[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79339-79340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32295]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[TM-00-201]


Notice of Program Continuation

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2001 grant 
funds under the federal-state marketing improvement program.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Federal-State Marketing 
Improvement Program (FSMIP) was allocated $1,350,000 in the Federal 
budget for FY 2001. Funds remain available for this program. States 
interested in obtaining funds under the program are invited to submit 
Proposals. While only State Departments of Agriculture or other 
appropriate State Agencies are eligible to apply for funds, State 
Agencies are encouraged to involve industry groups and community-based 
organizations in the development of proposals and the conduct of 
projects.

DATES: Funds will be allocated on the basis of two rounds of 
consideration. Proposals received by February 9, 2001 will be 
considered during the first round. Proposals which are not selected for 
funding during the first round and other proposals received by May 11, 
2001 will be considered during the second round.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be sent to: FSMIP Staff, Transportation and 
Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 4006 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Tropp, (202) 720-2704.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). The 
program is a matching fund program designed to assist State Departments 
of Agriculture or other appropriate State agencies in

[[Page 79340]]

conducting studies or developing innovative approaches related to the 
marketing of agricultural products. Other organizations interested in 
participating in this program should contact their State Department of 
Agriculture's Marketing Division to discuss their proposal.
    Mutually acceptable proposals are submitted by the State Agency and 
must be accompanied by a completed Standard Form (SF)-424 with SF-424A 
and SF-424B attached. FSMIP funds may not be sued for advertising or, 
with limited exceptions, for the purchase of equipment or facilities. 
Guidelines may be obtained from your State Department of Agriculture or 
the above AMS contact.
    Funds can be requested for a wide range of marketing research and 
marketing service activities, including projects aimed at:
    (1) Developing and testing new or more efficient methods of 
processing, packaging, handling, storing, transporting, and 
distributing food and other agricultural products;
    (2) Assessing customer response to new or alternative agricultural 
products or marketing services and evaluating potential opportunities 
for U.S. producers, processors and other agribusinesses, in both 
domestic and international markets; and
    (3) Identifying problems and impediments in existing channels of 
trade between producers and consumers of agricultural products and 
devising improved marketing practices, facilities, or systems to 
address such problems.
    While all proposals which fall within the FSMIP guidelines will be 
considered, States are encouraged to submit proposals in the following 
areas, which correspond with ongoing national initiatives in support 
of:
    (1) Small farms--to increase the base of marketing research and 
marketing services of particular importance to small-scale, limited-
resource farmers and rural agribusinesses, with emphasis on projects 
aimed at identifying and improving producers' abilities to participate 
in alternative domestic and export markets;
    (2) Direct marketing--to identify and evaluate opportunities for 
producers to respond directly to new or expanding consumer demands for 
products and value-adding services, with emphasis on projects which 
concurrently address the needs of presently under served consumers; and
    (3) Sustainable agriculture--to encourage the development of 
marketing channels and methods consistent with maintaining or improving 
the environment, with emphasis on projects aimed at expanding 
consumers' choices with regard to the environmental impact of 
alternative production and marketing technologies.
    Copies of the FSMIP guidelines may be obtained by contacting the 
person listed as the contact for further information. FSMIP is listed 
in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance'' under number 10.156 
and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964, which bars discrimination in all Federally assisted programs.

    Authority: 7. U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: December 12, 2000.
Aggie Thompson,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-32295 Filed 12-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M