[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 76593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30020]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 18, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 76593]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed Loans for Fiscal Year 2014; 
Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for Fiscal Year 2014; 
Annual Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2014

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.107, the Agency has the authority 
to charge an initial guarantee fee and an annual renewal fee for loans 
made under the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program. 
Pursuant to that authority, the Agency is establishing the renewal fee 
rate at one-half of 1 percent for the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. This 
rate will apply to all loans obligated in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 that 
are made under the B&I program. As established in 7 CFR 4279.107(b)(1), 
the amount of the fee on each guaranteed loan will be determined by 
multiplying the fee rate by the outstanding principal loan balance as 
of December 31, multiplied by the percent of guarantee.
    The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013 
set funding levels according to those established by the 2012 
Appropriations Bill. This authorized the Agency to charge a maximum of 
3 percent for its guarantee fee for FY 2013. It is the Agency's 
expectation that the 2014 Appropriations Bill will contain the same 
authorization to charge a maximum of 3 percent for its guarantee fee 
for FY 2014. As such, the guarantee fee for FY 2014 will be 3 percent. 
In the event the 2014 Appropriations Bill reduces the fee authorization 
below 3 percent, a subsequent notice will be published in the Federal 
Register amending the guarantee fee for FY 2014.
    As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.107(a) and 4279.119(b)(4), each fiscal 
year, the Agency shall establish a limit on the maximum portion of B&I 
guarantee authority available for that fiscal year that may be used to 
guarantee loans with a reduced guarantee fee or guaranteed loans with a 
guarantee percentage exceeding 80 percent.
    Allowing a reduced guarantee fee or exceeding the 80 percent 
guarantee on certain B&I guaranteed loans that meet the conditions set 
forth in 7 CFR 4279.107 and 4279.119 will increase the Agency's ability 
to focus guarantee assistance on projects which the Agency has found 
particularly meritorious. For reduced guarantee fees, the borrower's 
business must support value-added agriculture and result in farmers 
benefiting financially or must be a high impact business investment as 
defined in 7 CFR 4279.155(b)(5) and be located in rural communities 
that experience long-term population decline and job deterioration, 
remain persistently poor, are experiencing trauma as a result of 
natural disaster, or are experiencing fundamental structural changes in 
its economic base. For guaranteed loans exceeding 80 percent, such 
projects must qualify as a high-priority project (a requirement of 7 
CFR 4279.119(b)), scoring at least 50 points in accordance with 7 CFR 
4279.155(b).
    Not more than 12 percent of the Agency's quarterly apportioned B&I 
guarantee authority will be reserved for loan requests with a reduced 
fee, and not more than 15 percent of the Agency's quarterly apportioned 
guarantee authority will be reserved for guaranteed loan requests with 
a guarantee percentage exceeding 80 percent. Once the respective 
quarterly limits are reached, all additional loans for that quarter 
will be at the standard fee and guarantee limits.

DATES: Effective Date: December 18, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jerred Brown, USDA, Rural 
Development, Business Programs, Business and Industry Division, STOP 
3224, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3224, 
telephone (202) 720-1970, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action has been reviewed and determined 
not to be a rule or regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866, as 
amended by Executive Order 13258.

    Dated: November 27, 2013.
Lillian E. Salerno,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30020 Filed 12-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P