[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16172-16174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7167]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 16172]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Announcement of Funding To Develop Essential Community Facilities 
in Rural Communities for Eligible Public Entities, Nonprofit 
Organizations, and Tribal Governments

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the availability of 
$50 million for rural community facilities described in section 
381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
2009d). Under the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) for fiscal 
year (FY) 2001, Congress designated $50 million to the Community 
Facilities loan and grant programs of which $25 million is reserved for 
assistance to areas in North Carolina which have been declared a 
disaster area because of Hurricanes Floyd, Dennis, or Irene. The 
purpose of the funding is to provide assistance to areas in the State 
of North Carolina, subject to a declaration of a major disaster under 
the Presidential Declared Disasters as reported by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Rural Housing Service will 
provide the additional $25 million to other States with Presidentially 
or Secretarially declared disasters. We will refer to the funds set 
aside for disaster designated counties in North Carolina impacted by 
Hurricanes Floyd, Dennis, or Irene as the ``North Carolina Emergency 
Supplemental Program.'' We will refer to funds set aside for other 
declared disaster areas as ``Emergency Supplemental Program'' funds.

DATES: To compete for Emergency Supplemental Program funds, 
applications must be submitted to the Rural Development State Office by 
4 p.m. eastern standard time on May 11, 2001, for the first window and 
by 4 p.m. eastern standard time on August 17, 2001, for the second 
window. If a major disaster occurs during this fiscal year, Agency 
officials may modify these deadlines.

ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance are encouraged to 
contact their local USDA Rural Development Office for further 
information on the application process. A listing of Rural Development 
State offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and a person to 
contact follows:

    Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.

Alabama State Office, Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, 
Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, 334-279-3400, Chris Harmon
Alaska State Office, 800 W. Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645-
6539, 907-761-7705, Merlaine Kruse
Arizona State Office, Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 North Central 
Avenue, Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2906, 602-280-8700, Leonard 
Gradillas
Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Avenue, Room 3416, Little Rock, 
AR 72201-3225, 501-792-5800, Jesse G. Sharp
California State Office, 430 G Street, #4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, 
530-792-5800, Robert Longman
Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 
80215, 303-236-2801, Leroy Cruz
Delaware State Office (The Delaware State Office also administers the 
Maryland program), 4607 S. DuPont Highway, PO Box 400, Camden, DE 
19934-9998, 302-697-4300, James E. Waters
Florida State Office (The Florida State Office also administers the 
Virgin Islands program), 4440 NW. 25th Place, PO Box 147010, 
Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, 352-338-3400, Glenn W. Walden
Georgia State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, 
Athens, GA 30601-2768, 706-546-2162, Jerry Thomas
Hawaii State Office, Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, 
Hilo, HI 96720, 808-933-8380, Thao Khamoui
Idaho State Office, 9173 W. Barnes Drive, Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709, 
208-378-5600, Dan Fraser
Illinois State Office, Illini Plaza, Suite 103, 1817 South Neil Street, 
Champaign, IL 61820, 217-398-5235, Gerald Townsend
Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278, 
317-290-3100, Gregg Delp
Iowa State Office, 873 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, 
IA 50309, 515-284-4663, Dorman A. Otte
Kansas State Office, 1200 SW Executive Drive, P.O. Box 4653, Topeka, KS 
66604, 785-271-2700, Gary Smith
Kentucky State Office, Suite 200, 771 Corporate Drive, Lexington, KY 
40503, 859-224-7300, Vernon C. Brown
Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, 
318-473-7920, Danny Magee
Maine State Office, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4, PO Box 405, Bangor, 
ME 04402-0405, 207-990-9106, Alan Daigle
Massachusetts State Office (The Massachusetts State Office also 
administers the Rhode Island and Connecticut programs), 967 Illinois 
Ave., Suite 4, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, 413-253-4300, Daniel 
Beaudette
Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 
48823, 517-324-5100, Philip H. Wolak
Minnesota State Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. 
Paul, MN 55101-1853, 651-602-7800, James Maras
Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol, 
Jackson, MS 39269, 601-965-4316, Darnella Smith-Murray
Missouri State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 
235, Columbia, MO 65203, 573-876-0990, Randall Griffith
Montana State Office, Unit 1, Suite B, P.O. Box 850, 900 Technology 
Boulevard, Bozeman, MT 59715, 406-585-2580, Mary Lou Affleck
 Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall 
N, Lincoln, NE 68508, 402-437-5551, Denise Brosius-Meeks
 Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-
9910, 775-887-1222, Mike E. Holm
 New Hampshire State Office, 10 Ferry Street, Concord Center, P.O. Box 
317, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, 603-223-6045, William Konrad
 New Jersey State Office, Tarnsfield Plaza, Suite 22, 790 WoodLane 
Road,

