RRC Technical Assistance (Match Funding)

RRC Technical Assistance (RRC TA) match funding is a resource available to eligible communities who are actively engaged in Redevelopment Ready Communities. RRC may provide funding support for various projects needed to reach or maintain certification. While exact investment parameters may vary based on numerous factors, RRC TA match funding can cover up to 75% of a project's cost with the remaining amount coming directly from the community or its partners. Communities are currently eligible for up to $30,000* over the lifetime of their efforts to reach RRC certification.

*This is a maximum amount - communities are not guaranteed to receieve this full amount.

Eligible communities

In order to apply for funding, a community must meet three key thresholds:

Be engaged and in good standing with RRC;
Have received its baseline report and passed a resolution to continue working toward certification; and
Have demonstrated progress in working toward certification.

Unsure if your community is eligible to apply? Chat with the RRC planner for your region or check out this handy decision tree. Eligibility to make a request does not guarantee funding. Projects are approved on a case-by-case basis and consider other factors such as cost, local match, capacity, competitiveness compared to other projects requesting funding, etc.

Eligible Uses

RRC TA match funding can be used to help a community cover the cost of professional services for most items identified as red/yellow in its baseline report. Common uses include master plan updates, downtown plans, zoning ordinance updates, and economic development/marketing strategies. Each potential project is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Funding is not guaranteed until agreements are signed.

Communities who are RRC certified may continue to request support on a case-by-case basis for special projects.

Process

To request RRC technical assistance match funding, the community works closely with its assigned RRC planner to identify a project, provider and funding level. Funding requests now go through a formal request process which provides greater consistency in how RRC evaluates requests. In general, the process works as follows*:

Request: Community makes a request to use RRC TA match funding for an identified project.
Confirm Eligibilty and Capacity to Apply: RRC planner works with community to complete first sections of the request form to confirm if the community meets basic eligibility and capacity requirements and that the project would advance the community toward certification.
1. NOTE: While a community may meet basic eligibility to request funding, it does not guarantee funding. Decisions are made on a number of factors including cost, capacity, other projects competing for funding, etc.
2. The RRC Planner is empowered to make an initial determination of eligibility and capacity, but may choose to request input from the team at any time.
Details: Once eligibility and capacity has been established, RRC planner works with communtiy to identify details including:
1. the proposed scope of work
2. how to go about selecting a provider^
3. how billing will work
4. source of local match funding
Draft Work Order: RRC planner drafts work order and sends to community to confirm
Solicit Scope: Once community confirms, RRC planner sends work order to selected service provider. The provider will respond with a full scope and budget.
1. NOTE: This draft scope and budget remains property of the RRC TA program and may NOT be used by the community to solicit alternative proposals.
Scope/Budget - RRC & Community Review: Provider sends full scope and budget to the RRC Planner for review. RRC Planner will also send it to the community for a concurrent review.
1. Revisions (if needed): If scope/budget not approved, community and RRC planner work with provider to make alterations until all parties accept project or project is declined.
2. RRC planner will work to complete the TA match funding application and
Complete TA Request Form: Once the community and RRC planner agree on the scope, the RRC Planner will complete the request form and ask the community to confirm all information is correct.
RRC Team Approval: On the last Monday of each month, the RRC team will review all completed RRC TA Match Funding requests and make final determinations.
Sign Contract: Community signs a contract with provider for their portion of the project cost (a copy should be sent to the RRC planner for record keeping). RRC pays its portion directly to the provider as determined in step 3.
Project Begins: Project moves forward. RRC is kept in the loop (provided drafts, invited to stakeholder meetings, provided progress reports, etc.)
Project Complete: RRC and community issue final approval of the completed work.

*This is the ideal process from an RRC perspective; however, RRC will work with a community to respect any local processes it may have in place for soliciting professional services.

^RRC has proactively engaged with a number of planning firms in Michigan to help expedite this process but see the FAQs for exceptions to this list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What providers can I use?

In order to expedite the RRC TA process, the MEDC conducted a competitive bidding process to establish technical assistance contracts with a number of qualified planning firms. This allows for an overall smoother contracting experience for communities who choose to work with one of these firms.

If the communtiy has a planning consultant under contract who it wishes to work with on an eligible project, RRC is able to work with the community to find the best way to provide match funding on a case-by-case basis.

Can I use RRC TA Funds for multiple projects?

Eligible communities can request RRC TA funding multiple times though there is no guarantee that RRC will be able to support multiple projects. In general, communities must finish an active RRC TA funded project and make additional progress on its own before requesting additional funds.

Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no guarantee of available future funding.

What is needed to apply?

In order to consider requests, the RRC Team will review completed applications. When a community is interested in a project, the RRC Planner for that area will meet with the community to go over the application and complete it together.

The application includes three main sections: basic community information, an assessment of eligibility and capacity for the TA project, and specific information on the project itself. During this intial conversation, the RRC Planner will also go over expectations with the community on issues such as keeping RRC informed, paying the community's match portion, etc.