[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 134 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36184-36187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17147]
[[Page 36183]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part II
Department of Housing and Urban Development
_______________________________________________________________________
Public Housing Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration Program; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 134 / Thursday, July 13, 1995 /
Notices
[[Page 36184]]
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing
[Docket No. FR-3915-N-01]
Public Housing Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration Program
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
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SUMMARY: This notice of funding availability announces the Department's
intention to award a total of $1 million in grants to the Philadelphia
Housing Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
to partner with the Education Training & Enterprise Center (EDTEC) to
enhance the long-term welfare of youth living in public housing through
structured Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration Programs.
EDTEC is currently under contract with the Department to design,
develop and implement Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration Institutes in
the communities of the Housing Authorities (HAs) referenced above.
During the development and implementation of these Youth
Entrepreneurial Demonstration Institutes (Institute or Institutes), the
Housing Authorities (HAs) named above and EDTEC will seek input and
cooperation in the form of technical assistance, guidance and
additional financial resources, to be used for micro enterprise start
up and operation, from but not limited to the following types of
organizations: Resident Councils (RCs), Resident Management
Corporations (RMCs), neighborhood schools, other neighborhood service
organizations, private corporations, university business school
students, and volunteer mentors. The Youth Entrepreneurial
Demonstration Programs that will be provided by the Institutes will
take participants through initial literacy training, when necessary,
and continue them through actual business planning, business start up
and provide the necessary on going business support that can lead to
self-sufficiency for public housing youth. Throughout the performance
period of this notice, funds from these grants will be targeted to
assist participating youths in gaining access to the required
education, employment and supportive services. This notice provides
guidelines for the use of these funds and invites comments on the
demonstration.
The performance period for this demonstration program will be for
24 months after award.
DATES: Application due date. Applications must be physically Received
by the local HUD office having jurisdiction over the proposed project
on or before 3:00 p.m. (local time) on August 14, 1995. This
application deadline is firm as to location, date, and hour. In the
interest of fairness to all competing applicants, HUD shall treat as
ineligible for consideration any application that is received after the
deadline.
Comments due date. August 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding
this notice to the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General Counsel, Room
10276, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20410-0500. Communications should refer to the
above docket number and title. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not
acceptable. A copy of each communication submitted will be available
for public inspection and copying between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
weekdays at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darlene Cocco, Office of Community
Relations and Involvement (OCRI), Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4112, Washington, DC 20410,
Telephone Number (202) 619-8201. (This is not a toll-free number).
Hearing- or speech-impaired persons may use the Telecommunications
Devices for the Deaf (TDD) by contacting the Federal Information Relay
Service on (202) 708-9300 or 1-800-877-8339) for information on the
program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
The $1 million for the Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration Program
is funded from a portion of the $20 million appropriated in the
Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and
Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for 1994 (Pub. L. 103-124,
approved October 28, 1993) (the 1994 Appropriations Act), under the
heading ``Severely Distressed Public Housing Projects.'' This grant
program provides funds for the implementation of Youthbuild programs
authorized under subtitle D of title IV of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act, as added by section 164 of the Housing
and Community Development Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-550, approved
October 28, 1992).
II. Announcement of Demonstration
This notice announces the Department's intention to award a total
of $1 million in grants to the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles to partner with the
Education Training & Enterprise Center (EDTEC) to enhance the long-term
welfare of youth living in public housing through the Youth
Entrepreneurial Demonstration Program. Youth is defined as a person
between 16-24 years old in accordance with Youthbuild Subchapter C of
Chapter V of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations as amended by
the new part 585.
Los Angeles and Philadelphia were selected because the targets for
this Demonstration are Troubled Housing Authorities, which they are,
and both cities have the relationship with EDTEC and private partners
necessary to undertake this project. The Demonstration program will
also help youth of public housing benefit from section 3 of the Housing
and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended.
