(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, to qualify for a grant from the Fund, a local government shall provide at least an equal and matching grant of money to the local economic development fund.
(b) A local government that is, or is located in, a Tier I county may qualify for a grant from the Fund by providing a grant to the local economic development fund in an amount equal to at least 50% of the grant from the Fund.