[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46641-46642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16921]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Rural Business Lending National Stakeholder Forum 2016--Business 
and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within 
USDA Rural Development, is holding a forum to introduce the updated 
Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loanmaking and Servicing 
Regulations, as published in the Federal Register Friday, June 3, 2016. 
Major changes to the program include strengthened criteria for non-
regulated lender participation, provisions for New Markets Tax Credit 
and Cooperative Stock Purchase Program, and modified loan scoring 
criteria.
    Speakers from the Agency will discuss the new rule to educate 
lenders and borrowers on changes to program eligibility and servicing. 
The National Stakeholder Forum can be attended via webinar or in 
person.

DATES: National Stakeholder Forum: The National Stakeholder Forum will 
be held on Friday, July 29, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time.
    Registration: It is requested that you register by 12 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time Wednesday, July 27, 2016, to attend the forum in person. 
See the Instructions for Attending the Meeting section of this notice 
for additional information. If you wish to participate via webinar, you 
must register for the webinar at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/njphkhxlsyvr&eom prior to or during the webinar.

ADDRESSES: The National Stakeholder Forum will take place in Room 107-A 
of the Whitten Building on 1400 Jefferson Drive SW., located between 
12th and 14th Streets SW., in Washington DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janna Bruce, Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, Room 6858, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: (202)401-0081. Email: 
[email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact Janna Bruce using the 
information above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The B&I Guaranteed Loan Program is 
authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and 
provides loan guarantees to banks and other approved lenders to finance 
private businesses located in rural areas. The Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (Agency) is the agency within the Rural Development 
mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
responsible for administering the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. The 
Agency published a proposed rule on September 15, 2014, that proposed 
changes to refine the regulations for the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program 
in an effort to improve program delivery, clarify the regulations to 
make them easier to understand, and reduce delinquencies. The final 
rule was published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2016 (https://federalregister.gov/a/2016-12945).
    In order to familiarize the public with the new rule, 
representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are 
conducting this National Stakeholder Forum. Discussion points will 
include the new criteria for non-regulated lender participation, 
expanded program eligibility, and changes to loan servicing 
requirements. Participants will be afforded the opportunity to ask 
questions on the material in the presentation through the webinar 
software or in person.
    Date: July 29, 2016.
    Time: 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
    Location information: USDA Whitten Building, 1400 Jefferson Drive 
SW., Room 107-A, Washington, DC 20250.

Instructions for Attending the Meeting

    Space for attendance at the meeting is limited. Due to USDA 
headquarters security and space requirements, all persons wishing to 
attend the forum in person must send an email to 
[email protected] with ``RBS Stakeholder Forum'' in the subject 
line by 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Wednesday, July 27, 2016. 
Registrations will be accepted until maximum room capacity is reached. 
Seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
    To register, provide the following information:

 First and Last Names

[[Page 46642]]

 Organization
 Title
 Email
 City, State

    Upon arrival at the USDA Whitten Building, registered persons must 
provide valid photo identification in order to enter the building; 
visitors need to enter the Whitten Building on the mall side. Please 
allow extra time to get through security.

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 https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer 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.

    Dated: July 8, 2016.
Samuel H. Rikkers,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-16921 Filed 7-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P