In accordance with the requirements of section 470(a) of the
Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 3542), this
notice describes the intent of the Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration
Program and invites public comment. Any changes made in this
demonstration as a result of the Department's consideration of public
comments, and any extension of time for commitment of funds that may be
necessary because of these changes, will be published in the Federal
Register.
The Department will not commit funds for the demonstration until
after the latest of: (1) The date the Department has considered any
comments received in response to this notice; (2) September 11, 1995,
which is 60 days after today's publication date; and (3) the date the
Department has received and approved a proposal that meets the
requirements set forth in this notice and any subsequent notice
announcing changes in the demonstration.
III. Maximum Award
Under this Demonstration, the Department is making available a
maximum of $500,000 to the Philadelphia Housing Authority and $500,000
to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles to carry out this
Demonstration.
IV. Description of Demonstration
The Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration Program is part of HUD's
comprehensive strategy to enable
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resident youths ages 16-24 from public housing communities to develop
and expand their entrepreneurial skills to help them open businesses in
and out of their communities which will provide opportunities leading
to self-sufficiency.
Eligible Program Participants
Eligible program participants must be public housing residents, and
in accordance with Youthbuild:
(1) Participants must be very low-income individuals aged 16 to 24
years, who are high school dropouts. An exception allows for 25 percent
of the participants to be individuals who do not meet the program's
income or educational requirements but who have educational needs
despite attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalency.
(2) Any eligible individual selected for full-time participation in
this program may be offered full-time participation for a period of not
less than 6 months and not more than 24 months unless the Youth
Entrepreneurial Demonstration Program extends beyond this time frame.
(3) Programs must be structured so that 50 percent of the time
spent by participants in the program is devoted to educational services
and activities. All educational programs and activities supported with
funds from the demonstration program must be consistent with applicable
State and local educational standards. Standards and procedures for
academic credit and certifying educational attainment must be
consistent with applicable State and local educational standards.
(4) Wages and benefits, labor standards, and nondiscrimination
requirements shall apply under this program as they would under the
Youthbuild program. Housing authorities participating in this
demonstration program may not be prevented from using funds from non-
Federal sources to increase wages and benefits under the program, if
appropriate.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities under these grants are the following:
(1) Policy Recommendations. Develop policy recommendations
regarding the Public Housing Youth Entrepreneurial Demonstration
Program's operation for HUD and the two public housing authorities to
further their goals of economic empowerment and drug prevention for
youth who reside in public and Indian housing.
(2) Training Curriculum. The PHA will customize and supplement the
training curriculum provided by EDTEC to meet the needs of the youth in
their communities.
(3) Entrepreneurship Course. The PHA will deliver the
entrepreneurship program provided by EDTEC and customized by the PHA.
(4) On Site Technical Assistance. As youth put their businesses
together, the grantee must be able to provide technical assistance to
youth operated businesses including but not limited to the following
areas: legal, accounting, marketing, etc. This assistance should be
available for a sufficient amount of time to insure success.
(5) Wages, benefits and stipends for participants.
(6) Mentorship. Develop and implement a mentoring program as an
integral and critical ongoing component of the Public Housing Youth
Entrepreneur Demonstration Program. The objective of this effort is to
afford the participants the opportunity to learn from others' strengths
and limitations, and to benefit from others' experiences in building
enterprises which are highly prosperous in creating economic
development opportunities in the inner cities to help public housing
youth have an economic alternative to drugs. Housing Authorities (HAs)
named above and EDTEC will obtain input and cooperation in the form of
technical assistance, guidance and additional financial resources to be
used for micro enterprise start up and operation, from but not limited
to the following types of organizations: Resident Councils (RCs),
Resident Management Corporations (RMCs), neighborhood schools, other
neighborhood service organizations, private corporations, university
business school students, and volunteer mentors.
(7) Supportive Services. Provide supportive services which will
enable participants to attend and fully participate in the Institute's
activities, (i.e. transportation, childcare, stipends, etc.).
