Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program for Fiscal Year 2005, 12556-12559 [05-4773]

Download as PDF 12556 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 48 / Monday, March 14, 2005 / Notices [FR Doc. 05–4771 Filed 3–11–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XV–C DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program for Fiscal Year 2005 Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) loan funds, including applications for the nonprofit set-aside for eligible nonprofit entities, the set-aside for the most Underserved Counties and Colonias (Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act), and the setaside for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) and Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) zones. This document describes the methodology that will be used to distribute funds, the application process, submission requirements, and areas of special emphasis or consideration. The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this NOFA is 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office on May 13, 2005. The application closing deadline is firm as to date and hour. The Agency will not consider any application that is received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) and postage due applications will not be accepted. DATES: Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must contact the Rural Development State office serving the place in which they desire to submit an application for rural rental housing to receive further information and copies of the application package. Rural Development will date and time stamp incoming applications to evidence timely receipt, and, upon request, will provide the applicant with a written acknowledgment of receipt. A listing of Rural Development State offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and person to contact follows: ADDRESSES: Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free. VerDate jul<14>2003 15:35 Mar 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 Alabama State Office Suite 601, Sterling Centre 4121 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106–3683 (334) 279–3455 TDD (334) 279–3495 James B. Harris Alaska State Office 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201 Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 761–7740 TDD (907) 761–8905 Debbie Andrys Arizona State Office Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building 230 North First Ave., Suite 206 Phoenix, AZ 85003–1706 (602) 280–8765 TDD (602) 280–8706 Johnna Vargas Arkansas State Office 700 W. Capitol Ave., Room 3416 Little Rock, AR 72201–3225 (501) 301–3250 TDD (501) 301–3063 Greg Kemper California State Office 430 G Street, #4169 Davis, CA 95616–4169 (530) 792–5830 TDD (530) 792–5848 Jeff Deiss Colorado State Office 655 Parfet Street, Room E100 Lakewood, CO 80215 (720) 544–2923 TDD (800) 659–2656 Mary Summerfield Connecticut Served by Massachusetts State Office Delaware and Maryland State Office 4607 South Dupont Highway PO Box 400 Camden, DE 19934–9998 (302) 697–4353 TDD (302) 697–4303 Pat Baker Florida & Virgin Islands State Office 4440 N.W. 25th Place Gainesville, FL 32606–6563 (352) 338–3465 TDD (352) 338–3499 Elizabeth M. Whitaker Georgia State Office Stephens Federal Building 355 E. Hancock Avenue Athens, GA 30601–2768 (706) 546–2164 TDD (706) 546–2034 Wayne Rogers Hawaii State Office (Services all Hawaii, American Samoa Guam, and Western Pacific) Room 311, Federal Building 154 Waianuenue Avenue Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 933–8305 TDD (808) 933–8321 Jack Mahan Idaho State Office Suite A1 9173 West Barnes Dr. Boise, ID 83709 (208) 378–5630 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 TDD (208) 378–5644 LaDonn McElligott Illinois State Office 2118 West Park Court, Suite A Champaign, IL 61821–2986 (217) 403–6222 TDD (217) 403–6240 Barry L. Ramsey Indiana State Office 5975 Lakeside Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46278 (317) 290–3100 (ext. 423) TDD (317) 290–3343 John Young Iowa State Office 210 Walnut Street Room 873 Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 284–4666 TDD (515) 284–4858 Sue Wilhite Kansas State Office 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66604–4040 (785) 271–2721 TDD (785) 271–2767 Virginia M. Hammersmith Kentucky State Office 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 224–7325 TDD (859) 224–7422 Paul Higgins Louisiana State Office 3727 Government Street Alexandria, LA 71302 (318) 473–7962 TDD (318) 473–7655 Yvonne R. Emerson Maine State Office 967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4 PO Box 405 Bangor, ME 04402–0405 (207) 990–9110 TDD (207) 942–7331 Bob Nadeau Maryland Served by Delaware State Office Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office 451 West Street Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 253–4333 TDD (413) 253–4590 Donald Colburn Michigan State Office 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200 East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 324–5192 TDD (517) 337–6795 Ghulam R. Simbal Minnesota State Office 375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410 St. Paul, MN 55101–1853 (651) 602–7782 TDD (651) 602–7830 Peter Lundquist Mississippi State Office Federal Building, Suite 831 100 W. Capitol Street Jackson, MS 39269 (601) 965–4325 TDD (601) 965–5850 Darnella Smith-Murray Missouri State Office E:\FR\FM\14MRN2.SGM 14MRN2 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 48 / Monday, March 14, 2005 / Notices 601 Business Loop 70 West Parkade Center, Suite 235 Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 876–0990 TDD (573) 876–9480 Colleen James Montana State Office 900 Technology Blvd. Suite B Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 585–2565 TDD (406) 585–2562 Deborah Chorlton Nebraska State Office Federal Building, Room 152 100 Centennial Mall N Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 437–5594 TDD (402) 437–5093 Phil Willnerd Nevada State Office 1390 South Curry Street Carson City, NV 89703–9910 (775) 887–1222 (ext. 25) TDD (775) 885–0633 Angilla Denton New Hampshire State Office Concord Center Suite 218, Box 317 10 Ferry Street Concord, NH 03301–5004 (603) 223–6046 TDD (603) 229–0536 Jim Fowler New Jersey State Office 5th Floor North Suite 500 8000 Midlantic Dr. Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 (856) 787–7740 TDD (856) 787–7784 George Hyatt, Jr. New Mexico State Office 6200 Jefferson St., NE, Room 255 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 761–4944 TDD (505) 761–4938 Carmen N. Lopez New York State Office The Galleries of Syracuse 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357 5th Floor Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 477–6419 TDD (315) 477–6447 George N. Von Pless North Carolina State Office 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260 Raleigh, NC 27609 (919) 873–2066 TDD (919) 873–2003 Terry Strole North Dakota State Office Federal Building, Room 208 220 East Rosser PO Box 1737 Bismarck, ND 58502 (701) 530–2049 TDD (701) 530–2113 Kathy Lake Ohio State Office Federal Building, Room 507 200 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215–2477 (614) 255–2418 TDD (614) 255–2554 Melodie Taylor-Ward VerDate jul<14>2003 15:35 Mar 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 Oklahoma State Office 100 USDA, Suite 108 Stillwater, OK 74074–2654 (405) 742–1070 TDD (405) 742–1007 Ivan S. Graves Oregon State Office 101 SW Main, Suite 1410 Portland, OR 97204–3222 (503) 414–3352 TDD (503) 414–3387 Margo Donelin Pennsylvania State Office One Credit Union Place, Suite 330 Harrisburg, PA 17110–2996 (717) 237–2281 TDD (717) 237–2261 Martha Eberhart Puerto Rico State Office 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue IBM Plaza, Suite 601 Hato Rey, PR 00918 (787) 766–5095 (ext. 249) TDD (787) 766–5332 Lourdes Colon Rhode Island Served by Massachusetts State Office South Carolina State Office Strom Thurmond Federal Building 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 253–3432 TDD (803) 765–5697 Larry D. Floyd South Dakota State Office Federal Building, Room 210 200 Fourth Street, SW Huron, SD 57350 (605) 352–1132 TDD (605) 352–1147 Roger Hazuka or Pam Reilly Tennessee State Office Suite 300 3322 West End Avenue Nashvile, TN 37203–1084 (615) 783–1375 TDD (615) 783–1397 Housing Program Director Texas State Office Federal Building, Suite 102 101 South Main Temple, TX 76501 (254) 742–9758 TDD (254) 742–9712 Julie Hayes Utah State Office Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building 125 S. State Street, Room 4311 Salt Lake City, UT 84147–0350 (801) 524–4325 TDD (801) 524–3309 Janice Kocher Vermont State Office City Center, 3rd Floor 89 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 828–6021 TDD (802) 223–6365 Heidi Setien Virgin Islands Served by Florida State Office Virginia State Office Culpeper Building, Suite 238 1606 Santa Rosa Road PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 12557 Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 287–1596 TDD (804) 287–1753 CJ Michels Washington State Office 1835 Black Lake Blvd., Suite B Olympia, WA 98512 (360) 704–7730 TDD (360) 704–7760 Robert Lund Western Pacific Territories Served by Hawaii State Office West Virginia State Office Federal Building 75 High Street, Room 320 Morgantown, WV 26505–7500 (304) 284–4889 TDD (304) 284–4836 Craig St. Clair Wisconsin State Office 4949 Kirschling Court Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 345–7615 (ext. 151) TDD (715) 345–7614 Peter Kohnen Wyoming State Office PO Box 11005 Casper, WY 82602 (307) 233–6715 TDD (307) 233–6733 Jack Hyde For general information, applicants may contact Barbara Chism, Senior Loan Officer, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20250, telephone (202) 690–1436 (voice) (this is not a toll free number) or (800) 877–8339 (TDDFederal Information Relay Service). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Programs Affected The Rural Rental Housing program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 10.415, Rural Rental Housing Loans. Rental Assistance is listed in the Catalog under Number 10.427, Rural Rental Assistance Payments. Discussion of Notice I. Authority and Distribution Methodology A. Authority Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) provides RHS with the authority to make loans to any individual, corporation, association, trust, Indian tribe, public or private nonprofit organization, consumer cooperative, or partnership to provide rental or cooperative housing and related facilities in rural areas for verylow, low, or moderate income persons or families, including elderly persons E:\FR\FM\14MRN2.SGM 14MRN2 12558 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 48 / Monday, March 14, 2005 / Notices and persons with disabilities. Rental assistance (RA) is a tenant subsidy for very-low and low-income families residing in rural rental housing facilities with RHS financing and, when available, may be requested with applications for such facilities. B. Distribution Methodology The total amount available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 for section 515 is $99,200,000, of which $25,792,000 is available for new construction as follows: Percentage of leveraging Points 30–34 .............................................. 25–29 .............................................. 20–24 .............................................. 15–19 .............................................. 10–14 .............................................. 5–9 .................................................. 0–4 .................................................. 11 10 9 8 7 6 0 (b) The units to be developed are in a colonia, tribal land, EZ, EC, or REAP zone, or in a place identified in the State Consolidated Plan or State Needs Assessment as a high need community Section 515 new construction funds ..................................... $5,904,000 for multifamily housing. (20 points) Set-aside for nonprofits ........... 8,928,000 (c) In states where RHS has an onSet-aside for Underserved going formal working relationship, Counties and Colonias ......... 4,960,000 agreement, or Memorandum of Set-aside for EZ, EC, and Understanding (MOU) with the State to REAP Zones ......................... 5,000,000 provide State resources (State funds, State Rental Assistance (RA) Designated reserve ............... 