[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71609-71611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32961]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for Section 514 Farm Labor 
Housing Loans and Section 516 Farm Labor Housing Grants for Off-Farm 
Housing for Fiscal Year 2000

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for 
section 514 Farm Labor Housing loan funds and section 516 Farm Labor 
Housing grant funds for new construction of off-farm units for 
farmworker households. Applications may also include requests for 
section 521 rental assistance (RA). This document describes the method 
used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission 
requirements.

DATES: The closing deadline for receipt of all applications in response 
to this NOFA is 5:00 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State 
office on June 19, 2000. The application closing deadline is firm as to 
date and hour. RHS will not consider any application that is received 
after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications 
must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the 
closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by a post office or private 
mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) and postage due 
applications will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must contact the 
Rural Development State office serving the place in which they desire 
to locate off-farm labor housing to receive further information and 
copies of the application package. Rural Development will date and time 
stamp incoming applications to evidence timely receipt, and, upon 
request, will provide the applicant with a written acknowledgment of 
receipt. A listing of Rural Development State offices, their addresses, 
telephone numbers, and person to contact follows:

    Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.

Alabama State Office, Suite 601, Sterling Center 4121 Carmichael Road, 
Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3455, TDD (334) 279-3495, James B. 
Harris
Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, 
(907) 745-2176, TDD (907) 745-6494, Ron Abbott
Arizona State Office, Phoenix Corporate Center 3003 N. Central Ave., 
Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2906, (602) 280-8706, TDD (602) 280-8770, 
Johnna Vargas
 Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 
72201-3225, (501) 301-3250, TDD (501) 301-3279, Clinton King
California State Office, 430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616-
4169, (530) 792-5819, TDD (530) 792-5848, Millie Manzanedo
Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 
80215, (303) 236-2801 (ext. 124), TDD (303) 236-1590, Mary Summerfield
Connecticut served by Massachusetts State Office
Delaware & Maryland State Office, 5201 South Dupont Highway, PO Box 
400, Camden, DE 19934-9998, (302) 697-4353, TDD (302) 697-4303, Pat 
Baker
Florida & Virgin Islands State Office, 4440 N.W. 25th Place, PO Box 
147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3465, TDD (352) 338-3499, 
Joseph P. Fritz
Georgia State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, 
Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2164, TDD (706) 546-2034, Wayne Rogers
Guam served by Hawaii State Office, Hawaii, Guam, & Western Pacific 
Territories State Office, Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue 
Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8316, TDD (808) 933-8321, Abraham 
Kubo
Idaho State Office, Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, 
(208) 378-5630, TDD (208) 378-5644, Ladonn McElligott
Illinois State Office, Illini Plaza, Suite 103, 1817 South Neil Street,

[[Page 71610]]

