[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25563-25566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11830]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for 
Rural Cooperative Development Grants

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the 
availability of approximately $6.5 million in competing Rural 
Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) funds for fiscal year (FY) 2003. 
Of this amount, approximately $1.5 million will be reserved for 
applications that focus on assistance to small, minority producers 
through their cooperative businesses. This action will comply with 
legislation which authorizes grants for establishing and operating 
centers for rural cooperative development. The intended effect of this 
notice is to solicit applications for FY 2003 and award grants before 
September 1, 2003.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of an application is June 27, 2003. 
Applications received after that date will not be considered. 
Applications should be sent to the Rural Development State offices. 
State offices will forward the applications to the National office by 
July 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact 
their USDA Rural Development State Office to receive further 
information and copies of the application package. A list of state 
offices is provided at the end of this Notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries are directed to the 
applicable USDA Rural Development State Office. Information is also 
available on the RBS Web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg.htm. You may also contact Marc Warman, Program Leader, Cooperative 
Services, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 3250, Room 4016, South Agriculture Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3250. Telephone (202) 
690-1431.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements continued in this regulation were 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 
were assigned OMB control number 0570-0006.

General Information

    Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) are authorized by 
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1932). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. 
The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the economic 
condition of rural areas through cooperative development. The program 
is administered through USDA Rural Development State Offices acting on 
behalf of RBS.
    Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
was amended by Public Law 107-171 (Mar 13, 2002) to modify the matching 
requirement required of RCDG grant applicants that are ``1994 
Institutions'' (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Pub. L. 103-382). 
1994 Institutions are not required to provide non-Federal financial 
support (matching funds) greater than 5 percent of the grant awarded. 
In the case of all applicants, preference points will be awarded where 
applicants commit to providing greater than the minimum 25 percent 
matching contribution. A current list of 1994 Institutions may be 
obtained from RBS.

Grant Selection Criteria

    Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit 
corporations and institutions of higher education based on the 
following selection criteria. The priorities described in this 
paragraph will be used by RBS to rate applications. RBS review

[[Page 25564]]

of applications will include the complete application package submitted 
to the Rural Development State Office. Points will be ranked as 
compared with other applications on hand. Points will be awarded to 
each factor on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis depending on the applicant's 
ranking compared to other applicants. Each factor will receive equal 
weight.
    Preference will be given to applications that:
    (1) Demonstrate a proven track record in administering a nationally 
coordinated, regionally or State-wide operated project;
    (2) Demonstrate previous expertise in providing technical 
assistance to cooperatives in rural areas;
    (3) Demonstrate the ability to assist in the retention of business, 
facilitate the establishment of cooperatives and new cooperative 
approaches, and generate employment opportunities that will improve the 
economic conditions of rural areas;
    (4) Demonstrate the ability to create horizontal linkages among 
cooperative businesses within and among various sectors in rural areas 
of the United States and vertical linkages to domestic and 
international markets;
    (5) Commit to providing technical assistance and other services to 
underserved and economically distressed rural areas of the United 
States;
    (6) Commit to providing greater than a 25 percent matching 
contribution (5 percent in the case of 1994 Institutions) with private 
funds and in-kind contributions;
    (7) Demonstrate transferability or demonstration value to assist 
rural areas outside of project area; and
    (8) Demonstrate that any cooperative development activity is 
consistent with positive environmental stewardship.

