[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26544-26545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6784]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Community Services; Program Announcement for Assets for 
Independence Program Grants

    Notice of amendment to the standing announcement for Assets for 
Independence Demonstration Program Grants, HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EI-0053, 
CFDA  93.602, published in the Federal Register, Volume 70, 
No. 26, page 6879-6888, on February 9, 2005.
AGENCY: Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children 
and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of amendment.

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    The Program Announcement concerning the application procedures for 
the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program grants published on 
February 9, 2005 in the Federal Register, Volume 70, No. 26, pages 
6879-6888 is hereby modified.
SUMMARY: On February 9, 2005, the Office of Community Services (OCS), 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services published an announcement seeking 
applications for the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program. 
This program provides grant support for Individual Development Account 
(IDA) projects administered by government agencies and non-profit 
organizations. This Notice amends the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 
application due date.
    This Notice announces a change in the final FY 2006 application due 
date from June 15, 2006 to July 18, 2006. This Notice also announces 
two conference call series. The first series will provide an overview 
of the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program, including 
application procedures and requirements. The second series will provide 
an orientation to administering effective Individual Development 
Account (IDA) projects with support from the Assets for Independence 
Demonstration Program.
    The Program Announcement for the Assets for Independence 
Demonstration Program is a standing announcement. It is effective until 
canceled or changed by the Office of Community Services (OCS). 
Applicants may submit applications at any time throughout the year. 
(Any changes to application due dates in successive years will be 
announced through publication of a Notice in the Federal Register, on 
the ACF Grant Opportunities Web page at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html, and on http://www.Grants.gov.) OCS will review and make 
funding decisions about applications in three separate funding cycles 
annually.
    For FY 2006, the due dates are: November 1, 2005; March 15, 2006; 
and July 18, 2006. For example, starting in mid-March, OCS reviews all 
applications submitted November 2 through March 15. Starting in mid-
July, OCS reviews all applications submitted March 16 through July 18. 
And, starting in early November, OCS reviews all applications submitted 
July 19 through November 1. Unsuccessful applicants may submit a new 
application in any succeeding application period.
    (1) Under the Executive Summary section of the original Program 
Announcement, please delete the following:
    The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community 
Services (OCS) will accept applications for financial assistance to 
establish and administer Assets for Independence (AFI) Projects. These 
projects assist low-income people in becoming economically self-
sufficient. They do so by teaching project participants about economic 
and consumer issues and enabling them to establish matched savings 
accounts called Individual Development Accounts (IDA) in order to save 
for a first home, a business, or higher education. Grantees must 
participate in an on going national evaluation of the impact of AFI 
Projects and IDAs.
    This is a standing announcement. It is effective until canceled or 
changed by the Office of Community Services. Applicants may submit 
applications at any time throughout the year. OCS will review and make 
funding decisions about applicants submitted by any of three due dates: 
March 15, June 15 and November 1. (If a date falls on a weekend, the 
due date will be the following Monday.) For example, starting in mid-
March annually, OCS will review all applications submitted November 2 
through March 15. Starting in early June, OCS will review all 
applications submitted March 16 through June 15. And, starting in early 
November, OCS will review all

[[Page 26545]]

