[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 75539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24314]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[DOCKET #: RBS-23-BSINESS-0010]


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications 
for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs for Fiscal 
Year 2024; Correction

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, correction.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an 
agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published 
a Notice of Solicitation of Applications in the Federal Register (FR) 
on September 14, 2023, entitled Notice of Solicitation of Applications 
for Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and 
Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2024, to announce that it was accepting 
applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 24 and the availability of an 
estimated $90,000,000 in available funding. In addition, the Notice 
described requirements that are determined at the time a funding 
announcement is published as outlined in the program regulation. This 
notice will amend Section E.2.(c) of the notice to add a third option 
to request Priority Points under the Addressing Climate Change and 
Environmental Justice category. RD will work with any applicants that 
have previously submitted an application for FY 2024 funding to ensure 
they have the opportunity to utilize this option.

DATES: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in the 
USDA Rural Development (RD) State Office for quarterly funding 
competitions is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on: Second 
Quarte--December 31, 2023, Third Quarter--March 31, 2024, and Fourth 
Quarter--June 30, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Mason, Program Management 
Division, Business Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 3226, Room 
5160-S, Washington, DC 20250-3226, [email protected], or call (202) 
720-1400. For further information on this Notice, please contact the 
USDA RD State Office in the State in which the applicant's headquarters 
is located. A list of RD State Office contacts is provided at the 
following link: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Correction

    In FR Doc. 2023-19925 of September 14, 2023 (88 FR 63057), on page 
63060, in column 1, under Section E.2.(c) the details on how to receive 
priority points under reducing climate pollution and increasing 
resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to 
rural communities is being expanded. There will now be a third way to 
receive priority points. The paragraph and following bullets are being 
replaced to now read:
    ``(3) Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the 
impacts of climate change through economic support to rural 
communities. Using the Disadvantaged Community and Energy Community 
Look-Up Map (available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), 
applicants may receive priority in three ways:
     If the project is located in or serves a Disadvantaged 
Community as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool 
(CEJST), from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ);
     If the project is located in or serves an Energy Community 
as defined by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA); and
     If applicants can demonstrate through a written narrative 
how the proposed climate-impact projects will improve the livelihoods 
of community residents and meet pollution mitigation or clean energy 
goals.
    See the website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, for 
options.''

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-24314 Filed 11-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P