SCP Round 2 Application

Strong Communities Program

Round 2 Grant Application
Please fill out this Jotform Application to request funding under Round 2 of the Strong Communities Program (SCP).

Applications can be saved and returned to later. If an applicant would like to save the application and not yet submit, you must click the “Save and Finish Later” button at the bottom of this page. Applicants will then receive an email with changes allowing them to complete an application. You will not need to create a Jotform account for this.

An Application Guide can be found here. Applications are due by Wednesday, June 7, 2023, by 3:00 PM, CST.

No hard copies will be accepted. Please direct all questions to SCPinfo@ihda.org.

Applicant Information
Applicant Information

This section is unscored.
County/Municipality Name*
Main Office Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty

Zip Code
Primary Contact Name*

First NameLast Name
Primary Contact Title*
Primary Contact Phone Number*
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Extension
xxxx
Primary Contact Email Address*
example@example.com
Secondary Contact Name*

First NameLast Name
Secondary Contact Title*
Secondary Contact Phone Number*
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Extension
xxxx
Secondary Contact Email Address*
example@example.com
Grant Request Amount:*
Maximum request $750,000
Please provide the geographies to be covered under this grant by including the census tract information. You can also provide target areas and neighborhood or community area names. You may state the entire city or county if it is applicable. If you are targeting specific neighborhoods or communities, please explain why that is the case, i.e., the area is identified in the jurisdiction’s revitalization planning process or comprehensive plan, it aligns with other local efforts, etc.*

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Jurisdictional Information

Please report the following information for your jurisdiction. Figures should be gathered from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau information when possible (we recommend using the U.S. Census QuickFacts Tool). Your application will not be evaluated based on the information reported below. Please contact SCPinfo@ihda.org if you need additional support gathering this information.
1. Population of your Jurisdiction*
2. Number of Abandoned Residential Properties**
*As defined in the Application Guide
3. Number of Housing Units*
4. Number of Vacant Residential Lots*

5. Complete the chart below showing the number of abandoned residential properties that you plan to address under each of the eligible program uses. Maximum amounts per activity on each individual PIN are noted below. Also note that 10% of your award will be reserved for administrative costs.*

	Do you plan to perform this activity under your award?	If so, how many properties are estimated to be affected?
Property Acquisition (not to exceed $5,000 per PIN)
Demolition (not to exceed $40,000 per PIN; including all reasonable hard and soft construction costs)
Rehabilitation (not to exceed $75,000 per PIN; exterior rehab and interior work i.e., roof, window, door repairs)
Tree, Shrub and Debris Removal (including grass cutting)

Scoring Category 1: Need
Scoring Category 1: Need

This section will allow you to detail your community or jurisdiction’s housing needs specifically as it is affected by abandoned and/or vacant residential properties. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.

6. Complete the chart below to the best of your ability by providing the data requested to demonstrate the burden that vacant and abandoned residential properties have placed on your jurisdiction throughout the past 4 years.*

	2019	2020	2021	2022 (If Applicable)	Data Source
Number of abandoned residential properties within your jurisdiction
Number of vacant residential lots/parcels within your jurisdiction
Number of vacant and/or abandoned residential properties owned by jurisdiction
Amount that the jurisdiction has expended on maintaining and demolishing abandoned residential properties

7. Please provide short responses for the following content areas for your jurisdiction. Provide quantifiable evidence where you are able.*

	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
7a) Please provide the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) for the last five calendar years:

7b. What do you expect SCP Round 2 funding will do for your community’s EAV levels for the next 5 years?*

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7c. What specific areas within your jurisdiction have been most affected by abandoned properties?*

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7d. Please describe the crime and vandalism rates in the areas surrounding abandoned and vacant homes and its impact on your community.*

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7e. How will SCP Round 2 funding help with your community’s crime and vandalism levels?*

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7f. Please describe the impact that abandoned and vacant homes have had on property values in your community.*

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7g. What impact do you expect SCP Round 2 funding will have on property values in your community?*

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7h. Please describe any additional financial burden that abandoned properties have placed on the jurisdiction (i.e. activities defunded, staff layoffs, etc.)*

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8. Please provide any additional information on how the Strong Communities Program will positively impact the local housing market and community or communities to be served by this grant (i.e., community meetings, additional data, etc.).
Provide any additional statistics to adequately demonstrate verifiable need for your jurisdiction. If you cite any data, please make sure to reference the source and provide a link if possible.

