§ 35.11 Grants and technical assistance. 1. Within the amounts appropriated and available therefor, the commissioner may award a grant or grants to local governments or other appropriate entities for planning, design, acquisition, development and programming of heritage areas. The sharing limitations under this section shall not apply to any other state grant program or assistance which may be available to state designated heritage areas.

2. Planning grants may be made by the commissioner to communities identified under section 35.03 of this article. Such planning grants to municipalities will be for the purpose of assisting localities to prepare management plans and may cover up to fifty percent of the management plan cost. The state share must be matched by local funds or approved in-kind contributions.

3. Acquisition and development grants may be made by the commissioner to local governments or to other entities as authorized following approval of a management plan for the heritage area for which the grant will be used. Such grants shall be for the purpose of implementing the heritage area program in conformance with the approved management plan and may be used for project design, acquisition and development of real property and interests therein. No such acquisition or development grant shall exceed ten percent of the total project cost for which it is awarded and furthermore, local contributions must equal or exceed such grants.

3-a. Program grants may also be made by the commissioner to such local governments or authorized entities to develop and present interpretive exhibits, materials or other appropriate products in the furtherance of the educational and recreational objectives of the heritage areas program and to encourage urban revitalization of, and reinvestment in, heritage area resources. Program grants may cover up to twenty-five percent of the estimated project cost, and the state share must be matched by local funds or other non-state funds.

4. The commissioner may contract with state agencies to provide for projects, services and programs which encourage appreciation of heritage area resources or for any planning, transportation, or other services necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.

5. The commissioner shall, to the extent practicable, provide technical assistance in areas including recreation and preservation planning to management entities implementing a management plan.