{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-154.14-050","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 154.14-050","heading":"Project to be in public interest -- Evaluation of grant application --","body":"Scoring system -- County population ranking -- Regional projects.\n(1) The cabinet shall not approve a project unless it finds that the project is in the\npublic interest a nd the grant funds will be used for a public purpose. For purposes\nof this subsection, projects that are in the public interest and for a public purpose\ncan include a derivative private benefit, if the cabinet finds the following:\n(a) The project will enhance a community or region;\n(b) The granting entity for which the cabinet's matching grant is being used\nrequires a public purpose for grant eligibility; or\n(c) The cabinet in its judgment concludes the proposal will enhance the quality of\nlife or services in a community or region.\n(2) The cabinet shall evaluate each applicant's eligible project according to the criteria\ndescribed in this section for the purpose of compiling a score for the eligible project\npursuant to this section.\n(3) If a match applicant is selected as an eligible grant applicant approved under the\nGRANT Program, it shall comply with any incentive agreements and reporting\nrequirements deemed necessary by the cabinet to verify that the awarded grant shall\ngo toward an eligible use.\n(4) In the administration of the GRANT Program, the cabinet shall develop a scoring\nsystem for eligible grant applications based on the total projected return on\ninvestment and the relative positive impact in the community.\n(5) The scoring system shall include a:\n(a) Score in each category as specified in subsection (6) of this section; and\n(b) Total weighted score, which is the average of the scores in each category.\n(6) The scoring categories shall include but are not limited to:\n(a) Projected return on investmen t the project will yield, which includes an\nassessment of the:\n1. Likelihood of project completion both with the match funding and\nwithout;\n2. Application content when evaluated against the federal grant program's\npublicly available scoring rubric or evaluation criteria, if any;\n3. Projected gross economic impact of the proposed project on the\ncommunity;\n4. Projected number of jobs created by the proposed project and\nsubsequent impact on the community;\n5. Determination of the cost of the project based on th e amount expended\nby the cabinet if it obligates the requested grant amount to the applicant;\n6. Evidence of community support for the project submitted by:\na. The eligible grant applicant; or\nb. A majority of eligible grant applicants for a regional project;\n7. Likelihood that the applicant can successfully manage the federal grant's\nadministration requirements; and\n8. Likelihood of success based on a federal agency prioritization of a\nparticular applicant; and\n(b) Overall positive impact the project will have on the surrounding community\nas evidenced by clear and feasible projected outcomes of the grant -funded\nproject.\n(7) (a) On or before May 1, 2024, and not later than May 1 every two (2) years\nthereafter, the cabinet shall determine a county population ranking for each\ncounty by adding the following two (2) factors:\n1. The population density ranking; and\n2. The ten (10) year percentage change in population ranking.\n(b) For applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026, the required local match\nfor each county shall be as follows:\n1. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is\ngreater than or equal to one hundred ninety -three (193) shall provide a\nminimum amount of local matching funds equal to two percent (2%) of\nthe state match;\n2. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less\nthan one hundred ninety -three (193) but greater than or equal to one\nhundred forty -five (145) shall provide a minimum amount of local\nmatching funds equal to four percent (4%) of the state match;\n3. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less\nthan one hundred forty -five (145) but greater than or equal to ninety -\nseven (97) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching funds\nequal to six percent (6%) of the state match;\n4. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less\nthan ninety-seven (97) but greater than or equal to forty -nine (49) shall\nprovide a minimum amount of local matching funds equal to eight\npercent (8%) of the state match; and\n5. Eligible projects in counties where the county population ranking is less\nthan forty-nine (49) shall provide a minimum amount of local matching\nfunds equal to ten percent (10%) of the state match.\n(c) On or before November 1, 2024, and  no later than November 1 every two (2)\nyears thereafter, the cabinet shall report to the Legislative Research\nCommission and the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue\nthe following information for each county:\n1. The county name;\n2. The population density ranking for that county;\n3. The ten (10) year percentage change in population ranking for that\ncounty; and\n4. The county population ranking for that county.\n(8)  (a) For selected eligible grant applicants that are  involved in a regional project,\nthe cabinet may pool the potential allocation of funds available for each\ncounty represented by the eligible grant applicants for the grant amount\nawarded.\n(b) A county that is an eligible grant applicant involved in a regi onal project shall\nprovide that county's local matching funds based on the county population\nranking determined under subsection (7) of this section and each county's\nlocal matching funds may be pooled as described in paragraph (a) of this\nsubsection.","path":[],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=56860","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:50:52Z","sha256":"86da6a1bce3d4916becd8f9bddd3b19224f249adb4c8bf505c77a87646a0e069","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-154.14-040","next":"us-ky/krs-154.14-060"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}