Section 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.