[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 246 (Friday, December 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67440-67441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32267]



[[Page 67439]]

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Part V





Department of Commerce





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Economic Development Administration



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Economic Development Assistance Program: Disaster Recovery Activities; 
Availability of Funds; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 246 / Friday, December 20, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67440]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 950302065-6354-07]
RIN 0610-ZA03


Economic Development Assistance Program for Disaster Recovery 
Activities, Availability of Funds

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce (DoC).

ACTION: Supplementary notice.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announces the 
policies and the application procedures for funds available to support 
disaster recovery projects designed to assist affected states and local 
communities recover from the consequences of wind damage and flooding 
in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West 
Virginia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricanes 
Fran and Hortense and other natural disasters.
    EDA offers a variety of program tools to assist affected 
communities. For the purposes of a targeted recovery program response 
for this disaster, the primary emphasis of EDA's program will be to 
assist disaster-impacted areas with the construction of new and 
expanded infrastructure and development facilities required for 
economic development to alleviate the economic distress of the areas.

DATES: This announcement is effective December 20, 1996. Applications 
are accepted on a continuous basis and funds shall remain available 
until expended.

ADDRESSES: To establish merits of projects proposals, interested 
parties should contact the Atlanta Regional Office, Philadelphia 
Regional Office or the appropriate Economic Development Representative 
for the area (see listing in ``Other Information'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
See listing in ``Other Information'' of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants should be aware that a false 
statement on the application is grounds for denial of the application 
or termination of the grant award and grounds for possible punishment 
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products 
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program 
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under any EDA programs must not exceed the indirect cost 
rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.
    Applicants seeking an early start, i.e., to begin a project before 
EDA approval, must obtain a letter from EDA allowing such early start. 
Such approval may be given with the understanding that an early start 
does not constitute project approval. Applicants should be aware that 
if they incur any costs prior to an award being made they do so solely 
at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover preaward 
costs.
    If an application is selected for funding, EDA has no obligation to 
provide any additional future funding in connection with an award. 
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of 
performance is at the sole discretion of EDA.
    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.
    No award of Federal funds will be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received; or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. This notice involves a collection of information 
requirement subject to the provisions of the PRA and has been approved 
by OMB under Control Number 0610-0094.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The Special Economic Development Adjustment Assistance Program--
Long Term Economic Deterioration and Sudden and Severe Economic 
Dislocation is listed under CFDA 11.307 (13 CFR Part 308). Public Works 
and Development Facilities Assistance and Public Works Impact Program 
are listed under CFDA 11.300 and CFDA 11.304 (13 CFR 305). The Planning 
and Technical Assistance programs are listed under CFDA 11.302, 11.303, 
and 11.305 (13 CFR 307, Subpart A; and 13 CFR Part 307, Subparts E and 
F).

Funding Availability

    Funds in the amount of $25 million are available for this disaster 
relief program and shall remain available until expended. These funds 
are provided from the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 
(Public Law 104-208). The funds are available for awarding disaster 
assistance grants pursuant to the Public Works and Economic Development 
Act of 1965, as amended. Funds will be apportioned as follows: North 
Carolina--$14.0 million; South Carolina--$1.0 million; Virginia--$4.5 
million; West Virginia--$1.0 million; Commonwealth of Puerto Rico--$4.5 
million.

Grant Rates

    Grant rates, as established by the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965, as amended (PWEDA) and its implementing 
regulations at 13 CFR Chapter III, may vary, if permitted by PWEDA and 
its implementing regulations, and will depend on the type of applicant, 
relative needs and financial capacity of applicants. In most cases, a 
nonfederal local share of not less than 25 percent will be required. In 
rare and extenuating circumstances, EDA may waive the local share 
requirement where permitted by PWEDA and its implementing regulations 
at 13 CFR Chapter III.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include the states and the commonwealth or 
political subdivisions thereof, including municipalities and quasi-
public corporations and authorities, Indian tribes, Community 
Development Corporations, and nonprofit corporations representing an 
EDA designated redevelopment area or part thereof, located in areas 
affected by Hurricanes Fran and Hortense in the states of North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico.

