[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42831-42832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17584]


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DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY


Office of Domestic Finance; Small Business, Community Development 
and Affordable Housing Policy; Small Business Lending Fund; Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Treasury, 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 information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). 
Currently, the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) within the Department 
of Treasury is soliciting comments concerning the Small Business 
Lending Survey it proposes to administer to participants in the SBLF.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before August 20, 2012 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the burden estimate, or any other 
aspect of the information collection, including suggestion for reducing 
the burden, to (1) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Treasury, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email 
at [email protected] and (2) Treasury PRA Clearance Officer, 
1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 11020, Washington, DC 20220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to the Office of Domestic Finance, Small Business 
Lending Fund; Daniel Rourke; 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20220; 202-622-0984; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Lending Survey of Participants in Small Business Lending 
Fund
    Abstract: Established by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (the 
Act), the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) is a dedicated investment 
fund that encourages lending to small businesses by providing capital 
to qualified community banks and community development loan funds 
(CDLFs) with assets of less than $10 billion. Through the SBLF, 
participating Main Street lenders and small businesses work together to 
help create jobs and promote economic growth in local communities 
across the nation.
    The Act required that all U.S. Department of the Treasury 
(Treasury) investments for the SBLF be made by September 27, 2011. 
Through the SBLF, Treasury made investments in 332 community 
institutions, including banks, thrifts and CDLFs. The size of the SBLF 
portfolio is approximately $4.03 billion (approximately $3.9 billion in 
281 community banks and approximately $100 million in 51 CDLFs). To 
encourage small business lending, the dividend or interest rate on SBLF 
funding provided to banks and thrifts is reduced as these participants 
increase their qualified small business lending. The SBLF does not use 
the same standards that the Small Business Administration uses to 
determine what qualifies as a small business loan. For more details 
about the program, please visit www.treasury.gov/sblf.
    Treasury plans to conduct an annual lending survey with the program 
participants to identify the impact of the investment on lending to 
small businesses, consistent with the purpose of the Act to increase 
the availability of credit for small businesses. This survey is not 
required by law, but the SBLF Securities Purchase Agreement requires 
participants to complete a survey in a form specified by Treasury. 
Below is a description of the information that the SBLF Program Office 
is looking for to assist with the aforementioned annual lending survey.
    Current Actions: Treasury plans to collect information from SBLF 
participants about the small business lending supported by SBLF's 
investment. SBLF will request information from participants on changes 
in small business lending capacity as a result of the SBLF investment, 
the amounts and volume of loans extended across different categories of 
small business lending attributable to the SBLF investment, and the 
types and extent of outreach undertaken to expand lending to small 
businesses in underserved communities and small businesses owned by 
women, minorities and veterans resulting from participation in the 
SBLF.
    Type of Review: New, non-rulemaking.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit, and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: All 332 SBLF Participants.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,656 hours.
    Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited 
on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the SBLF, including whether the 
information shall have a practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
SBLF's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of

[[Page 42832]]

information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) 
estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

    Dated: July 16, 2012.
Robert Dahl,
Treasury Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-17584 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-P