[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21762-21763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09912]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service


Strategic Economic and Community Development--Reservation of 
Fiscal Year 2018 Program Funds

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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 
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD), for projects that 
support multijurisdictional strategic economic and community 
development plans. This Notice supersedes the SECD fiscal year 2016 
(FY) notice that published on March 17, 2016 and identifies that for FY 
2018 the Agency will utilize priority points under the SECD provisions, 
as opposed to set-aside funding.

DATES: To apply for SECD priority points, applicants must submit Form 
RD 1980-88, ``Strategic Economic and Community Development (section 
6025) Priority,'' by the underlying program application deadlines or 
September 30, 2018, whichever comes first.

ADDRESSES: Submit Form RD 1980-88 to the USDA Rural Development Area 
Office servicing the area where the project is located. A list of the 
USDA Rural Development Area Offices can be found listed by state at: 
http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state.

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: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development.

[[Page 21763]]

    For all other inquiries, contact Regional Community Economic 
Development Coordinators as follows:
     Midwest Region--Christine Sorensen: 202-568-9832, 
[email protected].
     Northeast Region--Angela Callie: 610-791-9810 ext. 123, 
[email protected].
     Southern Region--Greg Dale: (870) 633-3055 Ext. 123, 
[email protected].
     Western Region-Tim O'Connell: (503) 414-3396, 
[email protected]
     National Office--Jamie Davenport, Rural Development 
Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 3254, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone: 202-720-
0002. 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.

Background

    On March 17, 2016, the Agency published in the Federal Register (81 
FR 14420) set-aside percentages for each of the underlying programs for 
which SECD priority points were available. As stated in that Notice, 
the percentage of funds reserved for SECD were to remain in effect for 
``each succeeding fiscal year unless changed in accordance with 7 CFR 
1980.1004(b).''
    The Agency has determined that several factors indicate the use of 
priority points for SECD projects is more desirable than set-aside 
funds this fiscal year. The factors are: (1) Priority points may be 
awarded through September 30, as opposed to June 30 for set-aside 
funds; (2) the level of demand for reserved funding in prior years; and 
(3) projects resulting from regional partnerships will be more strongly 
encouraged.

A. Applications

    Applicants seeking FY 2018 funds for projects that support 
multijurisdictional plans will be eligible for SECD priority points. 
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 underlying program's 
return on investment requirements outlined in the notice of funding 
availability, as applicable; (3) meet the eligibility requirements of 7 
CFR part 1980, subpart K; and (4) submit Form RD 1980-88 and supporting 
documentation.

B. Form RD 1980-88

    To be considered for SECD priority points, applicants must submit a 
complete Form RD 1980-88. 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.
    Form RD 1980-80 requests such information as (see 7 CFR 1980.1015):
     Identification of whether the applicant includes a State, 
county, municipal, or tribal government;
     Identification by name of the plan being supported by the 
project, the date the plan became effective and is to remain in effect, 
and a detailed description of how the project directly supports one or 
more of the plan's objectives;
     Sufficient information to show that the project will be 
carried out solely in a rural area; and
     Identification of any current or previous applications the 
applicant has submitted for funds from the underlying programs.
    If an applicant has already submitted a FY 2018 application for one 
of the underlying programs and the applicant wishes to be considered 
for SECD priority points, the applicant must submit Form RD 1980-88 by 
close of business on the date listed in the DATES section of this 
Notice for that program.
    If an applicant has not submitted a FY 2018 application for one of 
the underlying programs and that program is still accepting 
applications for FY 2018 funding, the applicant must submit Form RD 
1980-88 at the same time the applicant submits the application material 
for the underlying program.
    Failure to submit a complete Form RD 1980-88 may result in not 
receiving SECD priority points.

C. Award Process

    The Agency will score applications seeking SECD priority points in 
accordance with the procedures specified in 7 CFR 1980.1020. In 
accordance with 7 CFR 1980.1025, those applications, whose score will 
include any SECD priority points awarded for the entire fiscal year, 
will compete for program funding with all other program applications 
that do not seek SECD priority points using the award process for the 
applicable underlying program.

D. Reporting Requirements

    Applicants whose applications with SECD priority points are 
selected for funding are required to submit information in accordance 
with 7 CFR 1980.1026.

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 How to 
File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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].

    Dated: May 2, 2018.
Anne Hazlett,
Assistant to the Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-09912 Filed 5-9-18; 8:45 am]
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