applications submitted June 16 through November 1. Unsuccessful 
applicants may submit a new application in any succeeding application 
period.
    Please replace the deleted paragraphs under the Executive Summary 
section of the original Program Announcement with the following:
    The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of 
Community Services (OCS) will accept applications for financial 
assistance to establish and administer Assets for Independence (AFI) 
Projects. These projects assist people with low incomes to become 
economically self-sufficient. They do so by teaching project 
participants about economic and consumer issues and enabling them to 
establish matched savings accounts called Individual Development 
Accounts (IDA) in order to save for a first home, a business, or higher 
education. Grantees must participate in an on going national evaluation 
of the impact of AFI Projects and IDAs.
    This is a standing announcement. It is effective until canceled or 
changed by the Office of Community Services. Applicants may submit 
applications at any time throughout the year. OCS will review and make 
funding decisions about applicants submitted by any of three due dates 
in FY 2006: November 1, 2005; March 15, 2006; and July 18, 2006. 
Unsuccessful applicants may submit a new application in any succeeding 
application cycle.
    (2) Under Priority Area 1, Section I. Funding Opportunity 
Description of the original Program Announcement please delete the 
following:
    The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community 
Services (OCS) will accept applications for financial assistance to 
establish and administer Assets for Independence (AFI) Projects. These 
projects assist low-income people in becoming economically self-
sufficient. They do so by teaching project participants about economic 
and consumer issues and enabling them to establish matched savings 
accounts called Individual Development Accounts (IDA) in order to save 
for a first home, a business or higher education. Grantees must 
participate in an ongoing national evaluation of the impact of AFI 
Projects and IDAs.
    This is a standing announcement. It is effective until canceled or 
changed by the Office of Community Services. Applicants may submit 
applications at any time throughout the year. OCS will review and make 
funding decisions about applicants submitted by any of three due dates: 
March 15, June 15, and November 1. (If a date falls on a weekend, the 
due date will be the following Monday.) For example, starting in mid-
March annually, OCS will review all applications submitted November 2 
through March 15. Starting in early June, OCS will review all 
applications submitted March 16 through June 15. And, starting in early 
November, OCS will review all applications submitted June 16 through 
November 1. Unsuccessful applicants may submit a new application in any 
succeeding application period.
    Please replace the deleted paragraphs under Priority Area 1, 
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description with the following:
    The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of 
Community Services (OCS) will accept applications for financial 
assistance to establish and administer Assets for Independence (AFI) 
Projects. These projects assist people with low incomes to become 
economically self-sufficient. They do so by teaching project 
participants about economic and consumer issues and enabling them to 
establish matched savings accounts called Individual Development 
Accounts (IDA) in order to save for a first home, a business, or higher 
education. Grantees must participate in an on going national evaluation 
of the impact of AFI Projects and IDAs.
    This is a standing announcement. It is effective until canceled or 
changed by the Office of Community Services. Applicants may submit 
applications at any time throughout the year. OCS will review and make 
funding decisions about applicants submitted by any of three due dates 
in FY 2006: November 1, 2005; March 15, 2006; and July 18, 2006. 
Unsuccessful applicants may submit a new application in any succeeding 
application cycle.
    (3) Please insert the following in Section VIII. Other: The Office 
of Community Services announces Two Informational Conference Call 
Series: The Office of Community Services, through its Assets for 
Independence Resource Center, will sponsor a series of Overview 
Conference Calls featuring general information about the program and 
the application requirements and procedures. These calls will be held 
on May 9, May 16, and May 23, 2006 at 2-3:30 p.m., eastern daylight 
time.
    The Resource Center will also host a series of Orientation 
Conference Calls with information and tips on administering effective 
Individual Development Account projects supported by the Assets for 
Independence Demonstration Program. These calls are scheduled for May 
11, May 17, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 7 and June 8, 2006. Each of 
the calls will be held from 2-3:30 p.m., eastern daylight time. The 
Resource Center may also schedule additional calls.
    Please go to the OCS Asset Building Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding building for a schedule of calls and other details. 
The Web site also includes dial-in numbers and pre-registration 
information. Participants are strongly encouraged to pre-register, as 
the number of lines is limited. The Resource Center will provide 
background information to all individuals who pre-register.
    All information in this Notice of amendment is accurate and 
replaces information specified in the February 9, 2005 Notice, the 
Notice of correction published on June 10, 2005, and the notice of 
amendment published on November 17, 2005.
    Announcement Availability: The Assets for Independence 
Demonstration Program announcement and all application materials are 
available at http://www.Grants.gov. Standard forms and certifications 
may also be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm. 
Finally, the OCS Asset Building Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding provides extensive information about the Assets for 
Independence Demonstration Program and the application process. The 
page includes links to all required forms, a guidebook for developing 
an AFI Project, and information on applying for an AFI grant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Gatz, Manager, Assets for 
Independence Demonstration Program, Telephone: (202) 401-4626 or E-
mail: [email protected]. An array of helpful information about the 
program and the two conference call series is posted on the OCS Asset 
Building Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding.

    Dated: April 28, 2006.
Robert Velasco II,
Acting Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. E6-6784 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P