[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 26943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12247]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for Section 533 Housing 
Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the availability of funds for section 533 
Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) Program. By prior notice in the 
Federal Register, the Agency announced a deadline of March 27, 2003, 5 
p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office, for 
submitting applications for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grant 
Program. The ``Notice of Timeframe for the section 533 Housing 
Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2003'' was published in the Federal 
Register on December 27, 2002 (67 FR 79036). This was done prior to 
passage of a final appropriations act to allow sufficient time for 
applicants to complete an application and for the Agency to select and 
process selected applications within the current fiscal year. Detailed 
information regarding the application and selection process, as well as 
a listing of the Rural Development State Offices, may be found in the 
December 27, 2002, Notice.

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, 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 part 3015, subpart V). Applicants are referred to 7 CFR 1944.674 
and 1944.676(f), (g), and (h) for specific guidance on these 
requirements relative to the HPG program.

Discussion of Notice

I. Authority and Distribution Methodology

A. Authority
    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 to 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 requires 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.
B. Distribution Methodology
    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. You should contact the State 
office to determine the allocation and the State maximum grant level, 
if any. For FY 2003, $9,935,000 is available for the Housing 
Preservation Grant Program. A set aside of $596,100 has been 
established for grants located in Empowerment Zones, Enterprise 
Communities, and REAP Zones, $997,400 has been set aside for the 
Administrator's reserve and $8,341,500 has been distributed under a 
formula allocation to States pursuant to 7 CFR part 1940, subpart L, 
``Methodology and Formulas for Allocation of Loan and Grant Program 
Funds.'' Decisions on funding will be based on preapplications.

    Dated: May 12, 2003.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-12247 Filed 5-15-03; 8:45 am]
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