[[Page 16173]]

Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, 609-265-3600, Michael P. Kelsey
 New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street NE, Room 255, 
Albuquerque, NM 87109, 505-761-4950, Clyde Hudson
 New York State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina 
Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202-2541, 315-477-6400, Gail 
Giannotta
 North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 
27609, 919-873-2000, Phyllis Godbold
 North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East 
Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, 701-530-2037, Don 
Warren
 Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, 
Columbus, OH 43215-2418, 614-255-2400, David Douglas
 Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, 
405-742-1000, Rock W. Davis
 Oregon State Office, 101 SW Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222, 
503-414-3300, Bill Daniels
 Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, 
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, 717-237-2299, Gary Rothrock
 Puerto Rico State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 654 Munos Rivera 
Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 00918-6106, 787-766-5095, Pedro Gomez
 South Carolina State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Bldg., 1835 
Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29102, 803-765-5163, Larry 
Floyd
 South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth 
Street SW., Huron, SD 57350, 605-352-1100, Dwight Wullweber
 Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 
37203-1084, 615-783-1300, Keith Head
 Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, 
Temple, TX 76501, 254-742-9700, Mike Meehan
 Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett, Federal Building, 125 S. State 
Street, Rm. 4311, P.O. Box 11350, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350, 801-
524-4320, Jack Cox
Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, 
Montpelier, VT 05602, 802-828-6000, Ronda Shippee
 Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa 
Road, Richmond, VA 23229, 804-287-1550, Carrie Schmidt
 Washington State Office, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Suite B, Olympia, 
WA 98512-5715, 360-704-7740, Jack Gleason
 West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 
320, Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, 304-284-4860, Dianne Crysler
 Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 
54481, 715-345-7600, Mark Brodziski
 Wyoming State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, Room 1005, P.O. 
Box 820, Casper, WY 82602, 307-261-6300, John Cochran

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Douglas, Community Programs, 
RHS, USDA, STOP 0787, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-
0787, Telephone (202) 720-1506, Facsimile (202) 690-0471, E-mail: 
[email protected]. Information may also be obtained from 
the Community Facilities program website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The reporting requirements contained in this notice have been 
approved by the Office, of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
provisions of 44 U.S.C. chapter 35 and have been assigned OMB control 
number 0575-0173, 0575-0120, and 0575-0015 in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Authorizing Legislation and Regulations

    This program is authorized under section 306(a) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act. Program administration, eligibility, 
processing, and servicing requirements, which govern the Community 
Facilities direct loan and grant programs, may be found under 7 CFR 
part 1942, subparts A and C, and 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B.

