[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79036-79038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32761]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Timeframe for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants 
for Fiscal Year 2003

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces that it is 
soliciting competitive applications under its Housing Preservation 
Grant (HPG) program. We are publishing this Notice prior to passage of 
a final appropriations act to give applicants the maximum amount of 
time possible to complete their applications, and to provide the Agency 
sufficient time to select and process the selected applications within 
the current fiscal year. Although a Notice of Funding Availability 
(NOFA) outlining the level of funding for the program will be published 
after enactment of a final appropriation act, no additional time for 
submitting applications will be included in this notice. Applications 
must be submitted within the timeframe set forth below. Because the 
Agency's appropriations act has not been passed, applicants are 
cautioned that the Agency cannot make commitments based on the 
anticipated funding. Expenses incurred in developing applications will 
be at the applicant's risk.
    The HPG program is a grant program which provides qualified public 
agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and other eligible entities 
grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners repair and 
rehabilitate their homes in rural areas, and to assist rental property 
owners and cooperative housing complexes to repair and rehabilitate 
their units if they agree to make such units available to low- and very 
low-income persons. This action is taken to comply with Agency 
regulations found in 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which require the 
Agency to announce the opening and closing dates for receipt of 
preapplications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. The intended 
effect of this Notice is to provide eligible organizations notice of 
these dates.

Discussion of Anticipated Funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

    The FY 2002 funding level for the section 533 program was 
$7,982,000. To the extent an appropriation act provides funding for HPG 
grants in FY 2003, the actual funds available for FY 2003 will be 
published at a later date in a subsequent Notice.

DATES: The closing deadline for receipt of all applications in response 
to this Notice is 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State 
Office on March 27, 2003. 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 the United 
States Postal Service or private mailer does not

[[Page 79037]]

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 submit an application 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 Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road 
, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400, TDD (334) 279-3495, Van 
McCloud
Alaska State Office 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, 
907) 761-7740, TDD (907) 761-8905, Deborah Davis
Arizona State Office, Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 N. Central Ave., 
Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2906, (602) 280-8765, TDD (602) 280-8706, 
Johnna Vargas
Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 
72201-3225, (501) 301-3258, TDD (501) 301-3063, Clinton King
California State Office, 430 G Street, 4169, Davis, CA 95616-
4169, (530) 792-5819-5830, TDD (530) 792-5848, Jeff Deiss
Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 
80215, (720) 544-2922, TDD (720) 544-2976, ``Sam'' Mitchell
Connecticut: Served by Massachusetts State Office
Delaware and Maryland State Office, 4607 South Dupont Highway, P.O. 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, 
Gainesville, FL 32606-6563, (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 State Office (Services all Hawaii, American Samoa and Western 
Pacific), Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 
96720, (808) 933-8309, TDD (808) 933-8321, Thao Khamoui
Idaho State Office, Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, 
(208) 378-5630, TDD (208) 378-5644, LaDonn McElligott
Illinois State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 
61821-2986, (217) 403-6222, TDD (217) 403-6240, 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, 210 Walnut Street, Room 873, Des Moines, IA 50309, 
(515) 284-4493, TDD (515) 284-4858, Julie Sleeper
Kansas State Office, 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, 
KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Virginia M. 
Hammersmith
Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 
40503, (859) 224-7325, TDD (859) 224-7422, Beth Moore
Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, 
(318) 473-7962, TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson
Maine State Office, 967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, PO Box 405, Bangor, ME 
04402-0405, (207) 990-9110, TDD (207) 942-7331, Lorrie Hamlin
Maryland: Served by Delaware State Office
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office, 451 West 
Street, Suite 2 , Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4333, TDD (413) 253-
4590, 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, 375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St. 
Paul, MN 55101, (651) 602-7804, TDD (651) 602-7830, 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, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 
235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0990, TDD (573) 876-9480, Colleen 
James
Montana State Office, Unit 1, Suite B, 900 Technology Blvd., Bozeman, 
MT 59715, (406) 585-2551 , TDD (406) 585-2562, Deborah Chorlton
Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall 
N, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5035, TDD (402) 437-5093, Sharon Kluck
Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-
9910, (775) 887-1222 (ext. 25), TDD (775) 885-0633, Angilla Denton
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, 5th Floor North, Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic 
Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7740, TDD (856) 787-7784, 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 5th Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 477-6419, TDD (315) 477-
6447, Tia Baker
North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 
27609, (919) 873-2066, TDD (919) 873-2003, William A. Hobbs
North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, 
PO Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 530-2049, TDD (701) 530-2113, 
Barry Borstad
Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, 
Columbus, OH 43215-2477, (614) 255-2418, TDD (614) 255-2554, Melodie 
Taylor-Ward
Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, 
(405) 742-1070, TDD (405) 742-1007, Ivan Graves
Oregon State Office, 101 SW Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222, 
(503) 414-3325, TDD (503) 414-3387, Bill Daniel
Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, 
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2281, TDD (717) 237-2261, Gary 
Rothrock
Puerto Rico State Office, 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, IBM Plaza, Suite 
601, Hato Rey, PR 00918, (787) 766-5095 (ext. 249), TDD (787) 766-5332, 
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) 253-3432, TDD 
(803) 765-5697, Larry D. Floyd
South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth 
Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1135, TDD (605) 352-1147, Jim 
Hafner
Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 
37203-1084, (615) 783-1375, TDD (615) 783-1397, Larry Kennedy
Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, 
Temple,

