Payments shall be made to applicants by the commissioner only for approved projects. Such payments may be made from time to time in keeping with the rate of progress toward the satisfactory completion of individual projects. All such payments shall be made by the commissioner to the official or agency having the lawful authority and responsibility of accepting and administering funds paid hereunder. If consistent with an approved project, and when the commissioner deems it necessary to do so, payments may be made in advance.