CAPE COD COMMISSION
BARNSTABLE COUNTY

TOWN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP)

TERMS & GUIDELINES

Updated December 2003

 

The County has extended the availability of the $40,000 remaining from FY 01 surplus funds for the Town Technical Assistance Program (TAP). TAP is designed to provide predevelopment assistance to communities in the early stages of an affordable housing development or for implementation of an affordable housing production/creation related zoning bylaw.

Barnstable County TAP Funds Application Form

Eligible Applicants: Towns.

Eligible Projects: TAP funds can be used for predevelopment expenses for projects involving new construction, rehabilitation or preservation of affordable homeownership or rental housing units. TAP funds can also be used for implementation expenses associated with an affordable housing production/creation related bylaw.

Affordability: Applicant must demonstrate that the project will provide benefit to very low and/or low-income households.

Use of TAP Funds: Examples of the type of technical assistance envisioned (list is illustrative, not exhaustive):

• Appraisals of land or buildings;
• Financial analysis;
• Preliminary architectural, engineering, historical review services;
• Site evaluations, building inspections, general suitability analysis;
• General development advice, including proposal review, assistance with negotiations;
• Packaging, preparation and submission of funding applications;
• Legal consultation;
• Any other predevelopment activity;
• Implementation and monitoring of a housing creation related bylaw (e.g. Barnstable's amnesty accessory apartment bylaw).

Guidelines:

• Maximum of $5,000 for any town;
• Towns must have completed a housing action plan for the next 1-2 years which includes an assessment of the Town's housing needs; the strategies by which the town will achieve its housing goals; production unit goals for each strategy; and the entity(ies) responsible for each strategy;
• Funds should be used for an activity(ies) within the plan;
• Expectation that units will be created that will benefit very low and/or low-income Households.

Application/Review Process: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, starting on December 23, 2003, and will continue to be accepted until the earlier of June 30, 2004 or the commitment of all the funds. Requests for funds will be reviewed by the Cape Cod Commission's Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Review Committee. Awards will be made on a funds available basis.

Fund Awards: The TAP will provide up to $5,000 worth of professional assistance to eligible projects. Site control is not required. Awards of up to $5,000 for development projects are considered deferred payment loans subject to the repayment terms described below. Awards to zoning implementation projects, not involving housing development, will be provided as a grant.

Repayment Terms: Awards to housing development projects will require the applicant to sign a letter obliging the recipient to repay the TAP award from any future mortgage proceeds if the project moves forward. If the project does not go forward, despite the best efforts of the developing entity, repayment of the award will not be required.

Program Structure: Once a funding request has been approved, a service contract will be executed between the Town and Barnstable County. The contract will address the obligations and responsibilities of both parties. All applicants receiving fund awards will be required to submit a final report to the Commission's affordable housing specialist prior to the contract's completion date.