1,000,000 State RA, HOME funds, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) C. Section 515 New Construction Funds funds, or Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)) for RHS proposals; or For FY 2005, the Administrator has where the State provides preference or determined that it would not be points to RHS proposals in awarding practical to allocate funds to States such State resources, 20 points will be because of funding limitations; provided to loan requests that include therefore, section 515 new construction funds will be distributed to States based such State resources in an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the TDC. Native on a National competition, as follows: American Housing and Self 1. States will accept, review, score, Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds and rank requests in accordance with 7 may be considered a State Resource if CFR 3560.56. The scoring factors are: the Tribal Plan for NAHASDA funds (a) The presence and extent of contains provisions for partnering with leveraged assistance for the units that RHS for multifamily housing. (National will serve RHS income-eligible tenants Office initiative) at basic rents comparable to those if RHS provided full financing, computed (d) The loan request includes donated as a percentage of the RHS total land meeting the provisions of 7 CFR development cost (TDC). Loan proposals 3560.56(c)(1)(iv). (5 points) that include secondary funds from other 2. The National Office will rank all sources that have been requested but requests nationwide and distribute have not yet been committed will be funds to States in rank order, within processed as follows: the proposal will funding limits. If insufficient funds be scored based on the requested funds, remain for the next ranked proposal, the provided (1) the applicant includes Agency will select the next ranked evidence of a filed application for the proposal that falls within the remaining funds; and (2) the funding date of the levels. Point score ties will be handled requested funds will permit processing in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(2). of the loan request in the current funding cycle, or, if the applicant does D. Applications That Do Not Require not receive the requested funds, will New Construction RA permit processing of the next highest For FY 2005, new construction RA ranked proposal in the current year. will be available in limited amounts. Points will be awarded in accordance with the following table. (0 to 20 points) Therefore, the Agency is inviting applications to develop units in markets that do not require RA. The market Percentage of leveraging Points study for proposals must clearly 75 or more ...................................... 20 demonstrate a need and demand for the 70–74 .............................................. 19 units by prospective tenants at income 65–69 .............................................. 18 levels that can support the proposed 60–64 .............................................. 17 rents without tenant subsidies. The 55–59 .............................................. 16 50–54 .............................................. 15 proposed units must offer amenities that 45–49 .............................................. 14 are typical for the market area at rents 40–44 .............................................. 13 that are comparable to conventional 35–39 .............................................. 12 rents in the market for similar units. VerDate jul<14>2003 15:35 Mar 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 E. Set-Asides Loan requests will be accepted for the following set-asides: 1. Nonprofit set-aside. An amount of $8,928,000 has been set aside for nonprofit applicants. All loan proposals must be in designated places in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.57. A State or jurisdiction may receive one proposal from this set-aside, which cannot exceed $1 million. A State could get additional funds from this set-aside if any funds remain after funding one proposal from each participating State. If there are insufficient funds to fund one loan request from each participating State, selection will be made by point score. If there are any funds remaining, they will be handled in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1485(w)(3). Funds from this set-aside will be available only to nonprofit entities, which may include a partnership that has as its general partner a nonprofit entity or the nonprofit entity’s for-profit subsidiary which will be receiving low-income housing tax credits authorized under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. To be eligible for this set-aside, the nonprofit entity must be an organization that: (a) Will own an interest in the project to be financed and will materially participate in the development and the operations of the project; (b) Is a private organization that has nonprofit, tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (c) Has among its purposes the planning, development, or management of low-income housing or community development projects; and (d) Is not affiliated with or controlled by a for-profit organization. 2. Underserved counties and colonias set-aside. An amount of $4,960,000 has been set aside for loan requests to develop units in the 100 most needy underserved counties or colonias as defined in section 509(f) of the Housing Act of 1949. 3. EZ, EC, and REAP set-aside. An amount of $5,000,000 has been set aside to develop units in EZ, EC, or REAP zone. Loan requests that are eligible for this set-aside are also eligible for regular section 515 funds. If requests for this set-aside exceed available funds, selection will be made in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56(c). II. Funding Limits A. Individual loan requests may not exceed $1 million. This applies to regular section 515 funds and set-aside funds. The Administrator may make an exception to this limit in cases where a E:\FR\FM\14MRN2.SGM 14MRN2 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 48 / Monday, March 14, 2005 / Notices State’s average total development costs exceed the National average by 50 percent or more. B. No State may receive more than $2.5 million, including set-aside funds. 