81-12,157.

Planning grants; phase one application program; limitations.

(1) The department shall establish a phase one application program to provide grants to small businesses that qualify under the federal grant program for the purposes of planning for an application under the federal grant program. If a small business receives funding under the federal grant program, the department or a nonprofit entity designated by the department may make grants to match up to sixty-five percent of the amount of the federal grant.

(2) Planning grants under subsection (1) of this section shall not exceed five thousand dollars per project. Federal award matching grants under this section shall not exceed (a) one hundred fifty thousand dollars for a business receiving a phase one grant under the federal grant program and (b) three hundred thousand dollars for a business receiving a phase two grant under the federal grant program.

(3) The department may award up to six million dollars per year for grants under this section.