Once the Chief Administrator approves an application for funding pursuant to this Part, he or she shall authorize a disbursement of funds in any amount up to the amount sought in the application and shall specify the purpose or purposes to which such funds may be applied; provided, however, he or she shall not approve a disbursement of funds exceeding $30,000, unless the application is a joint application in which event he or she shall not approve a disbursement of funds exceeding the product of the number of joint applicants and $30,000. Any disbursement of funds hereunder shall at all times be subject to the availability of appropriations.

A disbursement of funds pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section may be by advance payment to the applicant (or joint applicants, as appropriate) before it incurs a cost or costs for which funding has been authorized, by reimbursement to the applicant after it incurs and pays such cost or costs in the first instance, or by some combination thereof, as the Chief Administrator may determine to be appropriate. Unless the Chief Administrator shall otherwise provide, funds disbursed hereunder shall be spent within 180 days of the applicant's receipt thereof.