[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28888-28890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11447]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Funds Availability for the Rural Microentrepreneur 
Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2014

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the funds available for loans and grants 
under the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) pursuant to 
7 CFR part 4280, subpart D for fiscal year (FY) 2014.

Total Funding: $25,461,661
Microlender TA Grants: $1,500,000
Loans: $23,961,661

    The minimum loan amount a Microenterprise Development Organization 
(MDO) may borrow under this program is $50,000. The maximum loan any 
MDO may borrow in any given year is $500,000. The commitment of program 
dollars will be made to applicants of selected responses that have 
fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation.
    All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in 
developing their applications.

DATES: Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis using Federal 
fiscal quarters. Completed applications must be received in the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Offices no 
later than the deadline of June 30, 2014, to be considered for funds 
available in FY 2014. Applications received after a Federal fiscal 
quarter deadline will be reviewed and evaluated for funding in the next 
Federal fiscal quarter. Depending on funding availability, eligible 
applications not funded in FY 2014 may continue to be considered in FY 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Applications and forms may be obtained from any Rural 
Development State Office. Applicants must submit an original complete 
application to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the State 
where the applicant's headquarters is located. A list of the USDA Rural 
Development State Offices addresses and telephone numbers can be found 
online at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this 
Notice, please contact the USDA Rural Development State Office for your 
respective State, as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Environmental Impact Statement

    This document has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1940, 
subpart G, ``Environmental Program.'' Rural Development has determined 
that this action does not constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, and in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., an Environmental Impact Statement is not 
required.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork 
burden associated with this Notice has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0062.

[[Page 28889]]

Overview

    Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (an agency 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Rural Development mission 
area).
    Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 
Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): The CFDA 
number for this Notice is 10.870.
    Dates: Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis using 
Federal fiscal quarters. Completed applications must be received in the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Offices 
no later than the deadline of June 30, 2014, to be considered for funds 
available in FY 2014. Applications received after a Federal fiscal 
quarter deadline will be reviewed and evaluated for funding in the next 
Federal fiscal quarter. Depending on funding availability, eligible 
applications not funded in FY 2014 may continue to be considered in FY 
2015.
    Availability of Notice and Rule. This Notice and the interim rule 
for RMAP are available on the USDA Rural Development Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_RMAP.html.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of RMAP is to support the 
development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and 
microenterprises (businesses generally with 10 employees or fewer and 
in need of financing in the amount of $50,000 or less as defined in 7 
CFR 4280.302).
    Assistance provided to rural areas under this program may include 
the provision of loans and grants to rural MDOs for the provision of 
microloans to rural microenterprises and microentrepreneurs; provision 
of business-based training and technical assistance to rural 
microborrowers and potential microborrowers; and other such activities 
as deemed appropriate by the Secretary to ensure the development and 
ongoing success of rural microenterprises.
    B. Statutory Authority. The RMAP is authorized by Section 379E of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 USC 2008s). 
Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D.
    C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice 
are published at 7 CFR 4280.302.

II. Award Information

    A. Type of Award: Loan and/or Grant
    B. Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2014
    C. Total Funding: $25,461,661

Microlender TA Grants: $1,500,000
Loans: $23,961,661

    D. Approximate Number of Awards: 50
    E. Anticipated Award Date: Fourth Quarter, September 1, 2014
    In the event some program funds allocated for a particular quarter 
of FY 2014 are not obligated, the remaining unobligated funds will be 
carried over to the next Federal fiscal quarter. Any FY 2014 funds not 
obligated under this Notice will be carried over into FY 2015.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Applicants. To be eligible for this program, the 
applicant must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.310. As 
mentioned later in this Notice regarding corporate Federal tax 
delinquencies, applicants that are not delinquent on any Federal debt 
or otherwise disqualified from participation in this program are 
eligible to apply. All other restrictions in this Notice will apply.
    B. Cost Share Requirements. The Federal share of the eligible 
project cost of a microborrower's project funded under this Notice 
shall not exceed 75 percent. The cost share requirement shall be met by 
the microlender in accordance with the requirements specified in 7 CFR 
4280.311(d).
    C. Matching Fund Requirements. The MDO is required to provide a 
match of not less than 15 percent of the total amount of the grant in 
the form of matching funds, indirect costs, or in-kind goods or 
services.
    D. Other Eligibility Requirements. Applications will only be 
accepted from eligible MDOs. Eligible MDOs must score a minimum of 70 
points out of 100 points to be considered to receive an award. Awards 
each Federal fiscal quarter will be based on ranking with the highest 
ranking applications being funded first, subject to available funding.
    E. Completeness Eligibility. All applications must be submitted as 
a complete application, in one package. Applications will not be 
considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to 
determine eligibility or are unbound, falling apart, or otherwise not 
suitable for evaluation. Such applications will be withdrawn.

