[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 249 (Monday, December 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79438-79440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30731]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and 
Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2009

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice is to invite applications for loans and grants 
under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program 
pursuant to 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A for fiscal year (FY) 2009 
subject to the availability of funding. Funding to support $35.8 
million in loans and $10 million in grants is currently available. The 
commitment of program dollars will be made to applicants of selected 
responses that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for 
obligation. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the 
applicant's risk.

ADDRESSES: For further information, entities wishing to apply for 
assistance should contact a Rural Development State Office to receive 
further information and copies of the application package. Submit 
applications to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state 
where your project is located. A list of the USDA Rural Development 
State Offices addresses and telephone numbers are as follows:

District of Columbia

    USDA Rural Development, Specialty Lenders Division, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 3225, Room 6867, Washington, DC 
20250-3225, (202) 720-1400.

Alabama

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Sterling Centre, Suite 601, 
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400/TDD 
(334) 279-3495.

Alaska

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 
201, Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7705/TDD (907) 761-8905.

Arizona

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 N. 1st Ave., Suite 206, 
Phoenix, AZ 85003, (602) 280-8701/TDD (602) 280-8705.

Arkansas

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 700 West Capitol Avenue, 
Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200/TDD (501) 301-
3279.

California

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 430 G Street,  
4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5800/TDD (530) 792-5848.

Colorado

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room 
E100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-2903/TDD (720) 544-2976.

Delaware-Maryland

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, 
Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3580/TDD (302) 857-3585.

Florida/Virgin Islands

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 4440 NW 25th Place, P.O. 
Box 147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3400/TDD (352) 
338-3499.

Georgia

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 
355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2162/TDD 
(706) 546-2034.

Hawaii

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 311, 
154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8380/TDD (808) 933-
8321.

Idaho

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite 
A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600/TDD (208) 378-5644.

Illinois

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 2118 W. Park Court, Suite 
A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6200/TDD (217) 403-6240.

Indiana

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100/TDD (317) 290-3343.

Iowa

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 873, 
210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663/TDD (515) 
284-4858.

Kansas

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 S.W. First American 
Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2700/TDD (785) 
271-2767.

Kentucky

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 
200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7300/TDD (859) 224-7422.

Louisiana

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 3727 Government Street, 
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7921/TDD (318) 473-7655.

Maine

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 
4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9160/TDD (207) 
942-7331.

Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 451 West Street, Suite 2, 
Amherst, MA 01002-2999, (413) 253-4300/TDD (413) 253-4590.

Michigan

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 
200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5190/TDD (517) 324-5169.

Minnesota

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 
410, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7800/TDD (651) 602-3799.

Mississippi

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 
831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4316/TDD 
(601) 965-5850.

Missouri

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, 
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976/TDD 
(573) 876-9480.

Montana

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 900 Technology Boulevard, 
Suite B, P.O. Box 850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2580/TDD (406) 
585-2562.

Nebraska

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 
100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551/TDD 
(402) 437-5093.

Nevada

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, 
Carson City, NV

[[Page 79439]]

89703-5146, (775) 887-1222/TDD (775) 885-0633.

New Jersey

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th 
Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700/TDD 
(856) 787-7784.

New Mexico

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., 
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4950/TDD (505) 761-4938.

New York

    USDA Rural Development State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 
441 South Salina Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202-2541, (315) 
477-6400/TDD (315) 477-6447.

North Carolina

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, 
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000/TDD (919) 873-2003.

North Dakota

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 
220 East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-
2037/TDD (701) 530-2113.

Ohio

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2400/TDD 
(614) 255-2554.

Oklahoma

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, 
Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1000/TDD (405) 742-1007.

Oregon

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 
801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3300/TDD (503) 414-3387.

Pennsylvania

    USDA Rural Development State Office, One Credit Union Place, 
Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2299/TDD (717) 237-
2261.

Puerto Rico

    USDA Rural Development State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 
654 Munos Rivera Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5095/TDD 
(787) 766-5332.

South Carolina

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal 
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 
765-5163/TDD (803) 765-5697.

South Dakota

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 
200 Fourth Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100/TDD (605) 
352-1147.

Tennessee

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 
300, Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1300.

Texas

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 
102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700/TDD (254) 742-
9712.

Utah

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal 
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 
84138, (801) 524-4320/TDD (801) 524-3309.

Vermont/New Hampshire

    USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 
Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6000/TDD (802) 223-
6365.

Virginia

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 
238, Richmond, VA 23229-5014, (804) 287-1550/TDD (804) 287-1753.

Washington

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard 
SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7740/TDD (360) 704-
7760.

West Virginia

    USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, 75 High 
Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4860/TDD 
(304) 284-4836.

Wisconsin

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, 
Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7600/TDD (715) 345-7614.

