[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44273-44275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15821]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket No. RBS-20-Business-0028]


Stakeholder Listening Sessions on New Rural Innovation Stronger 
Economy (RISE) Regulation

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) is hosting three 
listening sessions for public input about the new Rural Innovation 
Stronger Economy (RISE) program and regulation. The RISE program will 
assist rural job accelerator partnerships in improving the ability of 
distressed rural communities to create high-wage jobs, accelerate the 
formation of new businesses, and help rural communities identify and 
maximize local assets. This rule will be published as a direct-final 
regulation after addressing comments received from the listening 
sessions and written comments in response to this request for 
information. RBCS is currently drafting the RISE regulation and 
requests input on application implementation and project priorities to 
reach the desired outcomes.

DATES: Listening sessions will be held on: July 28, 2020 at 2pm EDT 
virtually at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5379245598321536014.
    July 30, 2020 at 2pm EDT virtually at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2719620429219806478.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice may be 
submitted online Via the Federal eRulmaking Portal. Go to http://

[[Page 44274]]

www.regulations.gov and search for the Docket ID RBS-20-Business-0028. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. All comments 
received will be posted without change and will be publicly available 
on regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will Dodson, Business Loan and Grant 
Analyst, USDA, Rural Development, STOP 3226 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW, Washington, DC 20250-3224, telephone (202) 762-0592, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview of RISE

    The RISE Program is authorized in Section 6424 of the 2018 Farm 
Bill (Pub.L. 115-34) as a new grant program. The intent of RISE is to 
encourage partnerships and development of innovation centers that will 
provide innovative approaches to developing workforces in rural areas. 
The program currently proposes the following assistance: grants for the 
innovation center to establish job accelerators and to establish and 
support job accelerators and related programs. RISE has two major 
goals. The first goal includes improving the ability of distressed 
rural communities to create high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of 
new businesses with high-growth potential, and strengthen regional 
economies, including by helping to build capacity in the applicable 
region to achieve those goals. The second goal is to help rural 
communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to regional 
opportunities, networks, and industry clusters that demonstrate high 
growth potential. Eligible entities are those comprised of key 
community and regional stakeholders in a working group that focuses on 
shared goals and the needs of industry clusters that are identified as 
existing, emerging, or declining. The partnership must include one or 
more of the following entities: Indian tribes; institution of higher 
education; private entity; or government entity. The partnership must 
also include a lead application from one of the following types of 
entities: district organization; Indian tribe or consortium of Indian 
tribes; state and local government or political subdivisions; 
institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of 
higher education; or public or private nonprofit organization.
    As per Section 6424 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the 
competitive grant awards will be limited to no greater than 80 percent 
of the project cost, with a minimum grant amount of $500,000 and a 
maximum grant of $2,000,000. The grant scope of work period is four 
years and no more than 10% of the award can be utilized for indirect 
costs associated with administering the award. Funds may be used for 
constructing, purchasing, or equipping a building to serve as an 
innovation center or for program support of a job accelerator which 
assists the objectives of the jobs accelerator in meeting the 
requirements of the program.
    This notice and listening sessions request information on various 
portions of the regulation as it is being developed. The public input 
provided in response to this notice from interested stakeholders will 
advise RBCS to the RISE program funding priorities and efficient 
process for program implementation.

Instructions

    Response to this notice is voluntary. Each individual or 
institution is requested to submit only one response as directed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Submission must not exceed 10 pages 
in 12 point or larger font, with a page number provided on each page. 
Responses should include the name of the person(s) or organization(s) 
filing the comment. Comments containing references, studies, research, 
and other empirical data that are not widely published should include 
copies or electronic links of the referenced materials. Comments 
containing profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate 
language or content will not be considered. Comments submitted in 
response to this notice are subject to Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA). Responses to this notice may also be posted, without change, on 
a Federal website.
    Therefore, we request that no business proprietary information, 
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be 
submitted in response to this notice. In accordance with FAR 15-202(3), 
responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the 
Government to form a binding contract. Additionally, the U.S. 
Government will not pay for response preparation or for the use of any 
information contained in the response.
    To inform the Federal government's decision-making and establish 
the Nation's guiding principles in the promotion of the RISE Program, 
USDA now seeks public input on how U.S. Government action might 
appropriately support the expansion of a nationwide effort. To that 
end, responders are specifically requested to answer one or more of the 
following questions in their submissions. Consortia responses are also 
encouraged.
    1. USDA Rural Development is seeking feedback for the RISE 
application in terms of required application materials and input to 
demonstrate how an applicant's proposal meets the objectives of RISE.
    2. One of the RISE Program's objectives is to improve the ability 
of distressed rural communities to create high-wage jobs, accelerate 
the formation of new businesses with high-growth potential, and 
strengthen regional economies, including by helping to build capacity 
in the applicable region to achieve those goals. The Agency is seeking 
input on how RISE can qualify successful applications in this regard. 
What are potential successful benchmarks? How should these be 
evaluated?
    3. Another RISE Program objective is to help rural communities 
identify and maximize local assets. The Agency is seeking input on how 
RISE can qualify successful applications in this regard. What are 
potential successful benchmarks? How should these be evaluated?4. 
Additionally, the RISE Program is authorized to help rural communities 
connect to regional opportunities, networks, and industry clusters that 
demonstrate high growth potential. The Agency is seeking input on how 
RISE can qualify successful applications in this regard. What are 
potential successful benchmarks?
    5. Please provide any suggestions on how USDA, Rural Development 
should monitor and service the awarded grants, and which emphasis 
factors should be included in evaluating outcomes of the RISE Program.
    6. The RISE Program provides statutory selection criteria including 
the ability of the partnership to link rural communities to markets, 
networks, industry clusters and other regional opportunities and 
assets. How can the Agency quantify this criteria?
    7. The RISE Program provides statutory selection criteria including 
the prospects for the proposed center and related programming to have 
sustainability beyond the full maximum length of assistance under RISE, 
i.e. 4 years. How can the Agency quantify this criteria?
    8. The RISE Program provides statutory selection criteria, which 
measures the commitment of participating core stakeholders in the jobs 
accelerator partnerships, including a demonstration that investment 
organizations and institutions of higher education, applied research 
institutions, workforce development entities and

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community-based organizations are committed. How can the Agency 
quantify this criteria?

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.

Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-15821 Filed 7-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P