UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITHIN TARGETED COUNTIES

Fiscal Year 2015 Critical Infrastructure Grant Program seeks applications for up to $50,000 in federal State Homeland Security Program funding made available by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) for critical infrastructure protection. The FY 2015 Critical Infrastructure Grant Program (CIGP) advances a common understanding of risk management. Applicants select a critical infrastructure site or special event or seasonal at risk location and complete a risk assessment. First responders assess their capability to prevent and protect against attacks on the site. Grant funding is then applied to mitigate vulnerabilities identified in the risk assessment or enhance first responder’s capabilities.

The priority focus for the FY 2015 CIGP is government owned critical infrastructure sites; and special event or seasonal at risk locations. Examples of government owned sites include, but are not limited to, government office buildings (city/town halls, courthouses), emergency services (emergency operations centers, 911 centers, police or fire stations), water systems (water treatment facilities, water distribution, wastewater treatments) and cyber security initiatives. Examples of a special event or seasonal at risk location include, but are not limited to, major community festivals, races, seasonal camps, or other mass gathering events. These locations should be reoccurring, at locations that have defined geographic boundaries and the event or location must pose special security concerns, such as population surges and other factors that require additional law enforcement or emergency resources.

Only units of local government within targeted counties are eligible to apply for the FY 2015 CIGP. Units of local governments include: counties, cities, towns, and/or villages. Applicants must be located in New York City or one of the following targeted counties: Albany, Broome, Dutchess, Erie, Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Tioga, Wayne, Westchester, and Yates. The application must be coordinated with at least two (2) agencies with prevention and/or protection responsibilities at the selected site. These must be law enforcement, fire department, emergency management, information technology professionals, or public works agencies.

Applications will be accepted from July 2, 2015 through 11:59 p.m. on August 18, 2015 via DHSES’ Electronic Grants Management System (E-Grants).

For the Request for Applications (RFA) please visit the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) website at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ grants or DHSES’s Grant Hotline at (866) 837-9133.

LOCAL, COUNTY AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Fiscal Year 2015 Explosive Detection Canine Team Grant Program seeks applications for up to $60,000 in Federal State Homeland Security Program funding made available by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) for programs to develop and support explosive detection canine team capabilities. The six primary objectives of this grant are: 1.) The advancement of explosive detection canine team capabilities; 2.) The certification of explosive detection canine teams and compliance with annual re-certification requirements; 3.) Participation in DHS’s Office for Bombing Prevention’s (DHS-OBP) Explosive Detection Canine Capability Analysis Program; 4.) Alignment to New York State’s thirteen FBI Accredited bomb squads; 5.) Use of the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS); and, 6.) Promotion of regional partnerships in the development of mutual explosive detection canine team capabilities. Grants will be awarded to support local, county and Tribal law enforcement agencies with an active road patrol component of their law enforcement operations.

Applications will be accepted from July 2, 2015 through 11:59 p.m. on August 13, 2015 through the State’s Electronic Grants Management System (E-Grants)

For the Request for Applications (RFA) please visit the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) website at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants/targeted.cfm or DHSES’s Grant Hotline at (866) 837-9133.

LOCAL, COUNTY AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Fiscal Year 2015 Tactical Team Grant Program seeks applications for up to $100,000 in federal State Homeland Security Program funding made available by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). The focus of this grant opportunity is to improve a tactical team’s capabilities and help to develop new response capabilities as it relates to high-risk incidents including active shooter events and other counter terrorism missions.

Grants will be awarded to local, county, and tribal law enforcement agencies with an active tactical team as part of their law enforcement operations that responds to calls for service outside of a correctional setting. The four primary objectives of this grant are to: 1) Advance tactical team capabilities through the attainment and sustainment of the minimum standards within this community; 2) Encourage and support training among law enforcement specialty teams to include bomb squads and explosive detection canine teams; 3) Promote regional partnerships in the development and build-out of mutual tactical team capabilities, and 4) Participate in DHS’s Office for Bombing Prevention’s (DHS-OBP) SWAT Capability Analysis Program.

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM on September 10, 2015 through the New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ (NYS-DHSES) electronic grants management system (E-Grants).

For the Request for Applications (RFA) please visit the DHSES website at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants or DHSES’s Grant Hotline at (866) 837-9133.

