[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11378-11379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6627]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Inviting Preapplications for Rural Technology and Cooperative 
Development Grants

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the 
availability of approximately $1.33 million in competing Rural 
Technology and Cooperative Development Grant (RTCDG) funds for fiscal 
year (FY) 1996. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit 
preapplications for FY 1996, notify applicants of RBS objectives and 
scoring system for FY 1996, and award grants before August 15, 1996.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of a preapplication is May 10, 1996. 
Preapplications received after that date will not be considered for FY 
1996 funding.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aurora Argueta, Acting Director, 
Specialty Lenders Division, Room 2245, South Agriculture Building, Ag 
Box 1521, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1521, 
Telephone (202) 720-1400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Refer to 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, 
published in the Federal Register on February 2, 1996 (61 FR 3779-87), 
for the information collection requirements of the RTCDG program. This 
subpart provides details on what information must be contained in the 
preapplication package and eligibility information. It is essential 
that prospective applicants refer to this information before developing 
a proposal.
    The RTCDG 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 RTCDG program will achieve this objective by 
enabling program recipients to establish and operate centers for rural 
technology or cooperative development for promoting the development and 
commercialization of:
    (i)-new services and products that can be produced or provided in 
rural areas;
    (ii) new processes that can be utilized in the production of 
products in rural areas; and
    (iii) new enterprises that can add value to on-farm production 
through processing or marketing.
    The program is administered through RECD State Offices acting on 
behalf of RBS. RBS, formerly known as the Rural Business and 
Cooperative Development Service, is one of the successor agencies to 
the Rural Development Administration pursuant to the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354).
    RTCDG grants are competitive and will be awarded to nonprofit 
institutions and public bodies based on specific selection criteria, as 
required by law. Consistent with public comment, RBS has decided to 
emphasize certain policy themes each funding cycle. For FY 1996 funds, 
RBS desires to select projects that promote the theme of improved 
telecommunications capability in rural America. Administrator's points 
will be used for projects reflecting this policy theme as well as 
geographical distribution and interagency cooperation. Any project 
meeting the intent of the law and regulations for RTCDG will be 
considered, however.
    The selection criteria, as outlined in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, 
and assigned weights for FY 1996 are as follows:
    a. Likelihood of project being effective in achieving one or more 
of the following: technological innovation, adaptation of existing 
technology, cooperative development, commercialization of new services 
and products, and promotion of new processes and enterprises. (15 
Points)
    b. Innovativeness or originality of project in addressing 
authorized grant purposes. (15 Points)
    c. Experience, organizational skill, and background that are needed 
for

[[Page 11379]]

applicant to successfully carry out project. (15 Points)
    d. Transferability or demonstrated value of project to help rural 
areas outside of project area. (20 Points)
    e. Ability of project to contribute to the improvement of economic 
conditions in rural areas with one or more of the following: few rural 
businesses and agribusinesses; high levels of unemployment or 
underemployment; high rates of out-migration of people, businesses, 
industries; and low levels of per capita income. (20 Points) Applicants 
must provide data compiled by an independent party to support these 
conclusions. Applicants may use their choice of data as long as they 
reflect the intent of serving economically distressed communities and 
the data are from established official (or recognized) independent 
sources.
    f. Administrator's discretionary points to focus on 
telecommunications, geographical distribution, and interagency 
cooperation. (15 Points)

Fiscal Year 1996 Preapplication Submission

    Due to the short preapplication period for FY 1996 funds, qualified 
applicants should begin the preapplication process as soon as possible. 
Preapplications must include a clear statement of the goals and 
objectives of the project and a plan which describes the proposed 
project as required by the statute and 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Each 
preapplication received in the State Office will be reviewed to 
determine if the preapplication is consistent with the eligible 
purposes outlined in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. The data provided by 
the applicant will be reviewed and a tentative score sheet prepared by 
the State Office based on published selection criteria and weights. 
Preapplications without supportive data to address selection criteria 
will not be considered. Copies of 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, will be 
provided to any interested applicant by making a request to the RECD 
State Office or RBS National Office.
    All eligible preapplications, along with tentative scoring sheets 
and the State Director's recommendation, will be referred to the 
National Office within 30 days following receipt of preapplication, and 
in no case later than June 10, 1996, for final scoring and selection 
for award. The State Director or his or her designee will provide 
comments on each preapplication 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 
review are also welcome. The National Office will score applicants 
based on the grant selection criteria set forth in 7 CFR part 4284, 
subpart F and weights published in this notice, and will select 
awardees subject to the availability of funds and the awardee's 
satisfactory submission of a formal application and related materials 
in accordance with this subpart. Entities submitting preapplications 
that are selected for award will be invited by the State Office to 
submit a formal application. It is anticipated that grant awardees will 
be selected by August 15, 1996. All applicants will be notified by the 
RECD State Office of the Agency decision on awards, and non-selectees 
will be provided appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR part 1900, 
subpart B.

    Dated: March 12, 1996.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary Rural Economic and Community Development. -----------
[FR Doc. 96-6627 Filed 3-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-32-U