WEST VIRGINIA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

The Neighborhood Investment Program

Fiscal Year 2013

Application Guidelines

THE NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT PROGRAM

FISCAL YEAR 2013

The West Virginia Development Office (WVDO) thanks you for your interest in the West Virginia Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP).

We at the West Virginia Development Office believe that community-based organizations can be a powerful force in community economic development. However, that force has been weakened by limited resources and insufficient incentives for private donations. On the other hand, individuals and private corporations possess those much-needed resources, and the NIP has created a necessary incentive.

The NIP encourages the private sector and your community-based organization to collaborate on local projects by providing state tax credit vouchers in the amount of 50% of an eligible contribution to an approved project. In order for an organization to be considered for participation in the NIP, it must be:

  1. Managed locally by a local sponsor without national, state, multi-state, or international affiliation;
  1. Serving economically disadvantaged persons in highly distressed neighborhoods or communities; and
  1. Collaborating with businesses, government organizations, and other community organizations.

Additionally, applicants must have IRS 501(c)3 status and be registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office as a charitable organization. ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE IRS 501(C)3 STATUS AND/OR ARE NOT REGISTERED WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

The NIP is administered according to the state fiscal year. The tax credit issued for applications due in June 2012 expires at the end of June 2013. NO TAX CREDIT MAY BE ISSUED BY PROJECTS FOR DONATIONS RECEIVED PRIOR TO THEIR APPROVAL/CERTIFICATION BY THE NIP ADVISORY BOARD AND THE WVDO.

Due to increasing demand for tax credits, we are encouraging projects to seek no more than $125,000 in tax credit.

NIP PROJECT GUIDELINES

Project Type Definitions

In order to determine the type of project you are considering, please use the following definitions:

  1. Neighborhood Assistance is the providing of financial assistance, labor, materials, and/or technical advice in the physical or economic improvement of the project location. Neighborhood Assistance also includes providing technical advice to promote higher employment in the area.
  1. Community Service is to provide at no charge: a) Any type of counseling,

b) Emergency assistance or medical care, c) Recreational or housing facilities,

d) Economic development assistance, or e) Community technical assistance and capacity building.

  1. Crime Prevention includes any project whose aim is to reduce crime.
  1. Job Training and Education is to provide instruction to individuals within the project area that enables them to acquire the vocational skills needed to become employed or to seek a higher grade of employment. This type of project would also include any other forms of scholastic instruction with the exceptions of physical training, physical conditioning, sports training, and sports camps.
  1. Other Project Types: Those that would meet the overall goals of the NIP. Please specify the project type in the space provided.
Criteria for Evaluation of Projects

These are the eight criteria set forth by the West Virginia Legislature under the Neighborhood Investment Program Act regarding eligibility for the NIP:

The Project:

  • Is community based
  • Will primarily serve low-income persons
  • Will serve highly distressed neighborhoods
  • Incorporates collaborative partnerships
  • Is innovative, creative, and unique

The Applicant:

  • Historically maintains low administrative costs
  • Produces a strong showing of need for the proposed services
  • Has demonstrated a proven capacity to deliver the proposed services
Details/Definitions of Evaluation Criteria

Community Based:

Definition:

  • Will benefit citizens in the immediate geographic area in which the project is to operate
  • Managed locally

Primarily Serving Low-Income Citizens:

Definition:

  • Providing services primarily to low-income persons (those households whose income is less than 125% of the federal poverty level guidelines described below). These guidelines will be used to determine demographic information about the citizens served by proposed projects. The 125% figures (effective February 9, 2012) are as follows:

Size of Family Unit / 125% of Federal Poverty Level
1 / $11,170
2 / $15,130
3 / $19,090
4 / $23,050
5 / $27,010
6 / $30.970
7 / $34,930
8 / $38,890
For Family Units with more than eight persons, add $3,960 for each additional member.

