[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 9027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03428]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 33 / Thursday, February 17, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9027]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 14, 2022.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding: Whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by March 
21, 2022 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Value-Added Producer Grants Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0064.
    Summary of Collection: The Cooperative Programs unit within Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) an agency within the USDA Rural 
Development mission area will administer the Value-Added Producer 
Grants (VAPG) Program. The Program is authorized under section 231 of 
the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-224) as 
amended by section 6202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). The objective of this program is to encourage 
producers of agricultural commodities and products of agricultural 
commodities to further refine these products increasing their value to 
end users of the product. These grants will be used for two purposes: 
(1) To fund feasibility studies, marketing and business plans, and 
similar development activities; and (2) to use the grant as part of the 
venture's working capital expenses such as inventory, utilities and 
salaries.
    Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development State and Area 
office staff, as delegated, will collect information from applicants 
and grantees. RBS will use the information collected by to determine 
(1) eligibility; (2) the specific purpose for which the funds will be 
utilized; (3) time frames or dates by which activities are to be 
accomplished; (4) feasibility of the project; (5) applicants' 
experience in managing similar activities; and (6) the effectiveness 
and innovation used to address critical issues vital to value-added 
ventures development and sustainability. Without this information, 
there would be no basis on which to award funds.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms; 
Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 470.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 81,862.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Strategic Economic and Community Development.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0068.
    Summary of Collection: As authorized under the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (2014 Farm Bill), Section 6025, Strategic Economic and Community 
Development enables the Secretary of Agriculture to provide priority to 
projects that support Strategic Economic and Community Development 
plans. The Agency will reserve up to 10 percent of the funds 
appropriated to the following seven Rural Development programs (which 
are referred to as the ``underlying programs''): Community Facility 
Grants; Community Facility Guaranteed Loans; Community Facility Direct 
Loans; Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants; Water and Waste 
Disposal Guaranteed Loans; Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans and 
Rural Business Development Grants each fiscal year.
    Need and Use of the Information: To be eligible for the reserved 
funds a project must meet three criteria: projects must first be 
eligible for funding under the underlying program from which funds are 
reserved; carried out solely in rural areas and that the project 
support the implementation of a strategic economic development or 
community development plan on a multi-jurisdictional basis as defined 
in 7 CFR 1980.1005. Applicants will submit information on the 
Application Form 1980-88, the Plan that the project supports, and the 
project's measures, metrics and outcome. The collection of information 
is necessary for the Agency to identify projects eligible for the 
reserved funding under the Section 6025 program and to prioritize 
eligible applications.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 275.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,290.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-03428 Filed 2-16-22; 8:45 am]
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