Wyoming

    USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 East B, Federal 
Building, Room 1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 
233-6700/TDD (307) 233-6733.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    Funding Opportunity Type: Rural Economic Development Loans and 
Grants.
    Announcement Type: Initial Announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.854.
    Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications must be 
received in the State Office as follows: For First Quarter, September 
30, 2008, Second Quarter, December 31, 2008, Third Quarter, March 31, 
2009, and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2009.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The Regulations for these programs are at 7 CFR part 4280, subpart 
A. The primary objective of the program is to promote rural economic 
development and job creation projects. Assistance provided to rural 
areas, as defined, under this program may include business startup 
costs, business expansion, business incubators, technical assistance 
feasibility studies, advanced telecommunications services and computer 
networks for medical, educational, and job training services and 
community facilities projects for economic development. Awards are made 
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7 
CFR part 4280, subpart A. Information required to be in the application 
includes an SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;'' a 
Resolution of the Board of Directors; AD-1047, ``Debarment/Suspension 
Certification;'' Assurance statement for the Uniform Act; Restrictions 
on Lobbying, AD 1049; ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements;'' Seismic certification (if construction); Form RD 1940-
20, ``Request for Environmental Information;'' RUS Form 7; ``Financial 
and Statistical Report;'' and RUS Form 7a, ``Investments, Loan 
Guarantees, and Loans,'' or similar information; and written narrative 
of project description. Applications will be tentatively scored by the 
State Offices and submitted to the National Office for review.

Definitions

    The definitions are published at 7 CFR 4280.3.

II. Award Information

    Type of Awards: Loans and Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2009.
    Maximum Anticipated Award: Loans--$740,000; Grant--$300,000.
    Anticipated Award Dates: First Quarter, December 15, 2008, Second 
Quarter, March 16, 2009, Third Quarter, June 15, 2009, and Fourth 
Quarter, September 15, 2009.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    Loans and grants may be made to any entity that is identified by 
USDA Rural Development as an eligible borrower under the Rural 
Electrification Act. In accordance with 7 CFR 4280.13, applicants that 
are not delinquent on any Federal debt or otherwise disqualified from 
participation in these programs are eligible to apply. An applicant 
must be eligible under 7 U.S.C. 940c.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    For loans, either the Ultimate Recipient or the Intermediary must 
provide supplemental funds for the project equal to at least 20 percent 
of the loan to the Intermediary. For grants, the Intermediary must 
provide supplemental funds for the project equal

[[Page 79440]]

to at least 20 percent of the grant to the Intermediary.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Applications will only be accepted for projects that promote rural 
economic development and job creation.

D. Completeness Eligibility

    Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not 
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing 
required elements.

IV. Fiscal Year 2009 Application and Submission Information

A. Address To Request Application Package

    For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance 
should contact the Rural Development State Office identified in this 
NOFA to obtain copies of the application package.
    Applicants are encouraged to submit applications through the 
Grants.gov Web site at: http://www.grants.gov. Applications may be 
submitted in either electronic or paper format. Users of Grants.gov 
will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
off line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov 
Web site. Applications may not be submitted by electronic mail.
     When you enter the Grants.gov Web site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site as well as the hours of operation. USDA Rural Development strongly 
recommends that you do not wait until the application deadline date to 
begin the application process through Grants.gov. To use Grants.gov, 
applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free 
request line at 1-866-705-5711.
     You may submit all documents electronically through the 
Web site, including all information typically included on the 
application for REDLGs and all necessary assurances and certifications.
     After electronically submitting an application through the 
Web site, the applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgement from 
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
     USDA Rural Development may request that the applicant 
provide original signatures on forms at a later date.
     If applicants experience technical difficulties on the 
closing date and are unable to meet the deadline, you may submit a 
paper copy of your application to your respective Rural Development 
State Office. Paper applications submitted to a Rural Development State 
Office must meet the closing date and local time deadline.
    Please note that applicants must locate the downloadable 
application package for this program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance Number or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can be 
found at http://www.grants.gov. In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection requirement contained 
in this Notice is approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under OMB Control Number 0570-0024.

B. Content and Form of Submission

    An application must contain all of the required elements. Each 
selection priority criterion outlined in 7 CFR 4280.42(b), must be 
addressed in the application. Failure to address any of the criteria 
will result in a zero-point score for that criterion and will impact 
the overall evaluation of the application. Copies of 7 CFR part 4280, 
subpart A, will be provided to any interested applicant making a 
request to a Rural Development State Office listed in this notice.

C. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Dates: First Quarter, September 30, 2008, 
Second Quarter, December 31, 2008, Third Quarter, March 31, 2009, and 
Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2009.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be in the Rural 
Development State Office by the deadline dates as indicated above.

V. Application Review Information

    The National Office will score applications based on the grant 
selection criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A 
and will select an Intermediary subject to the Intermediary's 
satisfactory submission of the additional items required by 7 CFR part 
4280, subpart A and the USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from 
the Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with all 
applicable statutes and regulations before the loan/grant award will be 
approved. Provided the application requirements have not changed, an 
application not selected will be reconsidered in three subsequent 
funding competitions for a total of four competitions. If an 
application is withdrawn, it can be resubmitted and will be evaluated 
as a new application.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Additional requirements that apply to Intermediary's selected for 
this program can be found in the 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement, please contact your 
Rural Development State Office identified in this NOFA.

Nondiscrimination Statement

    ``The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, 
color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, 
marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual 
orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or 
because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any 
public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all 
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 
TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, 
Office of Adjudication and Compliance, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 
720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and 
lender.''

    Dated: December 16, 2008.
Ben Anderson,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. E8-30731 Filed 12-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P