Fiscal Year 2003 Application Submission

    Applications must include a clear statement of the goals and 
objectives of the project and a plan which describes the proposed 
project as required by the statute and 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Each 
application received in the State Office will be reviewed to determine 
if the application is consistent with the eligible purposes outlined in 
7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Applications without supportive data to 
address selection criteria will not be considered. All submissions must 
conform to the required standard Times New Roman, 12 point font.
    Since the primary objective of the cooperative center concept is to 
provide technical assistance services, including feasibility analysis, 
applications that do not propose development or continuation of the 
cooperative center concept will not be considered. Also, applications 
that focus on assistance to only one cooperative within the project 
area will not be considered. To enhance the long-term viability of 
cooperative development centers, strengthening of technical assistance 
capacity within new and existing centers is strongly encouraged.
    Copies of 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, will be provided to any 
interested applicant by making a request to the Rural Development State 
office or RBS National office.
    Applications must be completed and submitted to the State Rural 
Development Office as soon as possible, but no later than June 27, 
2003. Applications received after this date will not be considered. 
Electronic submission of proposals as an email attachment is strongly 
encouraged.
    Each application must contain the information required under 7 CFR 
4284.528(a) and (b)(1) (copies of which may be obtained from the 
Agency) in addition to the following information which is required 
under 7 CFR 4284.528(b)(2):
    (1) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each 
component of the application.
    (2) A project summary of 250 words or less on a separate page. This 
page must include the title of the project and the names of the primary 
project contacts and the applicant organization, followed by the 
summary. The summary should be self-contained and should describe the 
overall goals, relevance of the project, and a listing of all 
organizations involved in the project. The project summary should 
immediately follow the Table of Contents.
    (3) A separate one-page information sheet which lists each of the 
eight evaluation criteria followed by the page numbers of all relevant 
material and documentation contained in the application which supports 
that criteria. This page should immediately follow the project summary.
    (4) Description of the applicant's experience with similar 
projects, pursuant to 7 CFR 4284.528(a)(2)(vii). Applicants who have 
received funding under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program 
in Fiscal Years 2001 or 2002 must provide a summation, not to exceed 
three pages, of progress and results for all projects funded fully or 
partially by the RCDG program in those years. This summary should 
include the status of cooperative businesses organized and all eligible 
grant purpose activities listed under 7 CFR 4284.515. The summary 
should immediately follow the page described above in item (3) 
documenting the location of evaluation criteria supporting material.
    (5) A work plan that describes the specific tasks to be completed 
using grant and matching funds, pursuant to 7 CFR 4284.528(b)(1). The 
work plan should describe how customers will be identified (7 CFR 
4284.528(a)(2)(vi)), key personnel to be involved (7 CFR 
4284.528(a)(2)(vii) and the evaluation methods to be used to determine 
the success of specific tasks and overall objectives of Center 
operations (7 CFR 4284.528(a)(2)(xi)). A detailed budget must be 
submitted as part of the work plan and is required pursuant to 7 CFR 
4284.528(a)(2)(iv). The budget must present a breakdown of the 
estimated costs associated with cooperative development activities as 
well as the operation of the Center and allocate these costs to each of 
the tasks to be performed in the work plan (7 CFR 4284.528(a)(2)(iii)). 
Matching funds as well as grant funds must be accounted for in the 
budget and estimate of total costs. The work plan, budget and estimate 
of costs, should not exceed 10 pages.
    (6) The eight grant selection criteria in 7 CFR 
4284.528(a)(2)(xiii)(G) must be addressed individually and in specific 
detail. This discussion should be in narrative form, should not exceed 
40 pages, and should include all citations to supporting documentation. 
Do not include the referenced supporting documentation in the 
application package until and unless requested to do so by USDA.
    Applications requesting Federal funds in excess of $350,000 will 
not be considered.
    The National Office will score applications based on the grant 
selection criteria contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, and will 
select awardees subject to the availability of funds and the 
applicant's satisfactory submission of a formal application and related 
materials in accordance with subpart F. Entities submitting 
applications that are selected for awards will be invited by the Rural 
Development State office to submit all referenced supporting 
documentation and other required materials prior to September 1. As 
part of the award process, the State Office will review the referenced 
supporting documentation. Monitoring officials from the State Office 
must be satisfied as to the completeness and validity of any referenced 
documentation before grant funds will be obligated. It is anticipated

[[Page 25565]]

that formal grant awards will be made by September 30, 2003.
    In the event that the applicant is awarded a grant that is less 
than the amount requested, the applicant will be required to modify its 
application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the 
grant agreement. The Agency reserves the right to reduce or de-obligate 
the award, if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the 
awardees within 15 working days from the date the application is 
returned to the applicant. Any modifications must be within the scope 
of the original application.
    All applicants and grants must be in compliance with the 
requirements of 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019.