Serving Highly Distressed Neighborhoods:

Definition:

  • Serving communities that are economically distressed
  • Serving communities with crime or unemployment problems
  • Serving communities with high numbers of uneducated citizens

Collaborative Efforts:

Definition:

  • Work with other organizations, government bodies, and businesses to maximize benefits of the project
  • Work within the framework of a larger plan to improve communities
  • Doesn’t overlap with other services

Innovative, Novel, or Creative:

Definition:

  • Organizations that have found or are proposing new and unique solutions to existing problems
  • Organizations that are trying new ideas that may increase the effectiveness of existing programs
  • Organizations that have applied in the past must illustrate how this application is different from previous submissions

Maintaining Low Administrative Costs:

Definition:

  • Cost for executive salaries, benefits, and expenses are kept to a reasonable level
  • Cost for materials and supplies not directly benefiting program participants are minimized
  • The definition of “low” may be different for a service oriented organizations (i.e., one that offers counseling) than for one that offers financial assistance

Strong Showing of Need:

Definition:

  • The applicant can demonstrate that the service is needed in the proposed service area
  • The applicant can show that the service is not currently provided, or is not adequate to meet the need
  • The applicant is not in direct competition with other non-profit organizations providing the same service in the same area

Capacity to Deliver Proposed Services:

Definition:

  • The applicant has successfully provided the same or similar services in the past
  • The applicant understands, and is capable of providing, any special requirements necessary to do the job
  • The applicant is adequately staffed and managed

YOUR PROJECT NARRATIVE SHOULD ADDRESS HOW YOUR PROJECT MEETS EACHOF THESE CRITERIA

West Virginia Congressional Districts

District 1 / District 2 / District 3
Barbour
Brooke
Doddridge
Gilmer
Grant
Hancock
Harrison
Marion
Marshall
Mineral
Monongalia
Ohio
Pleasants
Preston
Ritchie
Taylor
Tucker
Tyler
Wetzel
Wood / Berkeley
Braxton
Calhoun
Clay
Hampshire
Hardy
Jackson
Jefferson
Kanawha
Lewis
Mason
Morgan
Pendleton
Putnam
Randolph
Roane
Upshur
Wirt / Boone
Cabell
Fayette
Greenbrier
Lincoln
Logan
McDowell
Mercer
Mingo
Monroe
Nicholas
Pocahontas
Raleigh
Summers
Wayne
Webster
Wyoming

Regional Planning and Development Councils

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Region 1

McDowell

Mercer

Monroe

Raleigh

Summers

Wyoming

Region 2

Cabell

Lincoln

Logan

Mason

Mingo

Wayne

Region 3

Boone

Clay

Kanawha

Putnam

Region 4

Fayette

Greenbrier

Nicholas

Pocahontas

Webster

Region 5

Calhoun

Jackson

Pleasants

Ritchie

Roane

Tyler

Wirt

Wood

Region 6

Doddridge

Harrison

Preston

Taylor

Marion

Monongalia

Region 7

Barbour

Braxton

Gilmer

Lewis

Randolph

Tucker

Upshur

Region 8

Grant

Hampshire

Hardy

Mineral

Pendleton

Region 9

Berkeley

Jefferson

Morgan

Region 10

Ohio

Marshall

Wetzel

Region 11

Brooke

Hancock

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NIP OUTCOME MEASUREMENT GUIDE

Outcomes are benefits or changes for groups or individuals during or after participating in project activities. They are shaped by a project’s outputs. Outcomes will relate to behavior, skills, attitudes, knowledge, or other attributes. Outcomes are often mistaken for outcome indicators. These are specific items of data that are tracked to measure how well a program is achieving an outcome, and with outcome targets, which are objectives for a programs level of achievement.