2. List of designated places for which applications for new section 515 facilities may be submitted. III. Rental Assistance (RA) A. The RHS encourages the use of funding from other sources in conjunction with Agency loans. This year there will be a National Office Initiative pursuant to 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(1)(iii), whereby preference points will be awarded to loan requests that meet the selection criteria as follows: In states where RHS has an ongoing formal working relationship, agreement, or MOU with the State to provide State resources (State funds, State RA, HOME funds, CDBG funds, or LIHTC) for RHS proposals; or where the State provides preference or points to RHS proposals in awarding these State Resources, 20 points will be provided to loan requests that include such State resources in an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the TDC. NAHASDA funds may be considered a State Resource if the Tribal Plan for NAHASDA funds contains provisions for partnering with RHS for multifamily housing. B. $8,928,000 is available nationwide in a set-aside for eligible nonprofit organizations as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1485(w). C. $4,960,000 is available nationwide in a set-aside for the 100 most Underserved Counties and Colonias. D. $5,000,000 is available nationwide in a set-aside for EZ, EC, and REAP zone. E. $1,000,000 is available nationwide in a reserve for States with viable State RA programs. In order to participate, States are to submit specific written information about the State RA program, i.e., a memorandum of understanding, documentation from the provider, etc., to the National Office. In addition to the State Matching RA program as described in Section VI. E. of this Notice and subject to its availability, new construction RA will be held in the National Office for use with section 515 Rural Rental Housing loans. Because the amount of RA available for new construction is minimal, RA will be granted to projects which best meet the scoring and ranking criteria at 7 CFR 3560.56(c). In addition, preferential consideration for RA will be given to projects: (1) where a subsidy for rent is provided from within the state jurisdiction; and (2) where the least amount of RA is needed to make the project feasible, calculated as a percentage. New construction RA may not be used in conjunction with a transfer or subsequent loan for repairs or rehabilitation, preservation purposes or for inventory property sales. IV. Application Process All applications for section 515 new construction funds must be filed with the appropriate Rural Development State office and must meet the requirements of 7 CFR 3560.56 and Section V. of this Notice. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will be returned to the applicant. No application will be accepted after 5 p.m., local time, on the application deadline previously mentioned unless that date and time is extended by a Notice published in the Federal Register. V. Application Submission Requirements A. Each application shall include all of the information, materials, forms and exhibits required by 7 CFR 3560, subpart B as well as comply with the provisions of this Notice. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include a checklist and to have their applications indexed and tabbed to facilitate the review process. The Rural Development State Office will base its determination of completeness of the application and the eligibility of each applicant on the information provided in the application. B. Applicants are advised to contact the Rural Development State Office serving the place in which they desire to submit an application for the following: 1. Application information; and VerDate jul<14>2003 15:35 Mar 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 VI. Areas of Special Emphasis or Consideration Dated: March 3, 2005. Russell T. Davis, Administrator, Rural Housing Service. [FR Doc. 05–4773 Filed 3–11–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for Section 514 Farm Labor Housing Loans and Section 516 Farm Labor Housing Grants for Off-Farm Housing for Fiscal Year 2005 Announcement Type: Initial Notice inviting applications from qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2005. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4703 12559 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA): 10.405 and 10.427. SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for section 514 Farm Labor Housing (FLH) loans and section 516 FLH grants for the construction of new off-farm FLH units and related facilities for domestic farm laborers. The intended purpose of these loans and grants is to increase the number of available housing units for domestic farm laborers. Applications may also include requests for section 521 rental assistance (RA) and operating assistance for migrant units. This document describes the method used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission requirements. DATES: The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this NOFA is 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office on May 13, 2005. The application closing deadline is firm as to date and hour. The Agency will not consider any application that is received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline. Acceptance by a post office or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), COD, and postage due applications will not be accepted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas H. MacDowell or Henry Searcy, Senior Loan Specialists, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division—STOP 0781 (Room 1263–S), U.S. Department of Agriculture—Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250–0781 or by telephone at (202) 720–1627 or (202) 720–1753, respectively. (This is not a toll free number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Paperwork Reduction Act The reporting requirements contained in this Notice have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 0575–0045. Overview The FLH program is authorized by the Housing Act of 1949: section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1484) for loans and section 516 (42 U.S.C. 1486) for grants. Tenant subsidies (RA) are available through section 521 (42 U.S.C. 1490a). Sections 514 and 516 provide Rural Housing Service (RHS) the authority to make loans and grants for financing off-farm housing to broad-based nonprofit organizations, nonprofit organizations of farmworkers, federally recognized Indian tribes, agencies or political subdivisions of State or local E:\FR\FM\14MRN2.SGM 14MRN2

