Comment suggesting an opportunity be made for field testing on electronic submission and applications for grants to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program submitted by Richard DeAngelis, Director for Policy and Research, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

I am submiitting comments on behalf of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, a quasi-state agency that provides funding and techincal assistance for affordable housing and land conservation efforts.As a funding agency we have applied for and obtained competitive grant funding numerous times for affordable housing, lead remediation, the Americorp and Vista Programs, and various agricultural and conservation activities. In recent years, we have completed several electronic grant applications required by both federal and non-federal agencies.Our experience to-date with electronic applications has been extremely negative. Specifically, our frustrations have been related to integrated financial calculations, submission of required attachments, final submission of the completed application and miscellaneous programmng quirks. We have also been frustrated by unexpected system crashes that have resulted in the loss of work.Preparing and submitting a competitive grant application is difficult enough - struggling through poorly conceived and integrated application programs can make the process near impossible.We encourage HUD to delay this requirement until there are opportunities for "field testing" and overwhelming evidence that electronic submissions will be user friendly. Finally we suggest, that if electronic submissions are required that an option to submit by hard copy by provided upon request and approval. Richard DeAngelisAssociated Housing Director for Policy and Researchrick@vhcb.org Vermont Housing and Conservation Board This comment is included entirely within this index record. There is no PDF.