[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 217 (Friday, November 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 66217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26557]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for 
Investment Assistance

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected].)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Maureen Klovers, Program Analyst, (p) 202-482-2785, (f) 
202-482-2838, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Economic Development Administration's (EDA) mission is to lead 
the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and 
competitiveness, and preparing American regions for growth and success 
in the worldwide economy. This information collection is necessary to 
determine the applicant's eligibility for investment assistance under 
EDA's authorizing statute, the Public Works and Economic Development 
Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), and regulations (13 
CFR Chapter III). The information collection also determines the 
quality of the proposed scope of work to address the pressing economic 
distress of the region in which the proposed project will be located, 
the merits of the activities for which the investment assistance is 
requested, and the ability of the eligible applicant to carry out the 
proposed activities successfully.
    Form ED-900 is used to collect the necessary information. This form 
was approved for use by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on 
February 15, 2008, and was made available for use by the public on 
October 1, 2008. It replaced EDA's previous suite of application 
materials: (i) The Pre-Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-
900P), (ii) the Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900A), 
and (iii) all program-specific components required to complete the ED-
900A. EDA continues to require additional government-wide federal grant 
assistance forms from the Standard Form 424 family and certain 
Department of Commerce forms as part of the application package.
    EDA believes the new ED-900 has significantly reduced the paperwork 
burden on applicants and government personnel. The introduction of this 
form is expected to reduce applicant burden from a combined 46 hours to 
complete the aforementioned documents to 22 hours for the Form ED-900. 
In addition, because Form ED-900 consolidated all EDA requirements into 
a single application, it facilitates electronic application submission 
through http://www.grants.gov.

II. Method of Collection

    EDA will accept hardcopy submissions or electronic submissions 
through http://www.grants.gov.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0610-0094.
    Form Number(s): ED-900.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; State, local, or 
tribal governments; Economic Development District Organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 875.
    Estimated Time per Response: 22 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 18,953.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 3, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-26557 Filed 11-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-34-P