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 48 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12556-12559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4773]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Section 515 Rural 
Rental Housing Program for Fiscal Year 2005

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for 
section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) loan funds, including 
applications for the nonprofit set-aside for eligible nonprofit 
entities, the set-aside for the most Underserved Counties and Colonias 
(Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act), and the set-aside 
for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) and Rural 
Economic Area Partnership (REAP) zones. This document describes the 
methodology that will be used to distribute funds, the application 
process, submission requirements, and areas of special emphasis or 
consideration.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this 
NOFA is 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office on 
May 13, 2005. The application closing deadline is firm as to date and 
hour. The Agency will not consider any application that is received 
after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications 
must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the 
closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal 
Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) 
and postage due applications will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must contact the 
Rural Development State office serving the place in which they desire 
to submit an application for rural rental housing to receive further 
information and copies of the application package. Rural Development 
will date and time stamp incoming applications to evidence timely 
receipt, and, upon request, will provide the applicant with a written 
acknowledgment of receipt. A listing of Rural Development State 
offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and person to contact 
follows:

    Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.


Alabama State Office
Suite 601, Sterling Centre
4121 Carmichael Road
Montgomery, AL 36106-3683
(334) 279-3455
TDD (334) 279-3495
James B. Harris

Alaska State Office
800 West Evergreen, Suite 201
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 761-7740
TDD (907) 761-8905
Debbie Andrys

Arizona State Office
Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building
230 North First Ave., Suite 206
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706
(602) 280-8765
TDD (602) 280-8706
Johnna Vargas

Arkansas State Office
700 W. Capitol Ave., Room 3416
Little Rock, AR 72201-3225
(501) 301-3250
TDD (501) 301-3063
Greg Kemper

California State Office
430 G Street, 4169
Davis, CA 95616-4169
(530) 792-5830
TDD (530) 792-5848
Jeff Deiss

Colorado State Office
655 Parfet Street, Room E100
Lakewood, CO 80215
(720) 544-2923
TDD (800) 659-2656
Mary Summerfield

Connecticut
    Served by Massachusetts State Office

Delaware and Maryland State Office
4607 South Dupont Highway
PO Box 400
Camden, DE 19934-9998
(302) 697-4353
TDD (302) 697-4303
Pat Baker

Florida & Virgin Islands State Office
4440 N.W. 25th Place
Gainesville, FL 32606-6563
(352) 338-3465
TDD (352) 338-3499
Elizabeth M. Whitaker

Georgia State Office
Stephens Federal Building
355 E. Hancock Avenue
Athens, GA 30601-2768
(706) 546-2164
TDD (706) 546-2034
Wayne Rogers

Hawaii State Office
    (Services all Hawaii, American Samoa Guam, and Western Pacific)
Room 311, Federal Building
154 Waianuenue Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-8305
TDD (808) 933-8321
Jack Mahan

Idaho State Office
Suite A1
9173 West Barnes Dr.
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 378-5630
TDD (208) 378-5644
LaDonn McElligott

Illinois State Office
2118 West Park Court, Suite A
Champaign, IL 61821-2986
(217) 403-6222
TDD (217) 403-6240
Barry L. Ramsey

Indiana State Office
5975 Lakeside Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46278
(317) 290-3100 (ext. 423)
TDD (317) 290-3343
John Young

Iowa State Office
210 Walnut Street Room 873
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 284-4666
TDD (515) 284-4858
Sue Wilhite

Kansas State Office
1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100
Topeka, KS 66604-4040
(785) 271-2721
TDD (785) 271-2767
Virginia M. Hammersmith

Kentucky State Office
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200
Lexington, KY 40503
(859) 224-7325
TDD (859) 224-7422
Paul Higgins

Louisiana State Office
3727 Government Street
Alexandria, LA 71302
(318) 473-7962
TDD (318) 473-7655
Yvonne R. Emerson

Maine State Office
967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4
PO Box 405
Bangor, ME 04402-0405
(207) 990-9110
TDD (207) 942-7331
Bob Nadeau

Maryland
    Served by Delaware State Office

Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office
451 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-4333
TDD (413) 253-4590
Donald Colburn