    Dated: May 5, 2003.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Services.

List of Rural Development State Offices

    Note:
    Telephone numbers shown are not toll free.


Alabama

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Sterling Center, Suite 601, 
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400, 
[email protected].

Alaska

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 
201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 761-7705, [email protected].

Arizona

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3003 North Central Avenue, 
Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012, (602) 280-8700, 
[email protected]

Arkansas

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue, 
Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200, 
[email protected].

California

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, Agency 4169, 
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792-5800, [email protected].

Colorado

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 655 Parfet Street, Lakewood, 
CO 80215, (720) 544-2903, [email protected].

Delaware-Maryland

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 4607 South DuPont Highway, 
Camden, DE 19934, (302) 697-4300, [email protected].

Florida/Virgin Islands

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place, 
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338-3400, [email protected].

Georgia

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Stephens Federal Building, 
355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601, (706) 546-2162, 
[email protected].

Hawaii

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 311, 
154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8380, 
[email protected].

Idaho

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 9173 West Barnes Drive, 
Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600, [email protected].

Illinois

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite 
A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6200, [email protected].

Indiana

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100, [email protected].

Iowa

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 873, 
210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663, 
[email protected].

Kansas

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 1303 S.W. First American 
Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604, (785) 271-2700, 
[email protected].

Kentucky

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 
200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7300, [email protected].

Louisiana

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3727 Government Street, 
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7920, [email protected].

Maine

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 
4, Bangor, ME 04402, (207) 990-9106, [email protected].

Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 451 West Street, Suite 2, 
Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4300 [email protected].

Michigan

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 
200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5200, 
[email protected].

Minnesota

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 
410, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7800 
[email protected].

Mississippi

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 831, 
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4316, 
[email protected].

Missouri

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West, 
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976, 
[email protected].

Montana

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 900 Technology Blvd., Suite 
B, Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 585-2580, [email protected].

Nebraska

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 152, 
100 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551, 
[email protected].

Nevada

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 1390 South Curry Street, 
Carson City, NV 89703, (775) 887-1222 [email protected].

New Jersey

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 5th Floor North Tower, Suite 
500, 8000 Midlantic Drive, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700, 
[email protected].

New Mexico

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE, 
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4950, 
[email protected].

New York

State Director, USDA Rural Development, The Galleries of Syracuse, 
441 South Salina Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 477-
6400, [email protected].

North Carolina

State Director, USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland 
Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000, 
[email protected].

North Dakota

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 208, 
220 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-2037, 
[email protected].

Ohio

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 507, 
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 255-2400, 
[email protected].

Oklahoma

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108, 
Stillwater, OK 74074, (405) 742-1000, [email protected].

[[Page 25566]]

Oregon

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 101 SW Main Street, Suite 
1410, Portland, OR 97204, (503) 414-3300, 
[email protected].

Pennsylvania

State Director, USDA Rural Development, One Credit Union Place, 
Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2299, 
[email protected].

Puerto Rico

State Director, USDA Rural Development State Office, 654 Munoz 
Rivera Avenue, IBM Plaza, Suite 601, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918, 
(787) 766-5095, [email protected].

South Carolina

State Director, USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond 
Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Suite 1007, Columbia, SC 
29201, (803) 765-5163 [email protected].

South Dakota

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 210, 
200 4th Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100, 
[email protected].

Tennessee

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 
300, Nashville, TN 37203, (615) 783-1300, [email protected].

Texas

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102, 
101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700, 
[email protected].

Utah

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Wallace F. Bennett Federal 
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 
84138, (801) 524-4320, [email protected].

Vermont/New Hampshire

State Director, USDA Rural Development, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 
Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6000, 
[email protected].

Virginia

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Culpeper Building, Suite 
238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1550, 
[email protected].

Washington

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW, 
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7740, 
[email protected].

West Virginia

State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, 75 High 
Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 284-4860, 
[email protected].

Wisconsin

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court, 
Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7600, 
[email protected].

Wyoming

State Director, USDA Rural Development, 100 East B Street, Room 
1005, Casper, WY 82601, (307) 261-6300, [email protected].

[FR Doc. 03-11830 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-U