PRINTER'S NO. 566
No. 533 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY KUKOVICH, LOGAN, TARTAGLIONE, STACK, KASUNIC,
WOZNIAK AND C. WILLIAMS, MARCH 24, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 24, 2003
AN ACT
1 Providing for an opportunity grant program, for grants to
2 promote public health and safety, to assist local crime
3 prevention programs, to support local community initiatives
4 and to enhance local economic conditions; providing for
5 eligibility requirements and application procedures;
6 providing for fiscal allocations; and providing for duties of
7 the Department of Community and Economic Development.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Short title.
11 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Opportunity
12 Grant Act.
13 Section 2. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16 context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
18 Development of the Commonwealth.
19 Section 3. Establishment of program.
20 There is hereby established within the department the
1 Opportunity Grant Program for the purpose of promoting public
2 health and safety, assisting local crime prevention programs,
3 supporting local community initiatives and enhancing local
4 economic conditions.
5 Section 4. Eligibility and exclusions.
6 (a) Eligibility.--The following entities are eligible to
7 apply for grants from the Opportunity Grant Program:
8 (1) Political subdivisions or any of their
9 instrumentalities.
10 (2) Industrial development authorities and corporations
11 established in accordance with the act of May 17, 1956 (1955
12 P.L.1609, No.537), known as the Pennsylvania Industrial
13 Development Authority Act.
14 (3) Redevelopment authorities established in accordance
15 with the act of May 24, 1945 (P.L.991, No.385), known as the
16 Urban Redevelopment Law.
17 (4) Local development districts established in
18 accordance with the act of December 7, 1994 (P.L.845,
19 No.120), known as the Local Development District Act.
20 (b) Exclusions.--No school district, intermediate unit nor
21 any other instrumentality of a school district shall be eligible
22 for a grant under this act.
23 Section 5. Eligible uses.
24 Eligible uses for grants awarded under this act shall
25 include:
26 (1) Public health and safety projects.
27 (2) Crime prevention programs.
28 (3) Job training or technology costs.
29 (4) Construction or rehabilitation of infrastructure.
30 (5) Acquisition of land, buildings or right-of-way.
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1 (6) Rehabilitation or restoration of older or
2 underutilized buildings for immediate use.
3 (7) Acquisition, demolition or rehabilitation of
4 blighted structures.
5 (8) Rehabilitation or construction of a community
6 facility.
7 (9) Site preparation, including demolition and
8 clearance.
9 (10) Purchase or upgrading of machinery and equipment.
10 Section 6. Requirements.
11 To be eligible for assistance, an applicant must meet the
12 requirements set forth in this act and any terms and conditions
13 which the department may deem necessary to administer a specific
14 grant awarded under this act by regulation.
15 Section 7. Types of assistance.
16 The department may award grants to an applicant for any of
17 the eligible uses set forth under section 5. The department may
18 award grants to an applicant, which the applicant may give to
19 community organizations or nonprofit corporations incorporated
20 under the laws of this Commonwealth.
21 Section 8. Application procedures.
22 (a) Letter of intent.--An application for a grant under this
23 act shall be initiated through a letter of intent by the
24 applicant. The letter of intent shall also indicate if the
25 applicant intends to use a grant award pursuant to section 7.
26 (b) Application.--An applicant may submit the letter of
27 intent along with a request for an application to the
28 department. Upon receipt of this information and a preliminary
29 determination of eligibility, the department shall provide an
30 applicant with application materials.
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1 Section 9. Funding allocations.
2 (a) Senate districts.--A minimum of 30% of the funds
3 appropriated under the Opportunity Grant Program shall be
4 awarded as grants for eligible projects in all Senate districts.
5 A minimum of 1/50th of this allocation shall be awarded as
6 grants in each separate Senate district.
7 (b) House of Representatives districts.--A minimum of 30% of
8 the funds appropriated under the Opportunity Grant Program shall
9 be awarded as grants for eligible projects in all House of
10 Representatives districts. A minimum of 1/203rd of this
11 allocation shall be awarded as grants in each separate House of
12 Representatives district.
13 Section 10. General Assembly approval.
14 Any grant of $200,000 or more must be approved by the General
15 Assembly by statute.
16 Section 11. Effective date.
17 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.
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