[[Page 79038]]

TX 76501, (254) 742-9758, TDD (254) 742-9712, Julie Hayes
Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 S. State 
Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, (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) 287-1596, TDD (804) 287-1753, CJ 
Michels
Washington State Office, Puyallup Executive Park, 1011 E. Main, Suite 
306, Puyallup, WA 98372-6771, (253) 845-9272 (ext. 118), TDD (360) 704-
7760, Don Wagnoner
Western Pacific Territories: Served by Hawaii State Office
West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 320, 
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4889, TDD (304) 284-4836, Craig 
St. Clair
Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, 
(715) 345-7615 (ext. 151), 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, Jack Hyde

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants 
may contact Mary Fox, Senior Loan Officer, Multi-Family Housing 
Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 
20250-0781, telephone (202) 720-1624 (voice) (this is not a toll free 
number) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Programs Affected

    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under Number 10.433, Rural Housing Preservation Grants. This 
program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 which 
requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials 
(7 CFR 3015, subpart V). Applicants are referred to 7 CFR 1944.674 and 
1944.676(f) and (g) for specific guidance on these requirements 
relative to the HPG program.

Application Requirements

    7 CFR part 1944, subpart N provides details on what information 
must be contained in the preapplication package. Entities wishing to 
apply for assistance should contact the Rural Development State Office 
to receive further information, the State allocation of funds if and 
when a final appropriation act is enacted providing funding for the HPG 
Program, and copies of the preapplication package. Eligible entities 
for these competitively awarded grants include state and local 
governments, nonprofit corporations, Federally recognized Indian 
Tribes, and consortia of eligible entities.

Funding Information

    The funding instrument for the HPG Program will be a grant 
agreement. The term of the grant can vary from 1 to 2 years, depending 
on available funds and demand. No maximum or minimum grant levels have 
been established at the National level. If and when a final 
appropriation act is enacted providing funding for the HPG Program, you 
should contact the Rural Development State Office to determine the 
allocation and the State maximum grant level, if any. From funds 
available for the HPG Program, there will be monies set aside for 
grants located in Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones and other funds will be distributed 
under a formula allocation to States pursuant to 7 CFR part 1940, 
subpart L.

    Dated: December 20, 2002.
James E. Selmon,
Associate Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-32761 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P