Scoring Category 2: Capacity
Scoring Category 2: Capacity

This section will allow IHDA to assess an applicant’s ability to manage this grant. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.
Applicants are required to provide a copy of their most recent independent financial audit. If a Management Letter was issued, a copy must also be attached. NOTE: Include any Management Response and/or Corrective Action Plan. The Management Response and/or Corrective Action Plan MUST be on the applicant’s letterhead and be signed by the Mayor, Chief Executive Officer, or chief executive of the applicant. IHDA reserves the right to use lack of corrective action or lack of response to findings to determine funding. Submission of an audit dated more than two years before the date of this application may result in a point deduction.
Audit Upload*

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9. Date that an audit was performed*
10. Dates which audit covered (fiscal year)*
11. Did the audit have any findings?*

YesNo
11a. Summarize any audit findings, including page numbers of findings and solutions. Please provide an explanation if the audit is more than two years old. If there are no findings, indicate “N/A”.

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11b. Page(s) containing Corrective Action Plan. If not applicable, indicate “N/A”.

12. List the staff member(s), both in-house and third-party staff, who will be responsible for administrating this grant, and detail their experience with similar grants, programs, and initiatives. Please also indicate whether that staff member’s experience is with the current unit of local government applying for this grant or a different one.*

	Name	Title	Experience Administering Grants?	Experience with Housing-Related Programs/Initiatives?	Details (Please list Grants/Programs/Initiatives)
Staff Member 1
Staff Member 2
Staff Member 3
Staff Member 4
Staff Member 5

13. Complete the chart below by detailing housing-related grants and any other programs or initiatives managed by the unit of local government applying for this grant in the past 4 years, including any grants/programs/initiatives your community is currently undergoing. Be certain to include all grants and programs that you have participated in through IHDA. *Please list the name of the organization that administered the grant. **Please describe any measurable results, e.g., number of homes demolished, acquired, and/or rehabilitated, increase in EAV, etc.*

	Grant/ Program/ Initiative Name	Administrator*	Source of Funding	Dates of Grant/ Program/ Initiative	Amount Awarded	Amount Expended	Activities Undertaken	Quantified.Outcomes**
Grant/Program/Initiative 1
Grant/Program/Initiative 2
Grant/Program/Initiative 3
Grant/Program/Initiative 4
Grant/Program/Initiative 5
Grant/Program/Initiative 6
Grant/Program/Initiative 7
Grant/Program/Initiative 8

14. Do you have any compliance findings or concerns regarding the grants/programs/initiatives referenced in Question 13?*

YesNo

15. Select all of the below areas in which your organization has experience managing compliance.*

Historical PreservationLead-Based Paint LawsPrevailing Wage
16. Please provide any additional information regarding your organization’s capacity to manage a Strong Communities Program Round 2 grant that you did not already discuss in the previous questions.

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Scoring Category 3: Impact
Scoring Category 3: Impact

This section will assess how SCP funding can complement current policies and plans in revitalization efforts and help alleviate future vacant and abandoned properties. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.
In the tables in Questions 17-20, please indicate if you have any of the following revitalization efforts currently in-place or planned within your jurisdiction. If you answer "yes" to plans currenlty in-place, an upload button will appear below the table where you can attach the revitalization effort. Make sure to include all plans/document listed as attachments with your application submission. *

*If you do not have active or planned revitalization efforts as outlined in Questions 17-20, please include any active or planned additional revitalization efforts to mitigate vacant and abandoned properties in Question 21. Please make sure to upload all efforts referenced.

17. Local Legislation

	Currently In-Place?	If "No", Planned?	How will SCP funds complement this effort?
Local Legislation

Please upload your Local Legislation document(s) below.

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18. Vacant Property Registry

	Currently In-Place?	If "No", Planned?	How will SCP funds complement this effort?
Vacant Property Registry

Please upload your Vacant Property Registry plans/documents below.

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19. Revitalization Plan

	Currently In-Place?	If "No", Planned?	How will SCP funds complement this effort?
Revitalization Plan

Please upload your Revitalization Plan document(s) below.

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20. Comprehensive Plan

	Currently In-Place?	If "No", Planned?	How will SCP funds complement this effort?
Comprehensive Plan

Please upload your Comprehensive Plan document(s) below.

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21. Additional Revitalization Effort(s)

	Effort Name	Currently In-Place?	If "No", Planned?	How will SCP funds complement this effort?
Additional Revitalization Effort 1
Additional Revitalization Effort 2
Additional Revitalization Effort 3

Please upload any additional Revitalization Effort plans/documents below.

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24. Provide any quantifiable metrics to demonstrate the positive impact(s) that past and current efforts to address revitalization have had in your community. Please be as descriptive and specific as possible. For example, refrain from simply stating, “We demolished ten vacant and abandoned homes”. Rather, list the activity (e.g., “The community removed ten vacant and abandoned homes”) and the corresponding impact (e.g., “As a result of these removals, we have seen neighboring homeowners make improvements; new development occurring as a result; increases in property values; new community gardens and green spaces”, etc.)*

	Activity	Impact
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4

Scoring Category 4: Budget and Cost Reasonableness
Scoring Category 4: Budget and Cost Reasonableness

This section will review your community or jurisdiction’s financial needs and budgetary parameters. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.

