[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 69 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17612-17613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8983]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Inviting Preapplications for Rural 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 $1.75 million in competing Rural 
Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) funds for fiscal year (FY) 1999. 
This action will comply with legislation which authorizes grants for 
establishing and operating centers for rural cooperative development. 
The intended effect of this notice is to solicit preapplications for FY 
1999 and award grants before September 1, 1999.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of a preapplication is May 28, 1999. 
Preapplications received after that date will not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact 
their USDA Rural Development State Office to receive further 
information and copies of the preapplication package.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Haskell, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, Cooperative Services, Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 3250, Room 4016, South 
Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 
20250-3250. Telephone (202) 720-8460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) 
is authorized by section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e) and regulations are contained in 7 
CFR part 4284, subpart F. The primary objective of the RCDG program is 
to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative 
development. The program is administered through USDA Rural Development 
State Offices acting on behalf of RBS.
    Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit 
corporations and institutions of higher education based on specific 
selection criteria. The priorities described in this paragraph will be 
used by RBS to rate preapplications. RBS review of preapplications will 
include the complete preapplication package submitted to the Rural 
Development State office. Points will be distributed according to 
ranking as compared with other preapplications on hand. Points will be 
awarded to each factor on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis depending on the 
applicant's ranking compared to other applicants.
    (A) Preference will be given to applications that:
    (1) Demonstrate a proven track record in administering a nationally 
coordinated, regionally or State-wide operated project;
    (2) Demonstrate previous expertise in providing technical 
assistance to cooperatives in rural areas;
    (3) Demonstrate the ability to assist in the retention of business, 
facilitate the establishment of cooperatives and new cooperative 
approaches, and generate employment opportunities that will improve the 
economic conditions of rural areas;
    (4) Demonstrate the ability to create horizontal linkages among 
cooperative businesses within and among various sectors in rural areas 
of the United States and vertical linkages to domestic and 
international markets;
    (5) Commit to providing technical assistance and other services to 
underserved and economically distressed rural areas of the United 
States;
    (6) Commit to providing greater than a 25 percent matching 
contribution with private funds and in-kind contributions;
    (7) Evidence transferability or demonstration value to assist rural 
areas outside of project area; and
    (8) Demonstrate that any cooperative development activity is 
consistent with positive environmental stewardship.

Fiscal Year 1999 Preapplication Submission

    Preapplications must include a clear statement of the goals and 
objectives of the project and a plan which describes the proposed 
project. 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. 
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 Rural 
Development State office or RBS National office. Preapplications must 
be completed and submitted to the Rural Development State office as 
soon as possible, but no later than May 28, 1999. Preapplications 
received after May 28, 1999, will not be considered.
    Each preapplication must contain the following:
    (A) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each 
component of the preapplication.
    (B) A project summary of 250 words or less on a separate page. This 
page must include the title of the project and the names of the primary 
project contacts and the applicant organization, followed by the 
summary. The summary should be self-contained and should describe the 
overall goals, relevance of the project, and a listing of all 
organizations involved in the project. The project summary should 
immediately follow the Table of Contents.
    (C) A separate one-page information sheet which lists each of the 
eight evaluation criteria followed by the page numbers of all relevant 
material and documentation contained in the preapplication which 
supports that criteria. This page should immediately follow the project 
summary.
    (D) An additional requirement for those applicants who have 
received funding under the RCDG program in

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fiscal years 1997-98 is a summation, not to exceed three pages, of 
progress and results for all projects fully or partially funded by the 
RCDG program in those years. This summary should include the status of 
cooperative businesses organized and all eligible grant purpose 
activities listed under 7 CFR 4284.515. The summary should immediately 
follow the page described above in paragraph (c) documenting the 
location of evaluation criteria supporting material.
    The National office will score applicants based on the grant 
selection criteria contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, 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 subpart F. Entities submitting preapplications that 
are selected for award will be invited by the State office to submit a 
formal application prior to September 1, 1999. It is anticipated that 
grant awardees will be selected by September 1, 1999.

    Dated: March 31, 1999.
Dayton Watkins,
Administrator, RBS.
[FR Doc. 99-8983 Filed 4-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U