Champaign, IL 61820, (217) 398-5412 (ext. 256), TDD (217) 398-5396, 
Barry L. Ramsey
Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278, 
(317) 290-3100 (ext. 423), TDD (317) 290-3343, John Young
Iowa State Office, 873 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, 
IA 50309, (515) 284-4493, TDD (515) 284-4858, Julie Brown
Kansas State Office, 1200 SW Executive Drive, PO Box 4653, Topeka, KS 
661204, (785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Virginia Hammersmith
Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 
40503, (606) 224-7300, TDD (606) 224-7422, Paul Higgins
Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, 
(318) 473-7962, TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson
Maine State Office, 444 Stillwater Ave., Suite 2, PO Box 405, Bangor, 
ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9110, TDD (207) 942-7331, Dale D. Holmes
Maryland served by Delaware State Office
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office, 451 West 
Street, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4333, TDD (413) 253-7068, Donald 
Colburn
Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 
48823, (517) 324-5192, TDD (517) 337-6795, Philip Wolak
Minnesota State Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. 
Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7820, TDD (651) 602-3799, Jackie 
Goodnough
Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol 
Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965-5850, Danny 
Ivy
Missouri State Office, 1201 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, 
Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0990, TDD (573) 876-9301, Gary 
Frisch
Montana State Office, Unit 1, Suite B, 900 Technology Blvd., Bozeman, 
MT 59715, (406) 585-2515, TDD (406) 585-2562, MaryLou Affleck
Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, room 152, 100 Centennial Mall 
N, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5567, TDD (402) 437-5093, Byron 
Fischer,
Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-
9910, (775) 887-1222 (ext. 13), TDD (775) 885-0633, William L. Brewer
New Hampshire State Office, Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10 
Ferry Street, Concord, NH 03301-5004, (603) 223-6046, TDD (603) 229-
0536, Jim Fowler
New Jersey State Office, Tarnsfield Plaza, Suite 22, 790 Woodland Road, 
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, (609) 265-3631, TDD (609) 265-3687, George Hyatt, 
Jr.
New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson St., NE, Room 255, Albuquerque, 
NM 87109, (505) 761-4944, TDD (505) 761-4938, Carmen N. Lopez
New York State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse 441 S. Salina Street, 
Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 477-6419, TDD (315) 477-6447, 
George N. Von Pless
North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 2120, Raleigh, NC 
271209, (919) 873-2062, TDD (919) 873-2003, Eileen Nowlin
North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, 
PO Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 530-2049, TDD (701) 530-2113, 
Kathy Lake
Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, 
Columbus, OH 43215-2477, (614) 255-2401, TDD (614) 255-5757, Gerald 
Arnott
Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, 
(405) 742-1070, TDD (405) 742-1007, Phil Reimers
Oregon State Office, 101 SW Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222, 
(503) 414-3325, TDD (503) 414-3387, Margo Donelin
Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, 
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2281, TDD (717) 237-2261, Gary 
Rothrock
Puerto Rico State Office, New San Juan Office Bldg., Room 501, 159 
Carlos E. Chardon Street, Hato Rey, PR 00918-5481, (787) 766-5095 (ext. 
254), TDD 1-800-274-1572, Lourdes Colon
Rhode Island, served by Massachusetts State Office
South Carolina State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Building 1835 
Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 765-3432, TDD 
(803) 765-5697, Larry D. Floyd
South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth 
Street, SW, Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1132, TDD (605) 352-1147, Dwight 
Wullweber
Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashvile, TN 
37203-1084, (615) 783-1300, TDD (615) 783-1397, G. Benson Lasater
Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, 
Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9755, TDD (254) 742-9712, Eugene G. Pavlat
Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building 125 S. State 
Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350, (801) 524-4324, TDD 
(801) 524-3309, Robert L. Milianta
Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, 
Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6028, TDD (802) 223-6365, Sandra 
Mercier
Virgin Islands served by Florida State Office
Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa 
Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1582, TDD (804) 287-1753, Carlton 
Jarratt
Washington State Office, Suite B, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard, SW, 
Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7707, TDD (360) 704-7760, Deborah 
Davis
Western Pacific Territories served by Hawaii State Office
West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 320, 
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 291-4793, TDD (304) 284-5941, Sue 
Snodgrass
Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschiling Court, Stevens Point, WI 
54481, (715) 345-7620 (ext. 7145), TDD (715) 345-7614, Sherry Engel
Wyoming State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, Room 1005, PO Box 
820, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 261-6315, TDD (307) 261-6333, Charles Huff

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants 
may contact Sue Harris-Green, Deputy Director, Multi-Family Housing 
Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 
20250, telephone (202) 720-1604 (voice) (this is not a toll free 
number) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Programs Affected

    The Farm Labor Housing Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance under Number 10.405, Farm Labor Housing Loans and 
Grants. Rental Assistance is listed in the Catalog under Number 10.427, 
Rural Rental Assistance Payments.

