[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 52416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22364]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4814-N-08]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request Rural 
Housing and Economic Development

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: November 3, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Sheila E. Jones, Reports Liaison 
Officer; Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW., Room 7232, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Holly A. Kelly, (202) 708-2290 ext. 
6324 (this is not a toll-free number), for copies of the proposed forms 
and other available documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information 
to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; 
including through the use of appropriate automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Rural Housing and Economic Development.
    OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0169.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
information collection is essential so that HUD staff may determine the 
eligibility, qualifications and capacity of applicants to carry out 
activities under the Rural Housing and Economic Development program. 
HUD will review the information provided by the applicants against the 
selection criteria contained in the NOFA in order to rate and rank the 
applications and select the best and most qualified applicant for 
funding. The selection criteria are: (1) Capacity of the Applicant and 
Relevant Organizational Experience; (2) Need/Extent of the Problem; (3) 
Soundness of Approach; (4) Leveraging of Resources; and (5) Achieving 
Results and Program Evaluation.
    Agency form numbers, if applicable: SF 424 (including a maximum 15 
page application narrative in response to the factors for award).
    Members of affected public: Eligible applicants include local rural 
non-profit organizations, Community Development Corporations, State 
Housing Finance Agencies, state and community development agencies and 
Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.
    Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response: The total number of applicants for 
Fiscal Years 2000, 2001, and 2002 is 1,252, with 314 awardees. The 
proposed frequency of the response to the collection of the information 
is one time; the application needs to be submitted only one time.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Reinstatement of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: August 26, 2003.
Roy A. Bernardi,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 03-22364 Filed 9-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-29-M