(8) Financing/Loan Fund. Develop a strategy with the Institute for
establishing a revolving micro loan fund for youth seeking business
start up funds.
(9) Clearinghouse. Collect, assemble and develop materials on youth
entrepreneurship in and out of public housing for the distribution by
the Office of Community Relations and Involvement (OCRI) Clearinghouse.
Develop model program briefs on successful youth entrepreneurial models
emphasizing the ``how to'' of the project and clearly defining the
obstacles and how they were overcome. Video studies may be done on
several of the most successful models.
(10) Reports. Produce quarterly reports that reflect the current
status of the project. These reports will be used to determine whether
or not this initiative is on target relative to a specified timetable
(time to be technically determined later) and meeting the stated
objective of the institutes and tracking specific outcome measures
agreed to by HUD and the contractor.
(11) Final Report/Evaluation. Produce and submit a final report
which shall be an evaluation of technical assistance, the resources
required to meet the objective of the institutes, including an
assessment of the strategies used to implement the project, and any
recommendations. The contractor shall also make recommendations
regarding the replication of this project or the development of any
future entrepreneurial institutes.
Restrictions
No more than 15 percent of the total grant amount may be used for
administrative costs.
Reports
Each PHA receiving a grant shall submit to HUD a quarterly and an
annual progress report (in a format to be provided by HUD) regarding
the implementation of this program and the effectiveness of the Youth
Entrepreneur Demonstration Program in meeting its purpose.
Proposal Requirements
In order to receive the funding proposed in this notice, each PHA
must submit a proposal describing its program in detail. Proposals are
not limited to but must include:
(1) A copy of the agreement between the PHA, EDTEC and the private
organization providing mentorship that meets the requirement of the
program;
(2) A description of how eligible participants will be recruited;
(3) An accompanying implementation schedule and budget;
(4) A description of training and placement activities under the
demonstration and how training activities will prepare the participants
for entrepreneurial opportunities;
(5) A description of resident involvement in the program's planning
and implementation;
(6) A description of efforts to provide business development,
business start-up and business operation for successful program
participants;
(7) A description of how program success will be measured,
describing the
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baseline indicators against which success will be measured;
(8) A description of how program participants' supportive service
needs will be met;
(9) Certification that participants will be eligible as defined in
the notice; and
(10) A training curriculum on the major body of knowledge required
for a successful youth entrepreneurship development. This curriculum,
developed by EDTEC and customized by PHA must be approved by HUD.
Other Matters
A. Environmental Impact
In accordance with 40 CFR 1508.4 of the Council on Environmental
Quality regulations and 24 CFR 50.19 of the HUD regulations, the
policies and procedures proposed in this document are determined not to
have the potential of having a significant impact on the quality of the
human environment and therefore are exempt from further environmental
reviews under NEPA.
B. Federalism Executive Order
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Section 8(a)
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the
provisions in this Notice of Funding Availability are closely based on
statutory requirements and impose no significant additional burdens on
States or other public bodies. This NOFA does not affect the
relationship between the Federal Government and the States and other
public bodies or the distribution of power and responsibilities among
varies levels of government. Therefore, the policy is not subject to
review under Executive Order 12612.
C. Family Executive Order
The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive
Order 12606, the Family, has determined that this Notice of Funding
Availability will have a significant impact on formation, maintenance
or well being of the family. This Demonstration program will enhance
the long term welfare of youth in public housing. Therefore, since the
impact upon the family is beneficial, no further review under this
Order is necessary.
D. Section 102 of the HUD Reform Act
Documentation and Public Access Requirements. HUD will ensure that
documentation and other information regarding each application
submitted pursuant to this NOFA are sufficient to indicate the basis
upon which assistance was provided or denied. This material, including
any letters of support, will be made available for public inspection
for a five-year period beginning not less than 30 days after the award
of the assistance. Material will be made available in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing
regulations at 24 CFR part 15. In addition, HUD will include the
recipients of assistance pursuant to this NOFA in its Federal Register
notice of all recipients of HUD assistance awarded on a competitive
basis. (See 24 CFR 12.14(a) and 12.16(b), and the notice published in
the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR 1942), for further
information on these requirements.)
