Regional Economic Development Pilot Program

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Regional Economic Development Pilot Program (REDPP)
To support long-range economic development objectives at the town level, the Cape Cod Economic Development Council of Barnstable County (CCEDC) is piloting a three-year grant program targeting projects in the areas of workforce housing, main street redevelopment, and renewable energy. The objective of the REDPP is to advance economic development opportunities within towns by expanding and strengthening new and existing assets in the three areas targeted for funding. Successful projects supported by this program will demonstrate innovative approaches for addressing one or more of the three funding priorities and provide valuable examples for how other communities on Cape Cod might address similar problems.

The REDPP is being initially launched as a pilot program with a goal of providing funding for up to three years to qualified projects. (Funding for Years Two and Three is subject to availability of appropriated funds.) Results of this effort will be followed closely to determine the program’s effectiveness.

Funding Priorities
Projects for which funds are being requested must address one or more of the following funding priorities:

• workforce housing
• main street redevelopment
• renewable energy

The primary goal is to help towns effectively address the funding priorities through either the expansion of current activities or the creation of new initiatives. Funding recipients will be asked to identify economic development projects that lead to measurable outcomes, involve partnerships with diverse constituencies, leverage multiple funding sources, have (at maximum) a three-year timetable, preserve community character, improve quality of life, foster a healthy economic climate, and reflect smart growth principles.

Amount of Funding
A total pool of up to $225,000 is available for funding in Year One. Applicants may apply for up to $75,000 per project. Funds may be used for the cost of staffing, project support, technical assistance, research, and capital costs.

Matching Funds
The amount of matching funds is an important part of the evaluation criteria. Matching funds may include both cash and in-kind contributions although in-kind contributions must be limited to 25 percent of the match.

Application for Continuation Funding
Continuation funding of up to $75,000 a year for Year Two and Year Three of the project will be based on successful completion of goals from the previous year. In the 10th month of Year One municipalities receiving funding will be required to submit a report documenting their progress during Year One. Key personnel with the project may be asked to present Year One results of the project to the EDC. The report and presentation together with the application for Year Two funding, will be used to determine whether a particular municipality receives funding for Year Two.

Eligibility
All 15 municipalities of Barnstable County may apply for funding. Where two or more towns are interested in collaborating, joint proposals will be considered. Joint proposals will qualify only for base level funding of up to $75,000 per year.

Anticipated Timeline
June 23, 2005Application Guidelines issued
July 25, 2005 Concept paper deadline
August 25, 2005 Notification to applicants selected for further consideration
October 6, 2005 Full proposals due from applicants selected for further consideration
November 14, 2005 Funding recommendations announced

Questions regarding the Application Guidelines
Questions must be submitted by email to:

Daniel Dray
Administrator
Cape Cod Economic Development Council
E-mail: redpp@cape.com

All inquiries should state “REDPP” as the subject. The CCEDC will provide a link to a listing of all questions and answers. Questions and answers will be collected and batched for weekly posting on the web site each Tuesday and Friday. The deadline for submitting questions for the Concept Paper stage of review is Wednesday, July 20th.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1: Applicants who wish to apply for a Regional Economic Development Partnership Grant are required to first submit a Concept Paper. Concept Papers are due by July 25, 2005. Once Concept Papers have been reviewed, applicants whose projects have been selected for further consideration will be asked to submit full proposals.

Concept Papers should be no more than three typed pages (not including cover sheet) of narrative and one additional typed page for the project budget. Concept Papers should include the following:

• Cover Sheet
• A description of the project to be funded including key personnel.
• Description of expected outcomes and milestones over full three-year grant period.
• Description of anticipated match including both cash and in-kind sources (see Matching Funds).
• Project budget for Year One of the grant period.

Concept Papers will be reviewed by a review committee of the CCEDC to determine the merits of the project, benefit to the region, likelihood that the project will succeed, degree to which the project represents an innovative approach to a particular problem or issue, the chances the project can be sustained over the three-year grant period, and the applicants readiness to move to a full proposal.