Background

    In the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, $50 
million was appropriated to the Community Facilities grant and loan 
programs in addition to the program's regular allocation of loan and 
grant funds. The Community Facilities direct loan program authorized by 
Congress is used to provide financial assistance in the form of direct 
loans to public bodies, not-for-profit organizations, or Indian tribes 
on Federal or State reservations. Direct loan funds are used to develop 
essential community facilities in rural areas.
    The Community Facilities grant program, authorized by Congress in 
1996, is used in conjunction with the existing direct and guaranteed 
loan programs for the development of essential community facilities in 
rural areas for public use. Funding is intended to complement rather 
than compete with other credit sources. Grants are made available to 
public entities, such as municipalities, counties, and special-service 
districts, as well as to eligible nonprofit corporations and tribal 
governments. Grants are targeted to communities with the smallest 
populations and lowest incomes. Communities with lower populations and 
income levels receive a greater percentage of the Federal contribution, 
between 15 to 75 percent of the cost of developing the facility.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

    In addition to those requirements identified in 7 CFR part 1942, 
subparts A and C, and 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B, applicants interested 
in competing for Emergency Supplemental Program funds for FY 2001 must 
meet the following additional eligibility criterion:
    The essential community facility must be located in a county with a 
disaster declared on or after September 1, 1999. You may access a list 
of these counties at FEMA's web site: http://www.fema.gov. Please 
contact the person listed previously as the FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
for a listing of Secretarially declared disaster counties.
    In addition to those requirements identified in 7 CFR part 1942, 
subparts A and C, and 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B, applicants interested 
in competing for North Carolina Emergency Supplemental Program funds 
for FY 2001 must meet the following eligibility criterion:
    The essential community facility must be located in a county with a 
presidential disaster declaration resulting from Hurricanes Floyd, 
Dennis, or Irene.

Allocation of Funds

    Twenty-five million dollars will be allocated to the State of North 
Carolina to assist in recovery efforts. The North Carolina Emergency 
Supplemental Program funds will be allocated: $10 million in budget 
authority for direct loan funds and $15 million in grant funds. In 
addition, $25 million of Emergency Supplemental Program funds will be 
held in a National Office reserve account to fund applications for 
assistance. The $25 million will be allocated in the following manner: 
$10 million in budget authority for direct loan funds and $15 million 
in grant funds.

Intake and Processing of Grant Proposals

    The designated Rural Development field or State office processes 
the intake of all preapplications and applications.

[[Page 16174]]

    Applicants and their governing boards should meet with Agency 
officials before a preapplication is filed to discuss eligibility 
requirements and processing procedures. Documentation submitted along 
with a reapplication will vary depending on the nature, scope, and 
complexity of the project and the various stages of application and 
project development. Applicants for assistance from the State of North 
Carolina will compete for funding on a month-to-month basis until funds 
are exhausted. Loan and grant funds from the Emergency Supplemental 
Program funds will be held in a National Office reserve. Applications 
will be prioritized, and funds will be obligated to eligible entities 
twice during the fiscal year.

Selection Process

    Once a determination has been made that an applicant is eligible, 
the preapplication is evaluated competitively and points awarded as 
specified in the project selection priorities contained in 7 CFR part 
1942, subparts A and C, and 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B. For Emergency 
Supplemental Program funds, the State Director or designee will forward 
the request to the National Office to compete for funding 
consideration. Projects will then be rated, ranked, and selections made 
in order of priority. For North Carolina Emergency Supplemental Program 
funds, the North Carolina State Director will approve funding based on 
the project's priority points.

Notice of Invitation To Submit Complete Application

    All preapplications selected for funding consideration will be 
notified by the State or field office by issuing Form AD-622, ``Notice 
of Preapplication Review Action.'' At that time, the proposed recipient 
will be invited to submit a complete application, along with 
instructions related to the agreed upon award amount, and asked to 
schedule an application conference to discuss items needed for formal 
application and to further clarify issues related to the project.

Final Approval and Funding Process

    Final approval is subject to the availability of funds; the 
submission by the applicant of a formal, complete application and 
related materials that meet the program requirements and 
responsibilities of the applicant (contained in 7 CFR part 1942, 
subparts A and C, and 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B); the letter of 
conditions; and the grant agreement.
    Those preapplications that do not have sufficient priority 
necessary to receive funding consideration will be notified, in 
writing, by the State or designated field office when funds are no 
longer available.

    Dated: March 15, 2001.
James C. Alsop,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-7167 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U