Proposal Submission Procedures

    Proposals for assistance under this disaster recovery program shall 
be submitted to EDA on a completed Form ED-900P, OMB Control No. 0610-
0094. Applicants must clearly demonstrate

[[Page 67441]]

how the EDA assistance will help the area recover from the economic 
hardship and other problems caused by wind and/or flood damage, or 
other natural disasters, and that such assistance has been preceded by 
sound planning. Interested parties should contact the appropriate 
Economic Development Representative for the area, or the appropriate 
EDA Regional Office for a proposal package (see listing under ``Other 
Information'').

Application Procedures

    A determination of whether to invite an application under this 
disaster recovery program for EDA assistance will be issued based upon 
the Agency's review of the applicant's proposal under the evaluation 
criteria herein and EDA's regulations at 13 CFR Chapter III.

Funding Instrument

    Funds will be awarded in accordance with the requirements of Title 
I, Title III, and Title IX of the Public Works and Economic Development 
Act of 1965, as amended (Public Law 89-136; 42 U.S.C. 3121 et. seq.) 
(PWEDA) and EDA's regulations at 13 CFR Chapter III. The appropriate 
title for grant application and award will be determined by EDA based 
on the nature of the project and the eligibility of the area.

Project Selection Criteria

    It is anticipated that the funds announced herein for disaster 
recovery assistance may not be sufficient to meet all of the economic 
recovery needs for which requests are received. EDA will use the 
following criteria to select the projects for grant award: (1) projects 
that are consistent with an area Economic Adjustment Strategy, the 
Overall Economic Development Program for the Area, or the State 
Emergency Recovery Plan; (2) the degree to which EDA funding is 
leveraged with appropriate state, local, private, and other Federal 
assistance efforts; (3) the extent to which projects are located in 
areas with high levels of economic distress; (4) the degree to which 
projects enhance/stimulate sustainable economic development; (5) the 
extent to which projects mitigate the impacts of future disasters; (6) 
the relative impact projects have for assisting in the post-disaster 
recovery of the area; and (7) the extent to which the project will 
directly or indirectly tend to improve opportunities in the area for 
the establishment or expansion of industrial or commercial facilities 
and/or primarily benefit members of low-income families.
    To establish the merits of project proposals, interested parties 
should contact the EDA Economic Development Representative or EDA 
Regional Office for the area (see listing below) for a proposal form, 
(ED-900P). Requests for assistance shall be submitted directly to the 
EDA Economic Development Representative or EDA Regional Office that 
serves the area (see listing below).
    EDA will evaluate proposals to determine whether they can meet the 
criteria established. Following the review of the proposals, EDA will 
invite those entities whose projects are selected for consideration to 
submit full applications, ED-900A, OMB Control No. 0610-0094. In 
addition to the real property title requirements at 13 CFR 314.7, 
applicants will be expected to submit satisfactory evidence of rights 
of entry assuring prompt access to project property at time of grant 
award in those cases where applicants do not hold title to all real 
property required for the projects at time of application.

Other Information

    Except as modified herein, evaluation criteria, competitive 
selection procedures, application procedures, and other requirements 
for the applicable assistance program are described at 13 CFR Chapter 
III.
    For further information contact the appropriate Economic 
Development Representative or EDA Regional Office listed below:

John E. Corrigan, Regional Director, Philadelphia Regional Office, 
Curtis Center, Independence Square West, Suite 140 South, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania 19106; Telephone: (215) 597-4603; Internet Address: 
[email protected]

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     Economic development representatives            States covered     
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Neal E. Noyes, 700 Centre Building, Room 230,  Virginia.                
 704 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA                                 
 23219; Telephone: (804) 771-2061; Internet                             
 Address: [email protected].                                               
R. Byron Davis, Rose City Press Building, 550  West Virginia.           
 Eagan Street, Room 305, Charleston, WV                                 
 25301; Telephone: (304) 347-5252; Internet                             
 Address: [email protected].                                              
Ernesto L. Cruz, Economic Development          Puerto Rico.             
 Representative, IBM Building, Room 620, 654                            
 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 00918;                               
 Telephone: (809) 766-5187; Internet Address:                           
 [email protected].                                                         
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William J. Day, Jr., Regional Director, 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., 
Suite 1820, Atlanta, GA 30308-3510; Telephone: (404) 730-3002; Internet 
Address: [email protected]
Patricia M. Dixon--North Carolina, South Carolina, Strom Thurmond 
Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 307, Columbia, SC 29201; 
Telephone: (803) 765-5676; Internet Address: [email protected]

    Dated: December 12, 1996.
Phillip A. Singerman,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 96-32267 Filed 12-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-M