[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10349-10350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4497]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service


Inviting Applications for Rural Technology Development Grants

AGENCY: Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service (RBCDS) 
announces the availability of approximately $1.75 million in competing 
Rural Technology Development Grant (RTDG) funds for fiscal year (FY) 
1995. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications for 
FY 1995, notify applicants of RBCD's objectives for FY 1995, and award 
grants before May 25, 1995. The purpose of the grant program is to 
establish and operate centers for rural technology or cooperative 
development.

DATES: The deadlines for receipt of a preapplication is April 10, 1995. 
Preapplication received after the date will not be considered for FY 
1995 funding.

ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact 
Rural Economic and Community Development (RECD) State Offices to 
receive further information and copies of the preapplication package. 
The program will be operated by RECD at the State level.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Barton, Loan Specialist, Community Facilities Division, Room 
6304, South Agriculture Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0700, Telephone: (202) 720-1504.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Refer to 7 CFR part 4284-F, published in the 
Federal Register on August 12, 1994 (59 FR 41429) for the information 
collection requirements of the RTDG program. The RTDG program was 
previously administered by the former Rural Development Administration. 
Under the reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, the 
responsibility for administering this program was transferred to RBCDS. 
Part 4284-F of title 7 of the Code of Federal 
[[Page 10350]] Regulations provides details on what information must be 
contained in the preapplication package.
    The RTDG program is authorized by section 310B(f) through (h) of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932). The 
primary objective of the program is to improve the economic condition 
of rural areas. The RTDG. program will achieve this objective by 
supporting the creation or enhancement of institutions capable of 
promoting the development and commercialization of new services, 
products, processes, and enterprises. RBCDS encourages applications for 
projects that emphasize the creation of local capacity to promote 
economic development that is sustainable over the long term through 
local effort. The economic development should lead to improvements in 
the quality as well as the quantity of economic activity in the 
community and should be based on the application of new and existing 
technologies. Grants may be used to pay up to 75 percent of the cost of 
the project and administrative costs; the applicant must contribute at 
least 25 percent.
    RTDG grants are competitive and will be awarded to nonprofit 
institutions and public bodies based on specific selection criteria, as 
required by legislation and set forth in 7 CFR part 4284-F. Project 
selection will be given to those projects that contribute the most to 
the improvement of economic conditions in rural areas.
    Preference will be given to those projects that will create 
industries or agribusinesses where few exist, increase employment where 
unemployment is high, stem the flow of out migration of people, 
businesses and industries, and increase the level of per capita income 
where such income is low. Applicants must provide data to support these 
criteria. The information submitted should provide an accurate picture 
of the economic conditions of the rural areas to be served. The Agency 
will use the information provided to select the best projects for 
funding. Part 4284 of title 7 to the Code of Federal Regulations 
contains general information on the selection criteria.
    As consistent with the regulatory selection procedures, RBCDS 
desires to fund projects from FY 1995 funds that promote one or more of 
the following policies:
    1. Projects that assist rural communities and businesses that are 
experiencing erosion in their economic base. A critical need exists for 
actions leading to long-term enhancements in the ability of communities 
and businesses to adjust to changed conditions in a smooth manner and 
to achieve, over the long term, improvements in the quality of 
community life and the competitiveness and profitability of businesses.
    The proposed activity should result in economic activity that is 
sustainable by the community over the long term through local actions 
(without the need for continued subsidies by governments or 
nongovernmental organizations). The project should lead to improvements 
in the quality of economic activity within the community, as evidenced 
by employment leading to higher wages, improved benefits, greater 
career potential, and the use of higher levels of skills than currently 
are typical within the local economy.
    2. Projects that assist rural communities that have remained 
persistently poor. A critical need exists for actions to develop and 
implement broad strategies to create new sources of economic activity 
in these communities, and to promote development of human resources 
within the community, including organizational development, 
entrepreneurship, and workforce training.
    3. Projects that assist rural communities and businesses in areas 
that have experienced long-term population decline and job 
deterioration. A critical need exists for the broadened application of 
new technologies to develop business opportunities in remote rural 
locations. This can be accomplished, for example, by creating new 
products or services that are related to the traditional industrial 
base or that use locally-available natural resources, or by developing 
new methods of conducting business from remote locations through the 
applications of telecommunications technology or other business 
methods.
    RBCDS encourages applications for projects that have the following 
characteristics:
    1. The proposed use of funds should have a catalytic impact on the 
local economy by providing support for a critical element of a larger 
program of economic development by leveraging major additional 
investments from other contributors, or by enhancing the quality of the 
design of the project or the capacity of the community to implement it 
successfully.
    2. The proposed project should use exemplary methods or practices 
of rural community and economic development that have potential 
applicability in a wide range of areas.
    3. The proposed activity should be consistent with local and 
areawide strategic plans for community and economic development and be 
a part of a broader program of community development activity that 
involves partnerships with other local organizations and other 
organizations providing support to the community. It must be jointly 
assisted by resources from other local, State, Federal or private 
resources.
    4. The proposed activity should be representative of and serve a 
diverse population of economic and social groups within the community, 
and the planning and project development should involve active 
participation by a diverse range of community residents.

1995 Application Submission

    Due to the short application period for FY 1995 funds, qualified 
applicants should begin the preapplication process as soon as possible. 
Preapplications must include a clear statement of the goal(s) and 
objective(s) of the project and a plan which describes the proposed 
project as required by the statute and 7 CFR part 4284-F. Each 
application received in the State Office will be reviewed for 
eligibility.
    All eligible applications will be referred to the National Office 
for scoring and selection for award. The State Director or his/her 
designee will provide comments on each application forwarded to the 
National Office documenting whether the proposal promotes any of the 
policies set forth in this issuance. Any other comments helpful to the 
National Office's review are also welcome. The National Office will 
provide funds for projects based on the grant selection criteria set 
forth in 7 CFR part 4284-F and the availability of funds. Grants will 
be selected for award by May 25, 1995. No grants may be awarded after 
July 13, 1995 under the authority of 7 CFR part 4284-F. Successful 
applicants will be notified by the RECD State Office or the RBCDS 
National Office.

    Dated: February 15, 1995.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business and Cooperative Development 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-4497 Filed 2-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-32-M