[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8386-8387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3880]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4566-N-01]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request--Rural 
Housing and Economic Development

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below has been submitted to the Office of

[[Page 8387]]

Management and Budget for review and approval, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments 
on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: April 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number should be sent to: Shelia E. Jones, Reports Liaison 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street, SW, Room 7232, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donner Buchet, (202) 708-2290, ext. 
4664 (this is not a toll-free number) for copies of the proposed forms 
and other available documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice informs the public that the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB 
an information collection package with respect to a Notice of Funding 
Availability (NOFA) for the HUD Rural Housing and Economic Development 
program (RHED).
    The Department of Veterans Affairs and Independent Agencies 
Appropriation Act, 2000 (Pub. L. 106-74, approved October 20, 1999) (FY 
2000 HUD Appropriations Act) authorized and appropriated $25,000,000 to 
develop capacity at the state and local level for developing rural 
housing and economic development and to support innovative housing and 
economic development activities in rural areas.
    The funds will be available as follows:
    HUD will award up to $2.75 million to build capacity at the state, 
tribal, and local level for rural housing and economic development. 
This amount will go directly to local rural non-profits, community 
development corporations (CDCs), and Indian tribes.
    HUD will award up to $19 million to Indian tribes, State Housing 
Finance Agencies (HFAs), state community and/or economic development 
agencies, local rural non-profits, and CDCs to support innovative 
housing and economic development activities in rural areas.
    HUD will award up to $3 million in seed support for Indian tribes, 
local rural non-profits, and CDCs that are located in areas that have 
limited capacity for the development of innovative rural housing and 
economic development activities.
    In addition to these funds which will be awarded in response to the 
NOFA, the remaining $0.25 million appropriated by the FY 2000 HUD 
Appropriations Act will be used to maintain a clearinghouse of ideas 
for innovative strategies for rural housing and economic development 
and revitalization.
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information 
to: (1) Evaluate whether proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; 
including through the use of appropriate automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    The Department has submitted the proposal for the collection of 
information, as described below, to OMB for review, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35):
    Title of Proposal: NOFA: Rural Housing and Economic Development 
program.
    OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0169.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
information collection is essential so that HUD staff may determine the 
eligibility, qualifications, and capacity of applicants to carry out 
activities under the Rural Housing and Economic Development program. 
HUD will review the information provided by the applicants against the 
selection criteria contained in the NOFA in order to rate and rank the 
applications and select the best and most qualified applicants for 
funding. The selection criteria are: (1) Capacity and Organizational 
Experience of the applicant and relevant partners; (2) Need/Extent of 
the problem; (3) Soundness of Approach; (4) Leveraging of Resources; 
and (5) Comprehensiveness and Coordination.
    Agency form numbers, if applicable: SF 424 (including a maximum 25 
page application in response to the Factors for Award).
    Members of the affected public: Eligible applicants include rural 
non-profits and Community Development Corporations, Indian tribes, 
State Housing Finance Agencies, and state community and/or economic 
development agencies.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection, including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response: The estimated number of applicants is 
700, with approximately 90 recipients. The proposed frequency of the 
response to the collection of information is one-time; the application 
needs to be submitted only one time.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Reinstatement of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C., 
Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: February 12, 2000.
Cardell Cooper,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 00-3880 Filed 2-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-29-M