Discussion of Notice

I. Authority and Distribution Methodology

A. Authority
    The farm labor housing program is authorized by the Housing Act of 
1949: section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1484) for loans and section 516 (42 U.S.C. 
1486) for grants. Tenant subsidies (rental assistance (RA)) are 
available through section 521 (42 U.S.C. 1490a). Sections 514 and 516 
provide RHS the authority to make loans and grants for financing off-
farm housing to broad-based nonprofit organizations, nonprofit 
organizations of farmworkers, federally

[[Page 71611]]

recognized Indian tribes, agencies or political subdivisions of State 
or local government, and public agencies (such as local housing 
authorities). In addition, RHS is authorized under section 514 to make 
loans to finance off-farm housing to limited partnerships in which the 
general partner is a nonprofit entity.
B. Distribution Methodology
    The amounts available for fiscal year (FY) 2000 for off-farm new 
construction are: Section 514 loans--$20,501,000; Section 516 grants--
$9,150,000.
C. Section 514 and section 516 new construction funds
    Section 514 new construction loan funds and section 516 new 
construction grant funds will be distributed to States based on a 
national competition, as follows:
    1. States will accept, review, score, and rank requests in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D. The scoring factors are:
    (a) The presence and extent of leveraged assistance, including 
donated land, for the units that will serve program-eligible tenants, 
calculated as a percentage of the RHS total development cost (TDC). RHS 
TDC excludes non-RHS eligible costs such as a developer's fee. 
Leveraged assistance includes, but is not limited to, funds for hard 
construction costs, Section 8 or other non-RHS tenant subsidies, and 
state or federal funds. A minimum of ten percent leveraged assistance 
is required to earn points; however, if the total percentage of 
leveraged assistance is less than ten percent and the proposal includes 
donated land, two points will be awarded for the donated land. Points 
will be awarded in accordance with the following table. (0 to 20 
points)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Percentage                             Points
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75 or more....................................................        20
60-74.........................................................        18
50-59.........................................................        16
40-49.........................................................        12
30-39.........................................................        10
20-29.........................................................         8
10-19.........................................................         5
0-9...........................................................         0
Donated land in proposals with less than ten percent total             2
 leveraged assistance.........................................
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    (b) Seasonal, temporary, migrant housing. (5 points for up to and 
including 50 percent of the units; 10 points for 51 percent or more)
    (c) For FY 2000, outstanding applications or requests that were 
issued an AD-622, ``Notice of Preapplication Review Action,'' inviting 
a formal application, or that had been reviewed and authorized by the 
National Office prior to October 29, 1998 (63 FR 57932) (the 
publication date of the proposed rule changing from a first-come, 
first-served basis to an annual competitive funding cycle). (15 points)
    2. States will rank preapplications by point score. For point-score 
ties within the State, rank order will be determined by giving first 
preference to the application with the greatest actual percentage of 
leveraged assistance. In case of further same-State ties, rank order 
will be determined by lottery.
    3. The National office will rank all requests nationwide and 
distribute funds to States in rank order, within funding and RA limits. 
If insufficient funds or RA remain for the next ranked proposal, the 
Agency will select the next ranked proposal that falls within the 
remaining levels.

II. Funding Limits

    A. Individual requests may not exceed $2.5 million (total loan and 
grant).
    B. No State may receive more than 30 percent of the total available 
funds.
    C. New construction RA will be held in the National Office for use 
with section 514 loans and section 516 grants.

III. Application Process

    All applications for sections 514 and 516 new construction funds 
must be filed with the appropriate Rural Development State office and 
must meet the requirements of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D, and section 
IV of this NOFA. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will 
be returned to the applicant. No application will be accepted after 
5:00 p.m., local time, on the application deadline previously mentioned 
unless that date and time is extended by another Notice published in 
the Federal Register.

IV. Application Submission Requirements

    A. Each application shall include all of the information, 
materials, forms and exhibits required by 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D, 
as well as comply with the provisions of this NOFA. Applicants are 
encouraged, but not required, to include a checklist and to have their 
applications indexed and tabbed to facilitate the review process. The 
Rural Development State office will base its determination of 
completeness of the application and the eligibility of each applicant 
on the information provided in the application.
    B. Applicants are advised to contact the Rural Development State 
office serving the place in which they desire to submit an application 
for application information.

    Dated: December 10, 1999.
Eileen M. Fitzgerald,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32961 Filed 12-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U