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Section 5: Preparation And Submission Of An NSP Proposal

5.1 In preparing a proposal, a Business Association or Community Council shall:

1. Encourage and consider all ideas from Neighborhood Business Associations and Community Councils from neighborhood residents and groups;
2. Make final decisions regarding the proposal in regular open, well-publicized meetings with the required quorum, where all Business Association or Community Council members, businesses located within the NBD and neighborhood residents have a vote; and
3. Document that a democratic process was used to develop the proposal.

5.2 Proposals and accompanying documentation shall be submitted to the Administering Agency and the Department by the appropriate deadline as specified in the calendar of NBDSF Program Review Committee Meetings and Deadlines. Community Councils shall use the NBDSF application forms as determined by the NBDSF Review Committee.

1. Current organization By-Laws that meet the applicable requirements of City Ordinance #249-2004.
2. Proof of current nonprofit incorporation status within the State of Ohio (i.e., copy of a Certificate of Continuing Existence, Statement of Good Standing, or Certificate of Reinstatement) and the corporation's Articles of Incorporation and all amendments (a separate document from the By-Laws).
3. A resolution passed by the Community Council stating that no one is barred from Business Association or Community Council membership by reason of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, or national origin.
4. A resolution passed by the Community Council that there will be no discrimination in hiring based on race, sex, age, handicap, religion, or national origin.

1. All proposal submissions and documentation materials shall be received by the Administering Agency in advance of or on published deadline dates.
2. Minutes and Sign-In sheets from the Business Association or Community Council meeting at which the proposal was voted on must be submitted. If the meeting took place on a date other than the Business Association or Community Council regular monthly meeting, the Business Association or Community Council shall provide evidence that businesses and business district residents were notified in advance of the opportunity to vote on the NBDSF Program proposal.
3. Job descriptions for any position to be paid with Program funds.
4. An Organizational Plan shall be provided when a proposal budget seeks wages in excess of $500 for any one worker. The Organizational Plan shall describe the connection between workers and the Business Association or Community Council and its volunteers, as well as define a set of goals and objectives for the contract term that are specific and measurable.

5.5 Program participants are expected to utilize all available resources to ensure quality and timely proposal submissions. A Pre-Review Deadline will be instituted to allow a Business Association or Community Council to submit draft proposals and documentation in advance of the Final Deadline. All Business Associations or Community Councils should seek to take advantage of the Pre-Review Deadline to determine potential problems in advance of the final submission.

5.6 Once a proposal has been forwarded onto the NBDSF Program Review Committee for approval, the Business Association or Community Council shall ensure that at least one person knowledgeable about the proposal and previous year's Final Report is present at the NBDSF Program Review Committee meeting when the proposal is considered. If no knowledgeable person is present, the proposal will not be considered.

5.7 Should a neighborhood fail to win approval of its proposal after engaging the established procedures and available resources, it has the right to appeal as specified in Section 3.3 of these Guidelines.

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