MUNICIPALITIES ON BEHALF OF LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS THAT PROVIDE TECHNICAL RESCUE AND USAR SERVICES COUNTYWIDE OR REGIONALLY

Fiscal Year 2015 Technical Rescue & USAR Team Grant Program seeks applications for up to $150,000 in federal State Homeland Security Program funding made available by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). The focus of this grant opportunity is to develop and support Technical Rescue & USAR team capabilities.

Grants will be awarded to municipalities on behalf of local emergency response teams that provide Technical Rescue & USAR services countywide or regionally. The three primary objectives of this grant are to: 1) Advance Technical Rescue & USAR capabilities statewide; 2) Encourage the development of Regional Response Partnerships to enhance multi-jurisdictional response capabilities; and 3) Increase the resource typing of Technical Rescue & USAR resources in New York State.

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM on September 9, 2015 through the New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ (NYS-DHSES) electronic grants management system (E-Grants).

For the Request for Applications (RFA) please visit the DHSES website at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants/targeted.cfm or DHSES’s Grant Hotline at (866) 837-9133.

UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE COUNTIES, CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES THAT ARE NOT FEDERAL HOME PROGRAM PARTICIPATING JURISDICTION (CONTRACTED WITH THE HTFC AS STATE RECIPIENTS), NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS INCORPORATED UNDER STATE NON-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW AND HOUSING AUTHORITIES (CONTRACTED WITH THE HTFC AS SUB-RECIPIENTS), AND COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS (CHDO, CONTRACTED WITH THE HTFC AS CHDO’S)

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s (HTFC) Office of Community Renewal (OCR) announces the availability of approximately $16.5 million of Federal Fiscal Year 2014 and 2015 funds for the following program:

• New York State HOME Local Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The NYS Home Local Program is a federally funded program administered by the HTFC OCR. The program is designed to fund a variety of residential housing activities to expand the supply of decent, safe, and affordable housing throughout the State of New York. The funds made available in this NOFA represent the NYS HOME Local Program 2014 and 2015 fiscal year HOME funds set aside for use by Local Program Administrators (LPA’s).

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

Eligible LPA’s are defined as: units of local government to include counties, cities, towns and villages that are not federal HOME Program Participating Jurisdiction (contracted with the HTFC as State recipients), non-profit corporations incorporated under State Non-Profit Corporation Law and Housing Authorities (contracted with the HTFC as Sub-recipients), and Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO, contracted with the HTFC as CHDO’s).

To be eligible to apply for an award, LPA’s must have been in existence and providing recent and relevant residential housing services to the community for at least one year prior to application. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a local market need for the program proposed and the capacity to utilize the amount of funding requested within the two year contract term.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Applications will be accepted for residential housing activities in the following four categories: Homeowner Rehab, Homebuyer, Rental and Tenant based Rental Assistance (TBRA):

Homeowner Rehab Activities

Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation: funds may be requested to provide substantial or moderate housing rehabilitation of single family (1-4) unit, owner occupied homes. Housing rehabilitation must be performed according to HTFC housing rehabilitation standards and the unit must meet NYS and/or Local Code upon completion. LPAs may not undertake some stand-alone forms of special purpose homeowner repair programs, such as weatherization, energy efficiency, emergency repair or handicapped accessibility programs, however, these types of activities may be undertaken with HOME funds as part of a comprehensive housing rehabilitation project, provided the unit will meet NYS and/or Local Code upon completion.

Manufactured Home Replacement: funds may be requested to provide an existing homeowner of a sub-standard manufactured (mobile) home to be replaced with a new manufactured home. Replaced units must meet NYS and/or Local Code upon completion and be installed according to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards at 24 CFR Part 3280, HOME Permanent Foundation Requirements at 92.251(e) and HTFC design standards upon completion. Rehabilitation of a manufactured home unit is not an eligible activity.

Homebuyer Activities:

Acquisition: funds may be requested to assist a homebuyer to provide down payment and/or closing cost assistance to purchase a single family (1-4) unit, non-HOME assisted existing home or newly constructed home. The home must meet NYS and/or Local Code at purchase.

Acquisition with Housing Rehabilitation: funds may be requested to assist a homebuyer to provide down payment and/or closing cost assistance and funds for substantial or moderate housing rehabilitation to purchase a single family (1-4) unit, non-HOME assisted existing home. Housing rehabilitation work must be performed according to HTFC’s housing rehabilitation standards and the unit must meet NYS and/or Local Code upon completion. Housing rehabilitation activities must be complete within 6 months from the date of purchase.

