[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 163 (Friday, August 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51676-51677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18395]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RBS-20-BUSINESS-0033]


Implementation of Certain Provisions of Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2020 Specific to Persistent Poverty Counties

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces implementation of certain provisions 
published in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 
116-94) related to persistent poverty counties served by Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service (RBSC), Rural Housing Service (RHS) and 
the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) agencies of the Rural Development 
mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, 
sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as ``Agency'' or ``the 
Agency.''

DATES: The provisions of this notice are applicable August 21, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information specific to this 
notice contact Michele Brooks, Director, Regulations Management, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 4266, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 690-1078. Email 
[email protected]. For information regarding implementation 
contact your respective Rural Development State Office listed here: 
http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Rural Development improves the quality of life in rural America by 
offering loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and 
support economic development and essential services such as housing; 
health care; first responder services and equipment; and water, 
electric and

[[Page 51677]]

communications infrastructure. The Agencies programs promote economic 
development by supporting loans to businesses through banks, credit 
unions and community-managed lending pools. Many of Rural Development's 
programs offer priority funding for loans and grants located in 
persistent poverty counties. The term ``persistent poverty counties'' 
means any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population 
living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 
2000 decennial census and 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-year 
average, or any territory or possession of the United States.
    The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94) 
enacted on December 20, 2019, contained provisions affecting persistent 
poverty counties and the allocation of funds for persistent poverty 
counties.
    This notice announces implementation of the following provisions:

Allocation of Funds

    The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94) 
provides that to the maximum extent feasible, at least 10 percent of 
the funds allocated to the listed programs shall be allocated for 
assistance to persistent poverty counties.

Population Limits

    Notwithstanding any other provision in the listed programs 
regarding population limits, section 740 of the Further Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94) provides that for any county 
seat in a persistent poverty county that has a population that does not 
exceed the program's authorized population limit by more than 10 
percent will be considered eligible for that program.
    The listed programs are the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program 
Account from which the Agency has set aside Fiscal Year 2020 
appropriated funds for the following programs: Direct Single Family 
Housing Loans (sec 502); Very Low-Income Housing Repair Loans (sec. 
504); Rural Rental Housing Direct Loan Program (sec. 515); Housing Site 
Development Loans (sec. 524); and, Self-Help Housing Land Development 
Loans (sec. 523); Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants; Rural Housing 
Assistance Grants from which the Agency has set aside Fiscal Year 2020 
appropriated funds for the Very Low-Income Housing Repair (sec. 504) 
and Rural Housing Preservation (sec. 533); Rural Community Facilities 
Program Account from which the Agency has set aside Fiscal Year 2020 
appropriated funds for Community Facilities Grants; Rural Business 
Program Account from which the Agency has set aside Fiscal Year 2020 
appropriated funds for the following programs: Rural Business 
Development Grants--Business Enterprise Grants; Federally Recognized 
Native American Tribes, Rural Business Development Grants--Business 
Enterprise Grants; Grants to Delta Regional Authority; and, Grants to 
Appalachian Regional Commissions; Rural Economic Development Loans 
Program Account from which the Agency has set aside Fiscal Year 2020 
appropriated funds for Rural Economic Development Loans; Rural 
Cooperative Development Grants from which the Agency has set aside 
Fiscal Year 2020 appropriated funds for Rural Cooperative Development 
Grants, Grants to Assist Socially Disadvantaged, and Value-Added 
Agricultural Product Market Development Grants; WWD Program Account 
from which the Agency has set aside Fiscal Year 2020 appropriated funds 
for Direct Water and Waste Disposal Loans, Water and Waste Disposal 
Grants, and Federally Recognized Native American Tribes Water and Waste 
Disposal Grants (sec. 306C(a)(1)); Rural Electrification and 
Telecommunications Loans Program Account from which the Agency has set 
aside Fiscal Year 2020 appropriated funds for Telecommunications 
Program Direct, Treasury Rate loans; and, Distance Learning and 
Telemedicine and Broadband Program from which the Agency has set aside 
Fiscal Year 2020 appropriated funds for Delta Health Care Services 
Grants and Broadband Telecommunications Grants.
    The Agency, if applicable, will, with the publication of program 
funding announcements, provide guidance on qualifying for and, scoring 
criteria for persistent poverty areas. If no program funding 
announcement will be published, then the Agency will provide such 
guidance on the program's website.

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, 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, familial/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.

Bette Brand,
Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-18395 Filed 8-20-20; 8:45 am]
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