Committee to open Community Reinvestment Fund portal; guidelines clarified for eligible costs

Committee staff said the Community Reinvestment Fund online application portal will open Feb. 9 and remain open through May 1 for projects seeking local reinvestment dollars, though the committee noted it is not yet certain whether funding will be available this year.

Ruth Ann, speaking for the Controller General's office, reviewed the fund guidelines and emphasized an eligibility clarification: "items that are not eligible for community reinvestment funds are reimbursement of costs that were incurred prior to the effective date of the award," meaning awards must fund new project costs rather than reimburse past expenses. She said members will receive paper copies of the guidelines and that Victoria will send email reminders; members were invited to forward the application notice to organizations in their districts.

There was a brief back-and-forth to confirm application timing after an initial mention of Feb. 16; staff corrected the start date to Feb. 9 and confirmed the application window as Feb. 9 through May 1. The chair and committee co‑chairs noted the application will be processed online and that additional guideline updates were minor.

The committee was told the application will be posted on the General Assembly website and that the Capital Budget hearings are scheduled for April 27–30.

The meeting adjourned after these items and the committee moved forward with its plan to open the portal and circulate guidelines.