Manufactured Home Purchase: funds may be requested to provide a first time homebuyer the opportunity to purchase a newly constructed manufactured HOME. Homebuyers must have ownership of the land prior to purchase or will become the owners of the land at purchase.

Housing Development: funds may be requested to assist a CHDO to acquire an existing, vacant, substandard home that will be rehabilitated and then sold to a HOME eligible first time home buyer or to build a new construction home that will be sold to a HOME eligible buyer. Funds are treated as a development subsidy. CHDO’s must be the owner and developer of the housing during the construction period, must arrange for all project financing and be in sole charge of the construction. The project must include sources of construction financing other than HOME Program funds. CHDO projects will have additional underwriting requirements. NYS HOME Local program funds may be used only as permanent financing. Applicants must be certified as a CHDO prior to the award of funds.

Rental

Single Family (1-4) Unit Rental Rehabilitation: funds may be requested to provide housing rehabilitation of rental units in an investor owned single family (1-4) unit property. The project must be assisted with HOME funds as a single undertaking in which all of the units and common areas in the property are rehabilitated to meet NYS and/or Local Code upon completion. The investor owner must agree to HOME rental requirements pertaining to occupancy, affordability and lease up requirements.

Tenant-Based Rental Assistance

HOME funds may be requested to provide monthly tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) to assist families at or below 60% of area median income, who are on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list with monthly rental subsidy. Security deposits and tenant utility deposits may also be eligible. TBRA programs must include a certification that TBRA assistance meets a need described in the Consolidated Plan in the service area and a description of the local market conditions that justifies the need for TBRA and the method of selection and coordination with the local Public Housing Authority.

FUNDING LIMITS

Non-CHDO Activities: the minimum award amount is $150,000. The maximum award amount is $400,000. The cap is $40,000 per unit.

CHDO Activities: The minimum award amount is $300,000. The maximum award amount is $750,000. The cap is $60,000 per unit.

Applicants may submit more than one application in response to this NOFA; the OCR reserves the right to not fund, partially fund or increase the award amount requested in the funding application.

APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

The HOME LPA application for funds available through this NOFA and corresponding RFP will be available on the NYS Homes and Community Renewal website, www.nyshcr.org/Funding/, on Wednesday, August 12, 2015. Applications are due no later than 4:00 PM (EST) on Tuesday, October 13th, 2015. Applications must be submitted using the Community Development Online Application System (CDOL) at: http://www.nyshcr.org/Apps/CDOnline/.

The above-stated application deadline is firm as to date and hour. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, applications received after the specified date and time will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for funding. Applicants should make early submission of their applications to avoid risks of ineligibility resulting from unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems.

Applicants may make a request, based on demonstrated need, to submit a paper application in lieu of using the CDOL application system. Requests for approval to submit a paper application must be received by the OCR no later than Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at the following address: NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 4th Floor South, 38-40 State Street, Albany, NY 12207, ATTN: FFY 2014-15 NYS HOME Local Program.

NEW YORK STATE GRANTS GATEWAY PREQUALIFICATION

New York State Grants Gateway is a statewide effort that will improve the way New York State administers grants by simplifying and streamlining the grants management process. Effective August 1, 2013, not-for-profit organizations must be prequalified in order to do business with New York State. To prequalify, not-for-profit organizations must submit an online Prequalification Application through the Grants Gateway. The Prequalification Application is comprised of five components to gauge your organizational structure and the types of services you provide. The required forms and document uploads are all part of the Grants Gateway Document Vault. Resources to complete the application and associated document vault can be found in the Quick Links Section of the Grants Gateway page at http://grantsreform.ny.gov/.

Prequalification is designed as a way for not-for-profits to interact more directly with State agencies before they compete for State contracts, enabling them to make adjustments and answer concerns prior to entering a competitive bid process. Once they have been prequalified, multiple State agencies will have ready access to the prequalification materials, eliminating redundant submissions of such information by the vendor. Not-for-profits will only have to formally prequalify every 3 years, with the responsibility to keep their information current throughout the 3 year period.

PLEASE NOTE: Not-for-Profit applicants that are not prequalified through the New York State Grants Gateway by the application deadline of Tuesday, October 13, 2015 will not be eligible to receive funds, and any applications submitted to the OCR will be deemed ineligible for review and consideration.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For inquiries or technical assistance regarding the NYS HOME Local Program, please contact: Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, at the above address or call (518) 474-2057