No, utility costs are not allowable as direct costs. However, these could potentially be covered by including an indirect cost rate in your budget.
If you, as the applicant, are providing the match to your own project, you only need to provide a match verification letter from yourself to verify that you have the match committed or secured. It is allowable for the letter to be both addressed to and signed by you. If any third parties that are not the applicant are contributing match to your project, they must also provide a match verification letter.
If you, as the applicant, are providing the match to your own project, you only need to provide a match verification letter from yourself to verify that you have the match committed or secured. It is allowable for the letter to be both addressed to and signed by you. If any third parties that are not the applicant are contributing match to your project, they must also provide a match verification letter.
You do not need to provide match item-by-item. It is acceptable to provide match on some items but not for others, as long as for your overall project, you meet the match requirement of 50% or 25% if you qualify for the reduced match. For example, you could meet your match by providing an in-kind contribution in your personnel/fringe budget categories, but only request grant funds in your equipment budget category.
Note: For this reason, the budget worksheet will not automatically calculate your required match. Please double check that you are providing your required match of 25% or 50% of total project costs by using the totals in the first “Budget Summary” tab of the worksheet. You should also cross-reference these to the Grant Request section at the beginning of the application to ensure that the totals on your budget worksheet match the total project cost, grant request, and matching funds you have listed there.
You do not need to provide match item-by-item. It is acceptable to provide match on some items but not for others, as long as for your overall project, you meet the match requirement of 50% or 25% if you qualify for the reduced match. For example, you could meet your match by providing an in-kind contribution in your personnel/fringe budget categories, but only request grant funds in your equipment budget category.
Note: For this reason, the budget worksheet will not automatically calculate your required match. Please double check that you are providing your required match of 25% or 50% of total project costs by using the totals in the first “Budget Summary” tab of the worksheet. You should also cross-reference these to the Grant Request section at the beginning of the application to ensure that the totals on your budget worksheet match the total project cost, grant request, and matching funds you have listed there.
For each line item in your budget, you must list how much money you are requesting from the grant for the item and how much of the line item’s cost you will be covering with your matching contribution. In the “Funds requested” column, list the amount of grant money you are requesting for the item. In the “Match value” column, list the amount of match you are providing for the item. The sum of your “Funds requested” column and the “Match value” column for each line item should equal the total cost of the item.
For example, if a piece of equipment costs $2,000 and you plan to cover 25% of the item’s cost with matching funds, you would list $1,500 in the “Funds requested” column and $500 in the “Match value” column.
For each line item in your budget, you must list how much money you are requesting from the grant for the item and how much of the line item’s cost you will be covering with your matching contribution. In the “Funds requested” column, list the amount of grant money you are requesting for the item. In the “Match value” column, list the amount of match you are providing for the item. The sum of your “Funds requested” column and the “Match value” column for each line item should equal the total cost of the item.
For example, if a piece of equipment costs $2,000 and you plan to cover 25% of the item’s cost with matching funds, you would list $1,500 in the “Funds requested” column and $500 in the “Match value” column.
No, to qualify for the reduced match, you only need to self-certify that you meet the definition of one of these types of businesses or organizations on the application:
- Beginning farmer or rancher
- Veteran farmer or rancher
- Limited resource farmer or rancher
- Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
- Small disadvantaged business
- Women-owned small business
- Veteran-owned small business
The definitions for beginning farmer or rancher, veteran farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, and socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher can be found on the USDA’s Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers web page.
The definitions for small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, and veteran-owned small business can be found on the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Contracting Assistance Programs web page. Note that you don't need to be registered with these SBA contracting programs to qualify for the reduced match.
By selecting to self-certify for the reduced 25% match on the application, you are attesting to the truth and accuracy of your claim that your business or organization meets the definitions listed above and qualifies for reduced match.
No, to qualify for the reduced match, you only need to self-certify that you meet the definition of one of these types of businesses or organizations on the application:
- Beginning farmer or rancher
- Veteran farmer or rancher
- Limited resource farmer or rancher
- Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
- Small disadvantaged business
- Women-owned small business
- Veteran-owned small business
The definitions for beginning farmer or rancher, veteran farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, and socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher can be found on the USDA’s Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers web page.
The definitions for small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, and veteran-owned small business can be found on the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Contracting Assistance Programs web page. Note that you don't need to be registered with these SBA contracting programs to qualify for the reduced match.
By selecting to self-certify for the reduced 25% match on the application, you are attesting to the truth and accuracy of your claim that your business or organization meets the definitions listed above and qualifies for reduced match.
If you are experiencing delays in receiving your UEI number, please contact rfsi.mda@state.mn.us for further instructions.