[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81645-81648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32622]


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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 2001

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 and acquisition with 
rehabilitation of off-farm units for

[[Page 81646]]

farmworker households. Applications may also include requests for 
section 521 rental assistance (RA) and operating assistance for migrant 
units. 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 April 25, 2001. 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) 761-7734, TDD (1-800-770-8255), (1-800-770-8905), Miguel Correa
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) 378-5628, TDD (208) 378-5644, LaDonn McElligott
Illinois State Office, Illini Plaza, Suite 103, 1817 South Neil Street, 
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) 602-7804, TDD (651) 602-3799, Joyce Vondal
Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol 
Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965-5850, Darnella 
Smith-Murray
Missouri State Office, 1201 Business Loop, 70 West, Parkade Center, 
Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0990, TDD (573) 876-9301, 
Randall L. Griffith
Montana State Office, Unit 1, Suite B, 900 Technology Blvd., Bozeman, 
MT 59715, (406) 585-2518, TDD (406) 585-2562, Craig Hildreth
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 
27609, (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,

[[Page 81647]]

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, Nashville, 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 David Layfield, Farm Labor Housing Loan Specialist, or Mary 
Fox, Senior Loan Specialist of the 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.

Definitions

    Farm Labor. Farm labor includes services in connection with 
cultivating the soil, raising or harvesting any agriculture or 
aquaculture commodity; or in catching, netting, handling, planting, 
drying, packing, grading, storing, or preserving in its unmanufactured 
state any agriculture or aquaculture commodity; or delivering to 
storage, market, or a carrier for transportation to market or to 
process any agricultural or aquacultural commodity.
    Migrant Agricultural Laborers. Agricultural laborers and family 
dependents who establish a temporary residence while performing 
agriculture work at one or more locations away from the place they call 
home or home base. (This does not include day-haul agricultural workers 
whose travels are limited to work areas within one day of their work 
locations.)
    Off-Farm Labor Housing. Housing for farm laborers regardless of the 
farm where they work.
    Operating Assistance. Assistance toward the cost of operating off-
farm migrant farmworker projects financed under sections 514 or 516 of 
the Housing Act of 1949. Projects that receive operating assistance may 
not receive tenant-specific rental assistance (RA).

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)) and 
operating assistance for migrant projects 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 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) 2001 for off-farm 
housing construction are:
Section 514 loans: $ 23,522,000
Section 516 grants $ 10,000,000

C. Section 514 and Section 516 Funds

    Section 514 loan funds and section 516 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.)

[[Page 81648]]

    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. Rental Assistance and Operating Assistance 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 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 pm, local 
time, on April 25, 2001 unless 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.

V. Areas of Special Emphasis or Consideration

    The selection criteria contained in 7 CFR 1944, Subpart D, includes 
one optional criteria set by the National office. This fiscal year, the 
National office initiative will be used in the selection criteria as 
follows:
    Up to 10 Points will be awarded based on the presence of and extent 
to which a tenant services plan exists that clearly outlines services 
that will be provided to the residents of the proposed project. These 
services may include but are not limited to: transportation related 
services, on-site English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, move-in 
funds, emergency assistance funds, homeownership counseling, food 
pantries, after school tutoring, and computer learning centers. Two 
points will be awarded for each resident service included in the tenant 
services plan up to a maximum of 10 points. Plans must detail how the 
services are to be administered, who will administer them, and where 
they will be administered. All tenant service plans must include 
letters of intent from any party administering each service, including 
the applicant. (0 to 10 points)

    Dated: December 15, 2000.
James C. Kearney,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 00-32622 Filed 12-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U