Advisory council approves in-kind match window and moves to two annual OHP grant cycles

Members of the Off-Highway Program (OHP) advisory council on Aug. 6 approved a rule change allowing applicants to count in-kind contributions made up to 12 months before the execution of an OHP grant contract and agreed to set the grant program on a twice-yearly cycle with a shorter application window.

The council’s action followed several hours of discussion about how to prevent abuse of in-kind match credits and how to give staff flexibility to administer the program. “Volunteer hourly contributions may be counted as matching funds if they occur within 12 months prior to the execution of a contract provided the work is directly correlated and approximate to the project scope described in the application,” said Sheriff Curtis as he moved the motion; Scott seconded. The motion, amended during the meeting to emphasize staff discretion, passed on a roll-call vote.

Council members said the change was prompted by applicants who asked to count work done prior to awards and by desire to make the program more accessible for projects that involve planning or early construction.

Why it matters: in-kind match rules affect which projects can meet minimum match requirements and can shift who is competitive for limited…