Section 340.60  Application Evaluation Criteria

a)         Projects will be evaluated by the grant administrator based on the following considerations:

1)         Reasonable assurance of increasing the availability and accessibility of Illinois agricultural products among Illinois communities [505 ILCS 92/20(d)(1)].

2)         Adequate and realistic budget projection [505 ILCS 92/20(d)(2)].

3)         Eligibility requirements.

4)         Cost eligibility.

b)         Points will be awarded for:

1)         Proposals that have established favorable community support [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(1)].

2)         Proposals that increase the availability of Illinois agricultural products to underserved communities in Illinois [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(2)].

3)         Proposals that positively impact underserved farmers in Illinois [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(3)].

4)         Proposals from established farmers and food businesses [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(4)].

5)         Proposals that facilitate long-term economic development in the local food sector [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(5)].

6)         Proposals that demonstrate comparable investments by the anticipated recipient [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(6)].

7)         Proposals for high need projects [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(7)].

8)         Proposals that are submitted by small and very small farms and food businesses [505 ILCS 92/20(e)(8)].

9)         Proposals from organizations led by historically underserved farmers and food business owners.

c)         Sufficient Documentation. The following are examples of documentation that will be deemed sufficient to establish various application requirements and criteria for points to be awarded. Substantially similar, unlisted documents identified in the application or any frequently asked questions or questions and answers for this program will also suffice.

1)         For proof of entity: Federal Employer Identification Number, FEIN issuance letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or registration with the Illinois Secretary of State to do business in Illinois.

2)         For proof of "established":  at least two types of documentation per year for at least three years, including:

A)        Documentation from a source other than the applicant of the date the business was started in Illinois.

B)        Documentation from government agencies of the business' operations or activities; tax records; media coverage describing the project or business's first actions (or prior actions so long as they meet the definition of "established" in these rules).

3)         For proof of "high need":

A)        Identification of the critical infrastructure that is needed in the community:  what it is, why it is needed, and what other projects or resources are available in the community in that space; or

B)        Explanation of who the proposed project will primarily serve, with specific focus on how the project will serve underserved farmers and underserved communities, and an estimate of what percentage of the project's intended beneficiaries will be underserved.

4)         For long-term economic development:

Documentation describing or demonstrating how the project will accomplish any of the following:

A)        Investment in infrastructure to support business growth;

B)        Training, education, and skill development in an underserved community;

C)        Promote environmental sustainability and responsible resource management;

D)        Local community involvement in decision making and or identification of specific needs; or

E)        Providing opportunities not currently available to individuals in underserved communities.

5)         For proof of the number of employees:

A)        Applicant's payroll logs showing how many people were paid by the applicant for each pay period for the 12 months preceding application;

B)        IRS Form 941 for the four quarters preceding application, Illinois Form UI-3/40 Employer's Contribution and Wage report for the four quarters preceding application; and

6)         For "realistic budget projection":  a budget that identifies the total amount requested; accounts for each dollar spent; and provides explanations/assumptions of how the numbers were determined, with supporting documentation for those explanations/assumptions as appropriate.

7)         For favorable community support:  at least two letters of support for the project or business, written in the six months preceding application, from different entities that do work in the community.  Letters of support must include:

A)        A summary of the relationship between the entity and the applicant;

B)        A description of the entity's operations and community impact;

C)        Address of the entity;

D)        Description of the geographic area the entity operates in or impacts;

E)        A summary of the applicant's proposed project.  This can be provided by the applicant to the entity but must be included with and or referenced in the letter; and

F)         Anything else identified in the application.

d)         High need determination and review:

1)         If an applicant identifies their project as "high need" and the grant administrator determines the project does not meet the definition of "high need", the grant administrator shall notify the applicant in writing of that determination and its basis.

2)         The applicant will have five business days from the date of that notification to inform the grant administrator in writing of whether the applicant intends to submit additional documentation. No response will be taken to mean the applicant does not intend to provide additional documentation, and the application will be denied. Applicants must identify, in that notification, whether they intend to provide matching funding or additional information to support their identification as a high need project.

3)         The grant administrator will acknowledge receipt of the applicant's notification and inform the applicant at that time if the notification is insufficient. If the notification is insufficient, applicant will have two business days to remedy. Grant administrator will provide written confirmation to the applicant that their notification was sufficient.

4)         An applicant that timely provides sufficient notification will then have 15 business days from the date of the grant administrator's confirmation of sufficiency and receipt to submit additional information to support its self-identification as high need, and or additional information to show proof of matching fund availability.  Failure to provide the documentation in the required time will result in the application being denied.