Concept Papers must be either hand-delivered by 3:00PM July 25, 2005 to the following address or, if mailed, postmarked by July 25, 2005. Any Concept Paper that is either hand-delivered or postmarked after the stated times will be declared non-responsive and returned to the applicant. Please submit one original Concept Paper and five copies in a sealed envelope to:

Regional Economic Development Pilot Program
Barnstable County Commissioners
c/o Elaine Davis
Chief Procurement Officer
Barnstable County
PO Box 226
Barnstable, MA 02630

Step 2: Following Concept Paper review, applicants whose projects are selected for further consideration will be notified and encouraged to submit a full proposal for a Regional Economic Development Pilot Program grant. Applicants selected to submit full proposals may be asked to present their funding proposal, in person, to the review committee of the CCEDC. An invitation to submit a full proposal does not guarantee the applicant will receive a Regonal Economic Development Pilot Program grant.

STEP TWO INSTRUCTIONS
Full proposals will be accepted only from those applicants whose Concept Papers have been approved as part of Step 1.

Submission Requirements for Full Proposal
Full proposals should be no longer than seven pages (not including project cover sheet, checklist, project budget and attachments). Proposals should address how the project addresses the Evaluation Criteria for Full Proposals (see page 4 below). Proposals must include the following:

1. Proposal Cover Sheet
2. Proposal Checklist
3. Project description including a detailed description of the role(s) of collaborators.
4. Detailed description of project goals for Year One of the project and a general description of project goals over the course of the three-year grant period
5. An explanation of the method(s) that will be used to evaluate outcomes.
6. Detailed project timetable and implementation plan for Year One and a general project timetable and implementation plan for the three-year grant period.
7. Description of the long-term viability of the project.
8. Detailed project budget for Year One and a general project budget for Years Two and Three itemizing the proposed uses of the grant including any cash or in-kind contributions (see page 2, Matching Funds). Any anticipated income resulting from the project should also be noted.
9. Evidence of the project leveraging additional funding through federal, state, local or private sources with a clear break down of funds already committed versus anticipated or pending commitments.
10. Background information on the applicant’s experience with respect to work similar to that being proposed and previous accomplishments.

ATTACHMENTS:
• Evidence of collaboration documenting the role of collaborators.

Evaluation Criteria For Full Proposals
Full proposals should demonstrate how the project addresses the following review criteria:

Quality of Project Concept (40 points)

• The proposal describes the economic beneficiaries of the project and how they will benefit.
• The project is part of a comprehensive strategy for economic development.
• The project is designed to systematically address one or more of the three funding priorities over a three year period of time.
• The project presents an innovative and appropriately scaled response to a clearly defined need.
• The project is compatible with the Regional Policy Plan and the goals and objectives that stem from the town’s local comprehensive plan requirements.
• The project demonstrates a long-term commitment to the project’s goals and objectives.

Quality of Project Design (30 points)

• The project has clearly defined long-term economic goals.
• Short-term objectives and activities and how they contribute to the long-term economic goals of the project have been identified and are clearly described.
• The project has clearly identified milestones and can produce measurable outcomes in the given timeframe.
• The proposal describes how progress will be monitored and measured.
• The project represents a viable model that lends itself to possible replication in other towns.

Project Management and Finances (20 points)

Project Management

• The project incorporates multiple collaborating organizations where each organization makes a meaningful contribution to the project.
• The proposal clearly describes how the project will be managed, i.e. the decisionmaking process and the governance structure of the partnership;
• The project establishes enduring and meaningful partnerships that support long-term economic development;

Project Budget

• The proposal provides evidence of the project leveraging additional funding through federal, state, local or private sources with a clear break down of funds already committed versus anticipated or pending commitments.
• The proposal includes a detailed project budget for Year One of the project and a forecast budget for Year Two and Year Three.
• The proposal includes a budget narrative detailing any budget assumptions.

Project Evaluation (10 points)

• The proposal describes the measures or benchmarks that project partners will use to determine whether goals are met.
• The proposal describes how data required for evaluation will be collected and tracked.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF FULL PROPOSALS
Full proposals must be either hand-delivered by 3:00PM October 6, 2005 to the following address or, if mailed, postmarked by October 6, 2005. Any proposal that is either hand-delivered or postmarked after the stated times will be declared non-responsive and returned to the applicant. Please submit one unbound document with original signatures (on the cover sheet) and five copies stapled in the upper-left hand corner to:

Regional Economic Development Pilot Program
Barnstable County Commissioners
c/o Elaine Davis
Chief Procurement Officer
Barnstable County
PO Box 226
Barnstable, MA 02630

*For hand deliveries, enter through the back door of the Barnstable Superior Courthouse Building. Go through the glass doors on the right and give the proposal to the front desk clerk. Make certain the clerk stamps your proposal with the day's date.