IV. Fiscal Year 2014 Application and Submission Information

    A. Application Submittal. MDOs may submit an initial application 
for a loan with a microlender TA grant or an initial or subsequent loan 
only (without a microlender TA grant). A MDO does not need to submit an 
application for its microlender TA grant. The procedures for annual 
microlender TA grants are addressed in section VI.
    Loan applications must be submitted in paper format. If 
applications are submitted in paper format, they must be bound in a 3-
ring binder and must be organized in the same order set forth in 7 CFR 
4280.315. To ensure timely delivery, applicants are strongly encouraged 
to submit their applications using an overnight, express, or parcel 
delivery service.
    Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All 
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 25, must have a Dun and 
Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number, which can be 
obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at 1-866-705-5711 or 
online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Similarly, all applicants for 
grants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) 
prior to submitting an application. Applicants may register for the SAM 
at http://www.sam.gov. All recipients of Federal financial assistance 
are required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and 
executive total compensation in accordance with 2 CFR Part 170.
    B. Content and Form of Submission. An application must contain all 
of the required elements outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315. Each application 
must address the applicable scoring criteria presented in 7 CFR 
4280.316 for the type of funding being requested.
    C. Submission Dates and Times. The original complete application 
must be received by the USDA Rural Development State Office no later 
than 4:30 p.m. local time by the application deadline dates listed 
above, regardless of the postmark date, in order to be considered for 
funds available in that Federal fiscal quarter.
    Unless withdrawn by the applicant, completed applications that 
receive a score of at least 70 (the minimum required to be considered 
for funding), but have not yet been funded, will be retained by the 
Agency for consideration in subsequent reviews through a total of four 
consecutive quarterly reviews. Applications that remain unfunded after 
four quarterly reviews, including the initial quarter in which the 
application was competed, will not be considered further for an award.

V. Application Review Information

    Awards under this Notice will be made on a competitive basis each

[[Page 28890]]

Federal fiscal quarter. Each application received in the USDA Rural 
Development State Office will be reviewed, scored, and ranked to 
determine if it is consistent with the program requirements. 
Applications will be scored based on the applicable scoring criteria 
contained in 7 CFR 4280.316. Failure to address any of the applicable 
scoring criteria will result in a zero-point score for that section. An 
application must receive at least 70 points to be considered for 
funding in the quarter in which it is scored.

VI. Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical Assistance Grants

    In accordance with 7 CFR 4280-D, section 4280.313(b)(2), 
``Microlender Technical Assistance (TA) grants will be limited to an 
amount equal to not more than 25 percent of the total outstanding 
balance of microloans made under this program and active by the 
microlender as of the date the grant is awarded for the first $400,000 
plus an additional 5 percent of the loan amount owed by the 
microborrowers to the lender under this program over $400,000 up to and 
including $2.5 million. Funds cannot be used to pay off the loans. Any 
grant dollars obligated, but not spent, from the initial grant, will be 
subtracted from the subsequent year grant to ensure that obligations 
cover only microloans made and active.''
    To determine the Microlender TA Grant awards for FY 2014, the 
Agency will use the Microlender's outstanding balance of microloans as 
of June 30, 2014, to calculate this amount. MDO's that are eligible for 
an annual grant may apply.
    Awards will be determined non-competitively based on Agency 
appropriations for the fiscal year. The MDO must submit a prescribed 
worksheet listing the outstanding balance of their microloans and 
unexpended grant funds as of the date of their request and a letter 
certifying that their organization still meets all the requirements set 
forth in 7 CFR 4280 and that no significant changes have occurred 
within the last year that would affect its ability to carry out their 
MDO functions. In addition, all MDOs who request Subsequent Annual 
Microlender Technical Assistance Grants must complete their reporting 
into the Lenders Interactive Network Connection (LINC) for the Federal 
fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014. The deadline for reporting into 
LINC and requesting TA grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on 
July 31, 2014.

VII. Award Administration Information

    Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from 
the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with 
all applicable statutes and regulations before the award will be 
approved. Unsuccessful applications will receive notification by mail.

VIII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this Notice, please contact your USDA 
Rural Development State Office as provided in the Addresses section of 
this Notice.

Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the 
bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender 
identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, 
marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all 
or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any 
program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all 
prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment 
activities.)
    If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form 
(PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the 
form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information 
requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to 
us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, 
by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
    Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech 
disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint 
please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 
or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
    Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program complaint, 
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or 
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: May 1, 2014.
Lillian E. Salerno,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11447 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P