[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 5281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2067]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Intent To Hold Public Forums To Solicit Feedback From 
the Public Regarding the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Program

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Responding to President Obama's initiative for an open, 
transparent government, the Rural Housing Service, hereinafter referred 
to as the Agency, intends to hold public forums to solicit feedback 
from the public on whether the current method of delivering the self-
help program is the most efficient and cost effective in terms of cost 
and program delivery.
    Transparency encourages accountability by delivering information to 
the public about what the Government is doing. Participation provides 
the public with opportunities to contribute ideas and expertise to the 
Government which will enable them to make sound policy decisions that 
represent a wider group of diverse individuals throughout society. 
Collaboration improves effectiveness of the Government by encouraging 
partnerships and cooperation within the Federal Government, across 
levels of government, and between the Government and private 
institutions.
    The Agency will use information obtained from public forums to 
evaluate all aspects of the self-help program. As the Agency moves 
forward, it will continue to encourage and solicit feedback, 
recommendations, and comments from all sectors of the public. All 
information relative to these forums will be taped, transcribed, and 
posted to the Agency Web site.

DATES: Public forums are scheduled for February through June 2010. All 
written questions and comments must be received by the Agency prior to 
June 30, 2010. The public forums will be held in selected states and 
the Washington, DC area.

ADDRESSES: Send questions and comments to: Debra S. Arnold, Program 
Analyst, Program Support Staff, Rural Housing Service, USDA at 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0761, Washington, DC 20250-0761, 
telephone (202) 720-1366, fax: (202) 690-4335, e-mail 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra S. Arnold, Program Analyst, 
Program Support Staff, Rural Housing Service, USDA at 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Stop 0761, Washington, DC 20250-0761, telephone (202) 720-
1366, fax: (202) 690-4335, e-mail [email protected]. For 
participants who require a sign language interpreter or other special 
accommodations, please contact Debra S. Arnold as directed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the major areas within the Section 
523 Mutual Self-Help Program that the Agency will be focusing on is the 
Technical and Management Assistance (T&MA) contracts. The contracts 
task regional non-profit organizations to provide training and 
technical assistance to recipients of the Section 523 grants. These 
recipients, referred to as Section 523 grantees, provide technical 
assistance to low and very low-income families to build their homes in 
rural areas. In addition to assisting the Section 523 grantees, the 
contractors are also required to market the self-help program, monitor 
the progress of active Section 523 grantees, and provide training to 
both grantees and families.
    The location and time of the forums will be determined at a later 
date and announced locally. Registration information and deadlines will 
be provided, at that time. In addition, this information will be posted 
to the Agency Web site.

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                  Date                                State
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February 18, 2010......................  Arkansas.
March 5, 2010..........................  Puerto Rico.
March 12, 2010.........................  North Carolina.
March 26, 2010.........................  Mississippi.
April 9, 2010..........................  Arizona.
April 23, 2010.........................  Ohio.
May 14, 2010...........................  Washington.
June 4, 2010...........................  Vermont.
June 11, 2010..........................  Iowa.
June 18, 2010..........................  Washington, DC.
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    Dated: January 27, 2010.
Tammye Trevi[ntilde]o,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-2067 Filed 2-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P