Local Government Citizens Re-Organization Empowerment Grant (CREG) Program

The Local Government Citizens Re-Organization Empowerment Grant (CREG) Program, administered by the New York State Department of State, offers financial and technical assistance to local government entities across all New York State counties to support municipal reorganization efforts. The program provides three main grant categories: Re-Organization Planning, Re-Organization Implementation, and Expedited Re-Organization Assistance. Planning grants fund initial studies such as data collection, service and financial analyses, and recommendations for reorganization or alternative efficiency measures. Implementation grants fund activities associated with executing approved consolidation or dissolution plans, while expedited assistance is aimed at costs incurred when a petition for re-organization triggers the requirement for local government information dissemination prior to a referendum. Applications are continuously accepted over a five-year contract term, with monthly deadlines for questions and periodic request-for-application updates. Applicants must be local government entities eligible under New York’s General Municipal Law and undergo a pass/fail evaluation covering application completeness, applicant eligibility, project eligibility under Article 17-A, and submission of a thorough work plan. Awardees must comply with state requirements including labor laws, equal employment opportunity provisions, and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) participation goals of 15% each for minority- and women-owned subcontracting, with an additional 6% SDVOSB goal. The contracting process does not specify FAR clauses, shipping or packaging standards, or fixed pricing schedules but requires adherence to program-specific terms, including detailed budgets, work plans, reporting and payment schedules outlined in attachments. Contract administration includes electronic invoicing and record review rights by the State, with performance deliverables such as draft and final reports, interim management actions, and biannual project status reports. The State maintains inspection and acceptance authority primarily at the project site, focusing on compliance with legal, fiscal, and programmatic standards. Contact points for technical and submission queries are provided through designated departmental consultants and contract specialists. Overall, the program aims to promote efficient government service delivery and fiscal savings through strategic municipal reorganization initiatives supported by structured grant funding and oversight.