[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 58 (Friday, March 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14702-14703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7415]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Survey for Financial Institutions for Website Inclusion

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/continuing information collection, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-12 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 26, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Dinah Flynn, Minority Business Development Agency, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (202-482-5061).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

    The Minority Business Development Agency, in fulfillment of its 
mandate to foster the development of United States minority businesses, 
funds Business Development Centers nationwide to provide management and 
technical assistance to and seek sources of capital for those 
businesses. The Agency is in the process of creating an intranet 
website for the use of the consultants at its Centers who are seeking 
sources of equity and debt financing for their clients, with a goal of 
locating financial institutions which have an interest in working with 
minority entrepreneurs who are seeking capital to start, acquire or 
expand their businesses. The project will begin with a pilot program 
focused on financial institutions in New York and Philadelphia. 
Information on these participating institutions will be put on the new 
website. The Agency anticipates that as the pilot program is perfected, 
the website will contain comparable information on financial 
institutions across the country.

Method of Collection

    Potential applicants will receive a survey form from the Agency 
along with a letter explaining the program. Those financial 
institutions who are interested in participating in the program will 
submit the completed form in order to be included on the new website.

Data

    OMB Number: N/A.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: For-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no material or equipment 
will need to be purchased to provide information. The form can be 
transmitted electronically).

Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance

[[Page 14703]]

of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 22, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 99-7415 Filed 3-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P