25. Please provide an estimated budget for the activities you plan for the Strong Communities Program Round 2 funding. It is acceptable for eligible properties with work already underway (i.e., abandonment petition filed, securing the property, environmental inspection) to submit reimbursement for eligible expenses on those properties from January 1, 2022, so long as those costs were not billed to a previous grant program. Your Total Grant Request Amount (above) should equal your Total Budget Amount (below). Maximum costs per individual PIN are noted below.*

	Number of Activities/Occurrences	Average Amount per Occurrence	Budget	Work Undertaken By...
Property Acquisition (not to exceed $5,000 per PIN)
Demolition (not to exceed $40,000 per PIN; including all reasonable hard and soft construction costs)
Rehabilitation (not to exceed $75,000 per PIN; exterior and interior rehab work i.e., roof, window, door repairs)
Tree, Shrub and Debris Removal (including grass cutting)
Administrative Expenses (should equal 10% of total grant request amount)

Total Calculated Request Amount From Table Above
This number should match the Total Grant Request Amount in the Applicant Information section of the application.
26. Describe your process(es) for procuring third-party vendors for work under this grant, if applicable.*

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27. Describe the specific steps that you will take to ensure that all costs under this grant are reasonable.*

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Scoring Category 5: Readiness to Proceed
Scoring Category 5: Readiness to Proceed

This section will allow IHDA to assess an applicant’s readiness to proceed with this grant at the time of award. Please make sure to fill in all the boxes or put in “N/A” if the question does not apply to your jurisdiction.

28. To demonstrate your reasonable work plan and timeline, please complete the following chart, detailing the necessary steps that you have already undertaken (after January 1, 2022) or plan to undertake with this grant. Estimate to the best of your ability and provide as much information as possible (and as applicable) to illustrate that this grant would be expended in a timely manner, thereby maximizing the immediate impact. Grantees may submit eligible expenses that occurred on or after January 1, 2022 for reimbursement. *Necessary steps include, for example, posting bids, selecting 3rd party contractors, performing eligible activities, submitting proof of payment to IHDA. **Include activities that occurred on or after January 1st, 2022.*

	Necessary Step*	Date Range to Perform Step**	Expended Dollars Expended	Number of Properties Affected	Additional Information
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8

29. Please detail the specific properties you intend to perform under this grant. Make sure to indicate your level of readiness by choosing the appropriate options in the drop-down boxes for “Type of Activity Planned” and “Process of Obtaining Legal Authority to Proceed…”. If an option is not available or if you would like to clarify, please further describe your level of readiness in the “Comments” box.*

	Address	PIN Number	City	Type of Activity Planned	Process of Obtaining Legal Authority to Proceed...	Comments (Optional)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

30. Please provide any additional information regarding your organization's readiness to proceed that you did not already discuss in the previous question.

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Standard Requirements and Certifications
Standard Requirements and Certifications

Every grantee under the Program will be required to comply with these certifications and requirements as well as any additional certifications or requirements covered in the grant documents or requested by IHDA:

1. Applicant certifies that all statement herein are true, accurate, and complete;

2. Applicant will not permit any discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability in connection with its participation in the Program;

3. Applicant will ensure expenditures of grant funds are for Eligible Uses under the Program;

4. Applicant will maintain records in connection with administration of the Program for five (5) years after the date of termination of the Commitment;

5. Applicant will comply with the terms and conditions of the Program;

6. Applicant will comply with monitoring and evaluation of the Program through the full Commitment period;

7. Applicant will comply with all Illinois prevailing wage requirements;

8. Applicant will comply with all federal/state/local laws and regulations, including, but not limited to historical preservation, environmental, demolition, and lead based paint laws; Applicant agrees and acknowledges that it is its responsibility to determine which laws and regulations apply;

9. Applicant certifies that all procurements/vendor contracts comply and will continue to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including applicable municipal procurement policies and procedures;

10. Applicant certifies that they have legal authority and rights to complete the demolition for all properties proposed.

11. Neither the applicant, nor its affiliates or related entities are delinquent in the payment of any debt to the State of Illinois (or if delinquent, has entered into a deferred payment plan to pay any debt)
On behalf of Applicant Name*, I certify that the information contained herein accurately reflects my jurisdiction’s commitment and ability to participate fully in the Strong Communities Program.

First Name* Last Name* Title* Date
Should be Empty:

	Grant/Program/Initiative Name	Compliance Finding or Concern	Solution (Implemented or Proposed)
Grant/Program/Initiative 1
Grant/Program/Initiative 2
Grant/Program/Initiative 3
Grant/Program/Initiative 4

Strong Communities Program

Applicant Information

Jurisdictional Information

Scoring Category 1: Need

Scoring Category 2: Capacity

Scoring Category 3: Impact

Scoring Category 4: Budget and Cost Reasonableness

Scoring Category 5: Readiness to Proceed