[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 45956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17408]



[[Page 45956]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of a Public Meeting on the Agriculture Innovation Center 
Demonstration Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This Notice is to notify entities concerned with agricultural 
value-added marketing issues and other interested persons that the 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a public meeting 
for interested persons to express their views on implementing the 
Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program to assist U.S. 
agricultural producers.

DATES: The meeting will be held on July 31, 2002, starting at 9 a.m. 
eastern time, with registration at 8 a.m. The public meeting will end 
at 4:30 p.m. unless concluded earlier.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 107-A, Jamie Whitten 
Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC. Those interested in making a presentation at the 
meeting should send a written request to Wendy Dotson, Office of the 
Deputy Administrator for Cooperative Services, Room 4016, Stop 3250, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dunn, Director, Cooperative 
Management Resource Division, RBS, Room 4206-S, Stop 3256, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3256, Telephone: 202-
690-1374.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting will be conducted by 
representatives of the Department of Agriculture. The information from 
the meeting will be considered in implementing provisions of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) concerning 
the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program (section 6402). 
The purpose of the meeting is to provide background information for 
consideration in the implementation and administration of this program.
    RBS is particularly interested in receiving comments on the 
following specific issues as they relate to agriculture innovation 
centers:
    1. Focus of work by the proposed innovation centers--The relative 
importance of (a) technical assistance, engineering services, applied 
research, scale production, etc., (b) assistance in marketing, market 
development, and business planning, and (c) organization, outreach, and 
development assistance. What is the appropriate mix of each?
    2. Viable methods of raising the equity capital necessary for many 
producer-owned value-added ventures. How can assistance to agricultural 
producers best be structured for this purpose?
    3. How the innovation centers might best coordinate with existing 
technical assistance, business advisory, and organizational assistance 
providers.
    4. How to meet the demand for value-added assistance in traditional 
crop and livestock value-added enterprises as well as newer, unique 
niche opportunities.
    5. The desirability of the entity having the required assistance 
expertise in-house versus contracting out for that expertise.
    6. Suggestions for criteria for scoring and selecting proposals 
that accomplish innovation center objectives.
    To schedule oral testimony for the public meeting, notify Ms. 
Dotson, in writing, at the above address. Requests may be sent by 
facsimile to (202) 720-4641 or e-mail to [email protected]. Those 
who wish to make oral presentations must restrict presentations to 15 
minutes and are also encouraged to have written copies of their 
complete comments, including exhibits, for inclusion the Agency's 
record. Written copies should also be sent to Ms. Dotson in advance of 
the meeting. Those who register their attendance at the public meeting, 
but have not been scheduled in advance to present oral testimony, will 
be given an opportunity to do so if time permits. Otherwise, the 
opportunity will be given to submit their views in writing by August 6, 
2002. Participants who require a sign language interpreter or other 
special accommodations should contact Ms. Wendy Dotson as directed 
above.
    Copies of the presentations will not be available for distribution 
from the Department. However, they will be available for public 
inspection in Room 4206 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC, during regular business hours, 8:00-4:30 EDT.

    Dated: July 5, 2002.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 02-17408 Filed 7-10-02; 8:45 am]
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