[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 12639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5961]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for Section 533 Housing 
Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2004

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. A ``Notice of Timeframe for 
Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2004'' was 
published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2004 (69 FR 5824). 
This was done shortly after 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, can be found in the February 6, 2004, Notice. Also, in the 
Notice dated February 6, 2004, the Agency announced a deadline of May 
6, 2004, 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office, 
for submitting applications for the Section 533 Housing Preservation 
Grant Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants 
may contact Tammy Daniels, Loan Specialist, Multi-Family Housing 
Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 
20250, telephone (202) 720-0021 (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

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.
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 2004, $8,882,000 is available for the Housing 
Preservation Grant Program. A set aside of $894,690 has been 
established for grants located in Empowerment Zones, Enterprise 
Communities, and REAP Zones, $882,200 has been set aside for the 
Administrator's reserve and $7,099,110 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: March 9, 2004.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5961 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
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