Eligibility.

(a) Eligible applicants. A grant under section 1625 may only be made to a State or political subdivision of a State, including any city, town, county, borough, hospital district authority, or public or quasi-public corporation for a project described in paragraph (b) of this section for a medical facility owned, operated, or owned and operated by the State or political subdivision. (b) Eligible project. A grant under section 1625 may be made only for a construction and/or modernization project designed to: (1) Eliminate or prevent safety hazards which under Federal, State, and/or local fire, building or life safety codes or regulations, will, in the judgment of the Secretary result in one or more of the following: (i) Loss of licensure for the facility. (ii) Closing of all or a substantial part of the facility, (iii) Loss of eligibility for reimbursement under title XVIII or title XIX of the Social Security Act; or (2) Avoid noncompliance with State licensure or voluntary accreditation standards where noncompliance will, in the judgment of the Secretary, result in one or both of the following: (i) Loss of licensure for the facility, (ii) Loss of accreditation resulting in loss of eligibility for reimbursement under title XVIII or title XIX of the Social Security Act.