An eligible applicant may contract with nongovernmental organizations and individuals for the purpose of carrying out projects supported by the fund.

In applying for a cooperative services grant, an eligible applicant must specify the type of qualifying project for which assistance is sought and how the project will reduce demand for property tax revenues.

§6206.__Local match

The department may not require an eligible applicant to provide matching funds to be eligible for a cooperative services grant and may not give preference or priority to an eligible applicant whose proposal provides matching funds.

The department may require an eligible applicant to provide matching funds for a planning grant in an amount not to exceed 50% of the total grant award requested, as determined by the department in accordance with a request for proposals issued under section 6209, and may give preference or priority to an eligible applicant whose proposal provides matching funds.

§6207.__Funding criteria

1. Planning grants.__In evaluating and ranking an application for a planning grant, the review panel established under section 6208 shall consider whether the technical assistance and facilitation for which assistance is sought is reasonably likely to result in development and subsequent submission of a proposal for a qualifying project; the projected estimate of the aggregate reduction in the demand for property tax revenue; and other related factors in accordance with a request for proposals issued by the department under section 6209.

2.__Cooperative services grants.__In evaluating and ranking each application for a cooperative services grant, the review panel established under section 6208 shall consider the aggregate reduction in the demand for property tax revenue in the geographical region covered by the municipalities, counties and regional government subdivisions cooperating in the qualifying project; and other related factors in accordance with a request for proposals issued by the department under section 6209.

§6208. Review panel; review and decision on grant applications