The following table includes illustrative examples of outcomes and outcome indicators for various types of programs:

Type of Program / Outcome / Outcome Indicator(s)
Free Health Clinic / Uninsured/Underinsured individuals will lead healthier lifestyles /
  • Number of prescriptions filled
  • Number and percent of patients undergoing health screening
  • Number of facilities renovated

Housing/Home Ownership / Provide safe, affordable homeownership opportunities /
  • Number of clients participating in mortgage education and financial planning sessions
  • Number and percent of clients achieving homeownership

Adult Literacy / Students will achieve goals/ reach milestones that will improve their lives (i.e., obtain GED, enhance employment opportunities) /
  • Number of students enrolled
  • Number of students completing the program

Prenatal Care Program / Pregnant women will make positive and healthy decisions for both themselves and their babies /
  • Number and percent of women who take the recommended vitamin supplements and recommended amounts of calcium
  • Number and percent of women referred for medical and financial assistance

Non-Medical Caregiving Services to the Elderly / Encourage independence and improve the quality of life for elderly individuals /
  • Number and percent of clients able to live independently
  • Number and percent of clients utilizing transportation services
  • Number of meals delivered

Shelter and Counseling for Runaway Youth / Family is reunified whenever possible; otherwise, youth are in stable alternative housing /
  • Number and percent of youth who return home
  • Number and percent of youth placed in alternative living arrangements months later unless they have been reunified or emancipated

Your project narrative should address how you measure outcomes for your project and how outcome indicators are tracked. If your application is approved, you will be required to report on these outcomes/outcome indicators on a quarterly basis.

Your project narrative should also address the following questions relative to the measurement of outcomes:

  • What do you hope to accomplish as a result of your project?
  • What resources – within and outside of your community – are available to you as you implement your project?
  • What factors might affect the implementation and success of your project?
  • What strategies will you implement to help achieve the expected outcomes associated with the project?
  • Will the outcomes of the project impact your organization? Will they impact your community? If so, how?
  • If the impacts of the project transfer to your organization and your community, how will economic, environmental, and/or social conditions be improved?
  • How will you know if the success of the project has translated into organizational and community improvements?

Sample Board Resolution

(Must be on letterhead of requesting organization)

The ______(Organization)______met on ______(Date)______with a quorum present and passed the following resolution.

Be it resolved that the ______(Organization)_____ hereby authorizes ______(Name of Individual and Title)_____ of the ______(Organization)_____ to apply for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits for __(Specific Fundraising Activities ____, on behalf of ______(Organization)______.

Be it also resolved that the ______(Organization)_____ hereby authorizes ______(Name of Individual and Title)_____ of the ______(Organization)_____ to act on its behalf to enter into a agreement with the West Virginia Development Office to receive and administer tax credits pursuant to the provisions of the Neighborhood Investment Program.

By: ______

Title:______

Organization:______

NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT PROGRAM

FISCAL YEAR 2013APPLICATION

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

  • Prior to completing the NIP application, please read the application and instruction materials carefully.
  • Please ONLY use this form, and DO NOT alter the format of this form. Many sections are designed to expedite registration and evaluation of this application at the WVDO.
  • All applications must be thoroughly completed in dark ink or typed. If a question does not apply to your project, please indicate so by writing/typing N/A.
  • Completed applications must be postmarked by June 29, 2012. Late or incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
  • The original application and one copy should be mailed to:

West Virginia Development Office

Community Development Division

Neighborhood Investment Program

State Capitol Complex

Building 6, Room 553

Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0311

  • Should you have any questions while completing this application, please contact:

Monica D. Miller

Local Capacity Development

West Virginia Development Office

Phone: (304) 558-2234

Fax: (304) 558-2246

E-mail:

  • Instructions for individual sections begin on page 2 in the NIP Application Checklist and Instructions. Please read and follow this section carefully.
  • NIP APPLICATION FORMAT: Your complete FY 2013 NIP Application should be arranged and submitted in the following order:
  1. NIP Cover Sheet (page 1)
  2. NIP Application Checklist and Instructions (pages 2-4)
  3. NIP Application Forms (pages 5-7)
  4. NIP Attachment A: Copy of IRS Form 990
  5. NIP Attachment B: Copy of IRS 501(c)3 Determination Letter
  6. NIP Attachment C: Copy of Charitable Organization Registration Letter
  7. NIP Attachment D: Project Narrative (maximum 6 pages)
  8. NIP Attachment E: Project Schedule (maximum 2 pages)
  9. NIP Attachment F: Annual Financial Statement
  10. NIP Attachment G: Board Resolution
  11. NIP Attachment H: Additional Project Literature (optional)

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