| (a) Applications filed with the council shall be on an application form promulgated by the council. Appropriate instructions and explanatory materials will be provided with the application. (b) Dates for the submission of applications shall be set and published by the council. If funds are available, application dates will be set not less than annually. (c) The deadline for receipt and consideration of an application for funding is the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on the submission date. An application is considered filed when actually received in the council offices or when postmarked showing the application was received and accepted by the United States post office, a common carrier or its equivalent, at least four calendar days prior to submission date. Metered mail is not acceptable unless it also includes a United States Postal Service postmark. (d) Applicants shall pay, at the time of filing the
application, a nonrefundable filing fee in an amount set by the council. (e) All documents relating to an application shall be filed with the council. Each application will be marked with the date and time received in the offices of the council. The envelope or other wrapper in which an application received by mail or common carrier was enclosed shall be retained with the application. (f) A copy of all applications and supporting documentation shall be maintained at the council's office. Applicants are advised that the council must comply with the Open Records Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, and therefore that the application and supporting documentation are subject to the Open Records Act. (g) An application for a grant, loan, or other disbursement of funds shall be accompanied by all supporting documentation at the time the application is filed, except as provided in subsection (h) of this section.
(h) Upon receipt, an application will undergo an initial review by the council to determine whether the application is complete and whether all proposed activities are eligible for funding. The results of the initial review shall be provided to the applicant. The applicant may correct any deficiencies within 10 calendar days of the date of the notification of such deficiencies from the council. Upon determination that the application is complete, the application shall be forwarded to the executive committee for consideration. (i) A technical review of all applications or of particular classes of applications may be required by the council. The technical review may include investigation into the economic and technical feasibility of the project for which funding is sought and the likelihood that the project, if implemented, will accomplish the objectives stated in the application or established by the council. (j) The council may
require an investigation of the financial circumstances, business experience, and background of applicants, the personnel identified by an applicant as being principally responsible for the project for which funding is sought, and the same information concerning specific suppliers of goods and/or services proposed to be acquired pursuant to the terms of the application.
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