Michigan State Office
3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 324-5192
TDD (517) 337-6795
Ghulam R. Simbal

Minnesota State Office
375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410
St. Paul, MN 55101-1853
(651) 602-7782
TDD (651) 602-7830
Peter Lundquist

Mississippi State Office
Federal Building, Suite 831
100 W. Capitol Street
Jackson, MS 39269
(601) 965-4325
TDD (601) 965-5850
Darnella Smith-Murray

Missouri State Office

[[Page 12557]]

601 Business Loop 70 West
Parkade Center, Suite 235
Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 876-0990
TDD (573) 876-9480
Colleen James

Montana State Office
900 Technology Blvd. Suite B
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 585-2565
TDD (406) 585-2562
Deborah Chorlton

Nebraska State Office
Federal Building, Room 152
100 Centennial Mall N
Lincoln, NE 68508
(402) 437-5594
TDD (402) 437-5093
Phil Willnerd

Nevada State Office
1390 South Curry Street
Carson City, NV 89703-9910
(775) 887-1222 (ext. 25)
TDD (775) 885-0633
Angilla Denton

New Hampshire State Office
Concord Center
Suite 218, Box 317
10 Ferry Street
Concord, NH 03301-5004
(603) 223-6046
TDD (603) 229-0536
Jim Fowler

New Jersey State Office
5th Floor North Suite 500
8000 Midlantic Dr.
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
(856) 787-7740
TDD (856) 787-7784
George Hyatt, Jr.

New Mexico State Office
6200 Jefferson St., NE, Room 255
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 761-4944
TDD (505) 761-4938
Carmen N. Lopez

New York State Office
The Galleries of Syracuse
441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357 5th Floor
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 477-6419
TDD (315) 477-6447
George N. Von Pless

North Carolina State Office
4405 Bland Road, Suite 260
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 873-2066
TDD (919) 873-2003
Terry Strole

North Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 208
220 East Rosser
PO Box 1737
Bismarck, ND 58502
(701) 530-2049
TDD (701) 530-2113
Kathy Lake

Ohio State Office
Federal Building, Room 507
200 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2477
(614) 255-2418
TDD (614) 255-2554
Melodie Taylor-Ward

Oklahoma State Office
100 USDA, Suite 108
Stillwater, OK 74074-2654
(405) 742-1070
TDD (405) 742-1007
Ivan S. Graves

Oregon State Office
101 SW Main, Suite 1410
Portland, OR 97204-3222
(503) 414-3352
TDD (503) 414-3387
Margo Donelin

Pennsylvania State Office
One Credit Union Place, Suite 330
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996
(717) 237-2281
TDD (717) 237-2261
Martha Eberhart

Puerto Rico State Office
654 Munoz Rivera Avenue
IBM Plaza, Suite 601
Hato Rey, PR 00918
(787) 766-5095 (ext. 249)
TDD (787) 766-5332
Lourdes Colon

Rhode Island
    Served by Massachusetts State Office

South Carolina State Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Building
1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 253-3432
TDD (803) 765-5697
Larry D. Floyd

South Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 210
200 Fourth Street, SW
Huron, SD 57350
(605) 352-1132
TDD (605) 352-1147
Roger Hazuka or Pam Reilly

Tennessee State Office
Suite 300
3322 West End Avenue
Nashvile, TN 37203-1084
(615) 783-1375
TDD (615) 783-1397
Housing Program Director

Texas State Office
Federal Building, Suite 102
101 South Main
Temple, TX 76501
(254) 742-9758
TDD (254) 742-9712
Julie Hayes

Utah State Office
Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building
125 S. State Street, Room 4311
Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350
(801) 524-4325
TDD (801) 524-3309
Janice Kocher

Vermont State Office
City Center, 3rd Floor
89 Main Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828-6021
TDD (802) 223-6365
Heidi Setien

Virgin Islands
    Served by Florida State Office

Virginia State Office
Culpeper Building, Suite 238
1606 Santa Rosa Road
Richmond, VA 23229
(804) 287-1596
TDD (804) 287-1753
CJ Michels

Washington State Office
1835 Black Lake Blvd., Suite B
Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 704-7730
TDD (360) 704-7760
Robert Lund

Western Pacific Territories
    Served by Hawaii State Office

West Virginia State Office
Federal Building
75 High Street, Room 320
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500
(304) 284-4889
TDD (304) 284-4836
Craig St. Clair

Wisconsin State Office
4949 Kirschling Court
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 345-7615 (ext. 151)
TDD (715) 345-7614
Peter Kohnen

Wyoming State Office
PO Box 11005
Casper, WY 82602
(307) 233-6715
TDD (307) 233-6733
Jack Hyde


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants 
may contact Barbara Chism, Senior Loan Officer, Multi-Family Housing 
Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 
20250, telephone (202) 690-1436 (voice) (this is not a toll free 
number) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Programs Affected

    The Rural Rental Housing program is listed in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 10.415, Rural Rental Housing 
Loans. Rental Assistance is listed in the Catalog under Number 10.427, 
Rural Rental Assistance Payments.