Disclosures. HUD will make available to the public for five years
all applicant disclosure reports (Form HUD-2880) submitted in
connection with this NOFA. Update reports (also Form HUD-2880) will be
made available along with the applicant disclosure reports, but in no
case for a period less than three years. All reports--both applicant
disclosures and updates--will be made available in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing
regulations at 24 CFR part 15. (See 24 CFR part 15, subpart C, and the
notice published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1992 (57 FR
1942), for further information on these disclosure requirements.)
E. Section 103 of the HUD Reform Act
Section 103 of the HUD Reform Act proscribes the communication of
certain information by HUD employees to persons not authorized to
receive that information during the selection process for the award of
assistance. HUD's regulations implementing section 103 are at 24 CFR
part 4. In accordance with the requirements of section 103, HUD
employees involved in the review of applications and in the making of
funding decisions are restrained by 24 CFR part 4 from providing
advance information to any person (other than an authorized employee of
HUD) concerning funding decisions, or from otherwise giving any
applicant an unfair competitive advantage. Persons who apply for
assistance in this competition should confine their inquiries to the
subject areas permitted by 24 CFR part 4.
HUD employees involved in the review of applications and in the
making of funding decisions are limited by part 4 from providing
advance information to any person (other than an authorized employee of
HUD) concerning funding decisions, or from otherwise giving any
applicant an unfair competitive advantage. Persons who apply for
assistance in this competition should confine their inquiries to the
subject areas permitted under 24 CFR part 4.
Applicants who have questions should contact the HUD Office of
Ethics at (202) 708-3815 (voice), (202) 708-1112 (TDD). These are not
toll-free numbers. The Office of Ethics can provide information of a
general nature to HUD employees, as well. However, a HUD employee who
has specific program questions, such as whether particular subject
matter can be discussed with persons outside the Department, should
contact his or her Field Office Counsel or Headquarters Counsel for the
program to which the question pertains.
F. Section 112 of the HUD Reform Act
Section 112 of the Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989
(Reform Act) added a new Section 13 of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3531 et seq.). Section 13 contains two
provisions concerning efforts to influence HUD's decisions with respect
to financial assistance. The first imposes disclosure requirements on
those who are typically involved in these efforts--those who pay others
to influence this award of assistance or the taking of a management
action by the Department and those who are paid to provide the
influence. The second restricts the payment of fees to those who are
paid to influence the award of HUD assistance, if the fees are tied to
the number of housing units received or are based on the amount of
assistance received, or if they are contingent upon the receipt of
assistance. Section 13 are at 24 CFR part 86. Any questions regarding
the rule should be directed to the Office of Ethics, Room 2158,
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20410-3000. Telephone: (202) 708-3815 (voice); (202)
708-1112 (TDD). These are not toll-free numbers. Forms necessary for
compliance with the rule may be obtained from the local HUD Office.
F. Prohibition Against Lobbying Activities
The use of funds awarded under this NOFA is subject to the
disclosure requirements and prohibitions of Section 319 of the
Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 1990 (31 U.S.C. 1352) and the HUD implementing regulations
at 24 CFR part 87. These authorities prohibit recipients of federal
contracts, grants or loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying
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the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Federal Government in
connection with a specific contract, grant or loan. The prohibition
also covers the awarding of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements
or loans unless the recipient has made an acceptable certification
regarding lobbying. Under 24 CFR part 87, applicants, recipients and
subrecipients of assistance exceeding $100,000 must certify that no
federal funds have been or will be spent on lobbying activities in
connection with the assistance.
Dated: July 7, 1995.
Joseph Shuldiner,
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 95-17147 Filed 7-12-95; 8:45 am]
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