[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 155 (Thursday, August 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39177-39178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15485]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RBS-25-BUSINESS-0103]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing 
Service (RHS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces RBCS, RHS, and RUS', agencies 
of the USDA Rural Development (RD) mission area, intention to request 
an extension to a currently approved information collection for the 
Strategic Economic and Community Development Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 14, 2025 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Day, Regulations Management 
Division, Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 
[email protected], (917) 313-4750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Strategic Economic and Community Development.
    OMB Number: 0570-0068.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 1/31/26.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: As authorized under the Agricultural Act of 2018 (2018 
Farm Bill), the Strategic Economic and Community Development program 
will make awards using reserved funding through RD's programs to fund 
projects that support the implementation of multijurisdictional and 
multisectoral strategic community investment plans. The programs for 
which reserved funds may be established and priority points awarded 
(which are referred to as the covered programs) are:

 Agriculture Innovation Center Program
 Business and Industry CARES Act Program
 Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans
 Community Connect Grant
 Community Facility Grants
 Community Facility Guaranteed Loans
 Community Facility Direct Loans
 Delta Health Care Service Grant
 Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants
 Water and Waste Disposal Guaranteed Loans
 Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans
 Rural Business Development Grants
 Community Connect Grant
 Tribal College Initiative Grants
 Intermediary Relending Program
 Rural Housing Site Loans
 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants
 Rural Energy for America Program
 Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants
 Rural Energy Savings Program
 Value-Added Producer Grants
 Household Water Well System Grant Program
 Solid Waste Management Grant
 Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program
 Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
 High Energy Cost Grants
 Housing Preservation Grants
 Individual Water and Wastewater Grants
 Intermediary Relending Program
 Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees
 Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans
 Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants
 Off-Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants
 One Percent Loan Program For Distressed Communities
 On-Farm Labor Housing Loans
 Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combinations and Loan 
Guarantees
 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant
 Rural Cooperative Development Grant
 Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program

    To be eligible, projects must first be eligible for funding under 
the covered programs. In addition, projects must be carried out in 
rural areas and support partial or full implementation of a multi-
jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plan.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4 hours per response. [NOTE: To 
arrive at this estimate = number of burden hours divided by number of 
responses.]
    Respondents: Rural businesses; units of State, Local and Tribal 
government;

[[Page 39178]]

instrumentalities of a Local, State or Tribal government; special 
districts; councils of government; non-profit organizations; 
associations; academic institutions; public bodies and commercial 
lenders.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 580.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
RD, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
the accuracy of the RD's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go 
to https://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the 
Docket No. RBS-25-BUSINESS-0103. A link to the Notice will appear. You 
may submit a comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you 
can access the ``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the 
``Browse & Comment on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that 
have been submitted as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment, 
select the ``comment'' button, complete the required information, and 
select the ``Submit Comment'' button at the bottom. Information on 
using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, 
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the 
comment period, is available through the site's ``FAQ'' link at the 
bottom. Comments on this information collection must be received by 
October 14, 2025.
    All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address. All responses to 
this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Todd Lindsey,
Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2025-15485 Filed 8-13-25; 8:45 am]
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