  • Be a new or continuation project.
  • Have documentation verifying that the Neighborhood Business Association and Community Council were informed of project.
Project Description And Goal

Briefly describe the project. How will the requested funds be used? What is the ultimate goal or desired outcome of the project? Does this project implement a community plan? If so, what goal does it implement? Does this project solve a persistent NBD problem? If so, please specify.

Accomplishments

Describe the benefits or impact that will result from project implementation. How many jobs will be created and/or retained from this project? Job impact is limited to the specific project site or project area and reported in full-time equivalents. How many existing or newly created businesses will be supported by this project? Project impact is limited to the specific project site or NBD. What is the low/moderate income benefit? Will the project increase the community's home ownership units? Will the project increase the community's market rate units? Provide written documentation. Does this project complete a previously funded NBD Improvement Program project?

Private Leverage And Community Support

Does this project leverage private or other non-city funding? Document any existing funding commitments. How will this project be sustained beyond receipt of city funding? Are fund raising events planned to provide project implementation or operating costs? Who will carry out this project and what is their experience? Were the community council and business association informed about this project? Does the project have community support?

Documented Budget

Provide project implementation steps along with estimated costs. Project costs may include acquisition costs, appraisals, environmental assessments, building permits, surveys, or prevailing wages (for CDBG projects). Clearly itemize all project expenses and detail the sources and uses of funds. Provide a detailed implementation timetable and schedule.

Criteria

CNBDU will use the following criteria in conjunction with the enclosed guidelines to evaluate and rate each eligible funding application and recommend a set of projects to the City for funding. Each applicant is expected to address specifically every criteria discussed below:

  • Benefit to low and moderate-income persons based on federal government census data.
  • Neighborhood Business District Impact: There is a positive impact on the whole NBD. Identify the number of property owners to be affected. Identify the number of businesses physically, contractually or financially impacted and directly benefiting from the project.
  • Job Impact: Job impact is limited to the specific project site or within the NBD. All jobs must be reported as full-time equivalent (FTE). FTEs must provide a minimum of 2,080 hours per year or 40 hours per week.
  • Job retention - Number of existing jobs at project site or within the NBD that will be eliminated without implementation of the proposed project. Must supply individual business letters documenting the number of jobs that will be lost. It is City policy to allocate up to $6,000 for each retained job.
  • Job creation - Number of jobs to be created at project site or within the NBD as a result of the assistance. Must supply individual business letters documenting the number of jobs that will be created with implementation of the proposed project. It is City policy to allocate up to $10,000 for each created job.
  • Degree project impacts and implements:
    1. Community Plan.
    2. Completion or continuation of an existing project.
  • Evidence of:
    1. Business association notification.
    2. Business association support.
    3. Community council notification.
    4. Community council support.
  • Realistic time frame and detailed project budget.
  • Project status:
    1. Ready-to-bid means that bid documents have been prepared, one copy of the bid documents has been provided to DCDP with the three copies of the NBD Improvement Program Funding Request Application.
    2. Ready-to-implement means ready for construction.
    3. Projects ready-to-implement will receive priority.
  • Degree project leverages private and public dollars.
  • Organization's ability to carry out project.
  • Clear and brief explanation of projects previously funded, their current status, and their impact on the NBD.