Discussion of Notice

I. Authority and Distribution Methodology

A. Authority
    Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) provides 
RHS with the authority to make loans to any individual, corporation, 
association, trust, Indian tribe, public or private nonprofit 
organization, consumer cooperative, or partnership to provide rental or 
cooperative housing and related facilities in rural areas for very-low, 
low, or moderate income persons or families, including elderly persons

[[Page 12558]]

and persons with disabilities. Rental assistance (RA) is a tenant 
subsidy for very-low and low-income families residing in rural rental 
housing facilities with RHS financing and, when available, may be 
requested with applications for such facilities.
B. Distribution Methodology
    The total amount available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 for section 
515 is $99,200,000, of which $25,792,000 is available for new 
construction as follows:


Section 515 new construction funds.........................   $5,904,000
Set-aside for nonprofits...................................    8,928,000
Set-aside for Underserved Counties and Colonias............    4,960,000
Set-aside for EZ, EC, and REAP Zones.......................    5,000,000
State Rental Assistance (RA) Designated reserve............    1,000,000
 

C. Section 515 New Construction Funds
    For FY 2005, the Administrator has determined that it would not be 
practical to allocate funds to States because of funding limitations; 
therefore, section 515 new construction funds will be distributed to 
States based on a National competition, as follows:
    1. States will accept, review, score, and rank requests in 
accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56. The scoring factors are:
    (a) The presence and extent of leveraged assistance for the units 
that will serve RHS income-eligible tenants at basic rents comparable 
to those if RHS provided full financing, computed as a percentage of 
the RHS total development cost (TDC). Loan proposals that include 
secondary funds from other sources that have been requested but have 
not yet been committed will be processed as follows: the proposal will 
be scored based on the requested funds, provided (1) the applicant 
includes evidence of a filed application for the funds; and (2) the 
funding date of the requested funds will permit processing of the loan 
request in the current funding cycle, or, if the applicant does not 
receive the requested funds, will permit processing of the next highest 
ranked proposal in the current year. Points will be awarded in 
accordance with the following table. (0 to 20 points)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Percentage of leveraging                      Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
75 or more....................................................        20
70-74.........................................................        19
65-69.........................................................        18
60-64.........................................................        17
55-59.........................................................        16
50-54.........................................................        15
45-49.........................................................        14
40-44.........................................................        13
35-39.........................................................        12
30-34.........................................................        11
25-29.........................................................        10
20-24.........................................................         9
15-19.........................................................         8
10-14.........................................................         7
5-9...........................................................         6
0-4...........................................................         0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) The units to be developed are in a colonia, tribal land, EZ, 
EC, or REAP zone, or in a place identified in the State Consolidated 
Plan or State Needs Assessment as a high need community for multifamily 
housing. (20 points)
    (c) In states where RHS has an on-going formal working 
relationship, agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the 
State to provide State resources (State funds, State RA, HOME funds, 
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, or Low-Income Housing 
Tax Credits (LIHTC)) for RHS proposals; or where the State provides 
preference or points to RHS proposals in awarding such State resources, 
20 points will be provided to loan requests that include such State 
resources in an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the TDC. Native 
American Housing and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds may be 
considered a State Resource if the Tribal Plan for NAHASDA funds 
contains provisions for partnering with RHS for multifamily housing. 
(National Office initiative)
    (d) The loan request includes donated land meeting the provisions 
of 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(1)(iv). (5 points)
    2. The National Office will rank all requests nationwide and 
distribute funds to States in rank order, within funding limits. If 
insufficient funds remain for the next ranked proposal, the Agency will 
select the next ranked proposal that falls within the remaining levels. 
Point score ties will be handled in accordance with 7 CFR 
3560.56(c)(2).
D. Applications That Do Not Require New Construction RA
    For FY 2005, new construction RA will be available in limited 
amounts. Therefore, the Agency is inviting applications to develop 
units in markets that do not require RA. The market study for proposals 
must clearly demonstrate a need and demand for the units by prospective 
tenants at income levels that can support the proposed rents without 
tenant subsidies. The proposed units must offer amenities that are 
typical for the market area at rents that are comparable to 
conventional rents in the market for similar units.
E. Set-Asides
    Loan requests will be accepted for the following set-asides:
    1. Nonprofit set-aside. An amount of $8,928,000 has been set aside 
for nonprofit applicants. All loan proposals must be in designated 
places in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.57. A State or jurisdiction may 
receive one proposal from this set-aside, which cannot exceed $1 
million. A State could get additional funds from this set-aside if any 
funds remain after funding one proposal from each participating State. 
If there are insufficient funds to fund one loan request from each 
participating State, selection will be made by point score. If there 
are any funds remaining, they will be handled in accordance with 42 
U.S.C. 1485(w)(3). Funds from this set-aside will be available only to 
nonprofit entities, which may include a partnership that has as its 
general partner a nonprofit entity or the nonprofit entity's for-profit 
subsidiary which will be receiving low-income housing tax credits 
authorized under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. To be 
eligible for this set-aside, the nonprofit entity must be an 
organization that:
    (a) Will own an interest in the project to be financed and will 
materially participate in the development and the operations of the 
project;
    (b) Is a private organization that has nonprofit, tax exempt status 
under section 501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986;
    (c) Has among its purposes the planning, development, or management 
of low-income housing or community development projects; and
    (d) Is not affiliated with or controlled by a for-profit 
organization.
    2. Underserved counties and colonias set-aside. An amount of 
$4,960,000 has been set aside for loan requests to develop units in the 
100 most needy underserved counties or colonias as defined in section 
509(f) of the Housing Act of 1949.
    3. EZ, EC, and REAP set-aside. An amount of $5,000,000 has been set 
aside to develop units in EZ, EC, or REAP zone. Loan requests that are 
eligible for this set-aside are also eligible for regular section 515 
funds. If requests for this set-aside exceed available funds, selection 
will be made in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56(c).

