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<div>Liza Flemming Ives and Mary Terry reviewed the budget numbers this week that we sent in recently and the following reply explains what we need to prepare for next. I will meet with the Selectmen tonight to discuss what type of approval process we might need. We need to meet soon to get a better handle on the type of building we want. We will need several folks able to go to Augusta when we know the dates. Your feedback is appreciated. MG</div>
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<div>Hi Mark,</div>
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<div>The numbers looked good. Liza is going to comb through the numbers and look for any areas that you may have missed and we did not catch. She should have comments back to you within the next day or so. Overall, we found a couple of areas to cut (good news) and not much to add. </div>
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<div>Liza is to call MaineHousing today regarding a number of things including having a small group from Long meet and with them to have an initial conversation about your plans. This is a "first date meeting" that usually includes a couple of islanders, Liza and some people from MaineHousing. It is less about project specifics and more about talking about the need that you hope to fill. </div>
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<div>Liza and I talked a lot about how to move Long forward. We agreed, that if you are all interested, I could work directly with you on pulling together information for the proposal and Liza would then take on writing the application. Genesis would issue a contract for a set number of hours which would be payable only if you received the grant. If the grant is not awarded, the fee would be forfeited. </div>
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<div>It might make sense to form a building or development committee that moves the project along. That committee would report to the full board on a regular basis. </div>
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<div>It seems the next steps, if you decide to proceed would be to decide on the following:</div>
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<div>1. Decide which way to build - Stick built, modular or architect/design/build team</div>
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<div>2. Select an engineer after getting some bids (there are several we know of, you may have someone in mind)</div>
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<div>3. Create a bid process for the builds and get bids</div>
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<div>4. Select a bid</div>
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<div>5. Complete any community process required around town meetings and permits</div>
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<div>6. Figure out the best rent to own model to use (I can do more research in that area for you)</div>
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<div>You have a housing needs assessment and a comp plan that states the housing needs. You would need the needs assessment, the comp plan is a nice supporting document.</div>
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<div>In addition, we might want to talk about a pre-development grant from this bond issue. It would allow you to have some site work done and begin to work through the issues. If you don't move forward, you would not have to pay it back but you would also not be eligible for future funding. If you do move forward, the pre-development grant would be "paid back" from the larger grant. In other words, the total you can get is $400,000 inlcuding the pre-development money.</div>
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<div>Lots to think about. I am happy to come to another meeting to talk through some of the details and outline what work would need to go into the application and process.</div>
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<div>Another thing to think about is applying for other grant money - maybe from the Maine Community Foundation or Maine Bank and Trust (now People's United). Both have ties to the islands and want to provide support.</div>
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<div>Hope this answers your questions. I am here most all day tomorrow if you want to talk by phone.</div>
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<div>Best,</div>
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Mary</div>
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