Miscellaneous

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Division of Housing and Community Development
NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA) FOR LOCAL UPDATE OF CENSUS ADDRESSES (LUCA)

The Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announces technical assistance grant funding in the amount of $94,779.00 to assist Florida’s incorporated cities and counties in an effort to encourage and facilitate participation in the U.S. Census Bureau’s LUCA Program.

In August 2007, Florida’s cities and counties were invited by the U.S. Census Bureau to update the Bureau’s official master address file that will be used to deliver the 2010 Census forms. It is essential that this master address file contain all addresses where Floridians reside. In this way the 2010 Census will reflect a complete and accurate count in Florida ensuring that cities and counties receive their fair share of state and federal funds. Our fast-growing and diverse state presents special challenges for the Census Bureau address list and an undercount could cost millions in lost federal revenue over the next decade.

Cities and counties may use the available technical assistance funds to help defer a variety of expenses related to the review and update of addresses within their jurisdiction(s). Technical assistance grants will vary in amount by county, with city grant awards controlled to the county caps. Grant amounts will be based on 0.30 per capita less inmates, as reflected by April 1, 2006 county population estimates, and the county will be bound by a minimum grant award of $7,500 and a maximum of $30,000. Grant requests should be based on the individual or consolidated jurisdiction’s maximum award level as shown in the worksheet at http://LUCA.FLCensus.gov/tag/tag.htm. Jurisdictions that were part of a prior LUCA Technical Assistance grant application will not be eligible for additional funding and can not be included in a Technical Assistance grant application or award from the Department of Community Affairs.

Eligible expenses shall include, but not be limited to, technology (purchase, lease or upgrade of computer-related equipment and software); overtime pay for full-time workers and salaries for temporary workers; and contractual agreements with other Florida governmental entities (regional planning councils, state universities, community colleges, or other cities or counties).

To apply for state technical assistance funding, local governments must complete an application form which is available at http://LUCA.FLCensus.gov/tag/tag.htm. Applicants must submit five original signed applications to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, by 5:00 p.m. (EDT), on Friday, October 26, 2007. Applications received after the published deadline shall be deemed late and will not be considered by the Department of Community Affairs.

Grant applications and awards are from the State of Florida only and do not substitute for U.S. Census Bureau LUCA registration. Applicants must register with the U.S. Census Bureau as a LUCA participant to ensure final receipt of funds.

The applications will be ranked and priority consideration will be given to the following factors: the LUCA participation option selected; whether or not the application includes all eligible local government jurisdictions (all incorporated and unincorporated areas) within a county’s boundaries or a subset thereof; whether or not the county is considered “fiscally constrained” as defined by Section 218.67(1), Florida Statutes; whether or not the county was included in major federal disaster declarations in at least 2 different 12-month periods beginning June 1, 2004; whether the 2005 county per capita personal income is below the state level; and whether or not the entire county area has experienced a population growth rate between April 1, 2000 and April 1, 2006 that exceeds the state.

Applicants will receive scores based on a competitive scoring system. Grant awards will be determined based on the number of applications received and available funding.

Grant awards will be announced no later than November 9, 2007. The Florida Department of Community Affairs will be responsible for executing award agreements, monitoring the funding and processing payments to local governments.

Because revenue sharing formulas, as well as federal and state grant awards, rely on census data, local governments are encouraged to take steps to ensure that the 2010 Census accurately reflects population and household income levels. The funds being offered under this NOFA will assist with that

process. More information on the Florida LUCA Technical Assistance Grant program is located at http://LUCA.FL Census.gov/tag/flluca-brochure.pdf.

For additional information, please contact via phone at (850)922-1450 or toll free at 1(877)435-5822, or via email at LUCA@FLCensus.gov. Applications should be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Florida Department of Community Affairs

Division of Housing and Community Development

ATTN: Janice Browning

2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard

Room 250A

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100