II. Funding Limits

    A. Individual loan requests may not exceed $1 million. This applies 
to regular section 515 funds and set-aside funds. The Administrator may 
make an exception to this limit in cases where a

[[Page 12559]]

State's average total development costs exceed the National average by 
50 percent or more.
    B. No State may receive more than $2.5 million, including set-aside 
funds.

III. Rental Assistance (RA)

    In addition to the State Matching RA program as described in 
Section VI. E. of this Notice and subject to its availability, new 
construction RA will be held in the National Office for use with 
section 515 Rural Rental Housing loans. Because the amount of RA 
available for new construction is minimal, RA will be granted to 
projects which best meet the scoring and ranking criteria at 7 CFR 
3560.56(c). In addition, preferential consideration for RA will be 
given to projects: (1) where a subsidy for rent is provided from within 
the state jurisdiction; and (2) where the least amount of RA is needed 
to make the project feasible, calculated as a percentage. New 
construction RA may not be used in conjunction with a transfer or 
subsequent loan for repairs or rehabilitation, preservation purposes or 
for inventory property sales.

IV. Application Process

    All applications for section 515 new construction funds must be 
filed with the appropriate Rural Development State office and must meet 
the requirements of 7 CFR 3560.56 and Section V. of this Notice. 
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will be returned to 
the applicant. No application will be accepted after 5 p.m., local 
time, on the application deadline previously mentioned unless that date 
and time is extended by a Notice published in the Federal Register.

V. Application Submission Requirements

    A. Each application shall include all of the information, 
materials, forms and exhibits required by 7 CFR 3560, subpart B as well 
as comply with the provisions of this Notice. Applicants are 
encouraged, but not required, to include a checklist and to have their 
applications indexed and tabbed to facilitate the review process. The 
Rural Development State Office will base its determination of 
completeness of the application and the eligibility of each applicant 
on the information provided in the application.
    B. Applicants are advised to contact the Rural Development State 
Office serving the place in which they desire to submit an application 
for the following:
    1. Application information; and
    2. List of designated places for which applications for new section 
515 facilities may be submitted.

VI. Areas of Special Emphasis or Consideration

    A. The RHS encourages the use of funding from other sources in 
conjunction with Agency loans. This year there will be a National 
Office Initiative pursuant to 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(1)(iii), whereby 
preference points will be awarded to loan requests that meet the 
selection criteria as follows: In states where RHS has an on-going 
formal working relationship, agreement, or MOU with the State to 
provide State resources (State funds, State RA, HOME funds, CDBG funds, 
or LIHTC) for RHS proposals; or where the State provides preference or 
points to RHS proposals in awarding these State Resources, 20 points 
will be provided to loan requests that include such State resources in 
an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the TDC. NAHASDA funds may be 
considered a State Resource if the Tribal Plan for NAHASDA funds 
contains provisions for partnering with RHS for multifamily housing.
    B. $8,928,000 is available nationwide in a set-aside for eligible 
nonprofit organizations as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1485(w).
    C. $4,960,000 is available nationwide in a set-aside for the 100 
most Underserved Counties and Colonias.
    D. $5,000,000 is available nationwide in a set-aside for EZ, EC, 
and REAP zone.
    E. $1,000,000 is available nationwide in a reserve for States with 
viable State RA programs. In order to participate, States are to submit 
specific written information about the State RA program, i.e., a 
memorandum of understanding, documentation from the provider, etc., to 
the National Office.

    Dated: March 3, 2005.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4773 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P

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