[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14419-14421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06035]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service


Farm Bill: Strategic Economic and Community Development--
Reservation of Fiscal Year 2016 Program Funds

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, 
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 6025 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) 
provides the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to give priority to 
projects that support strategic economic development or community 
development plans. The Agency has the authority to reserve funds for 
those programs (referred to as the ``underlying programs'') included in 
7 CFR part 1980, subpart K, Strategic Economic and Community 
Development (SECD), for projects that support multi-jurisdictional 
strategic economic and community development plans. This notice 
identifies for fiscal year 2016 the underlying programs from which 
funds will be reserved for Section 6025 SECD requirements. Those 
programs are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, please contact 
your respective Rural Development State Office listed here: http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state. A checklist of all required application 
information for Section 6025 SECD can be found at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development.
    For all other inquiries, contact Regional Community Economic 
Development Coordinators as follows:
     Midwest Region--Christine Sorensen: 202-568-9832, 
[email protected].

[[Page 14420]]

     Northeast Region--Angela Callie: 610-791-9810 ext. 123, 
[email protected].
     Southern Region--Greg Dale: (870) 633-3055 Ext. 123, 
[email protected].
     National Office--Farah Ahmad, Program Manager: Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 
3254, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0783, 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.
    As provided for in 7 CFR 1980.1004, this notice identifies for 
fiscal year 2016 the underlying programs from which funds will be 
reserved for Section 6025 SECD requirements. The following table 
specifies the level of program funding allocations from which the 
Section 6025 SECD reserved funds will be drawn, and the percentage of 
funds being reserved from the underlying program funding allocations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Percentage of
             Program               Level of  funding  funds reserved for
                                      allocations        section 6025
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Facility Loans (7 CFR   State.............  5 percent.
 part 1942, subpart A).
Fire and Rescue and Other Small   State.............  5 percent.
 Community Facilities Projects
 (7 CFR part 1942, subpart C).
Community Facilities Grant        State.............  10 percent.
 Program (7 CFR part 3570,
 subpart B).
Community Programs Guaranteed     National..........  10 percent.
 Loans (7 CFR part 3575, subpart
 A).
Water and Waste Disposal          National..........  10 percent.
 Programs Guaranteed Loans (7
 CFR part 1779).
Water and Waste Loans and Grants  National..........  10 percent loan; 5
 (7 CFR part 1780, subparts A,                         percent grant.
 B, C, and D).
Business and Industry Guaranteed  National..........  5 percent.
 Loanmaking and Servicing (7 CFR
 part 4279, subparts A and B; 7
 CFR part 4287, subpart B).
Rural Business Development        State.............  5 percent.
 Grants (7 CFR part 4280,
 subpart E).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture remains committed to assisting 
high-poverty communities as one of its strategic priorities. The 
programs listed above consider poverty-related criteria in its 
application requirements. For this reason, Section 6025 offers an 
incentive for high poverty communities to have increased access to 
these programs so long as they have eligible projects that support the 
implementation of a multi-jurisdictional plan. This is particularly 
beneficial for areas such as Promise Zones, the Delta, Appalachia, 
Colonias, and other rural places with persistent poverty issues.
    If submitting projects for consideration for the underlying 
program's Section 6025 SECD reserved funds, applicants must (1) meet 
the eligibility requirements of the underlying program based on its 
annual notice, policies and/or regulations, including application 
deadlines; (2) meet the eligibility requirements of Section 6025 SECD 
in accordance with this Notice and 7 CFR part 1980, subpart K; and (3) 
submit Form RD 1980-88 and supporting documentation. Applicants are 
encouraged to submit Form RD 1980-88 and supporting documentation 
concurrent with the application for the underlying program for which 
the applicant is applying, in an effort to avoid improper or 
duplicative awards to recipients as required by law. Rural Development 
will work with programs to ensure the review process is compliant and 
consistent with Section 6025 SECD regulation.
    All of the underlying program's reserves for Section 6025 SECD 
competition must be obligated by the Agency no later than June 30, 
2016. As provided for in 7 CFR 1980.1004(c), the Agency will return any 
reserved funds that are not obligated by June 30, 2016, to the 
underlying program's regular funding account for obligation to all 
eligible projects in that program. After June 30, 2016, any project 
that supports a multi-jurisdictional strategic economic and community 
development plan may be competed with all other projects within the 
applicable underlying program for the remainder of FY 2016, but without 
the benefit of any mandated priority points and access to reserved 
funds available under 7 CFR part 1980, subpart K.
    This notice establishes the listed percentages of funds reserved 
for Section 6025 and is effective October 1, 2015 for the entirety of 
FY 2016 and the entirety of each succeeding fiscal year unless changed 
in accordance with 7 CFR 1980.1004(b).

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or 
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA 
by:
    1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-9410;
    2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
    3. Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.


[[Page 14421]]


    Dated: March 3, 2016.
Lisa Mensah,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2016-06035 Filed 3-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P