Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the FY 2006 Funding Round of the Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) Program, 73899 [05-23749]

Agencies

• Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 73899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23749]



Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 13, 2005 / 
Notices

[[Page 73899]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the 
FY 2006 Funding Round of the Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) Program

ACTION: Change to NOFA inviting applications for the FY 2006 funding 
round of the BEA Program: Waiver of limitations on eligible Qualified 
Activities provided to certain CDFI Partners; Change of Application 
Deadlines; Increase of Award Amount; Modification of Application and 
Submission Information.

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SUMMARY: On September 9, 2004, the Community Development Financial 
Institutions Fund (the ``Fund'') announced in a NOFA for the BEA 
Program (69 FR 54718) that BEA Program applicants that are also 
Community Development Financial Institutions (``CDFIs'') cannot receive 
credit under the BEA Program for financial assistance or Qualified 
Activities provided to CDFI Partners that are also FDIC-insured 
depository institutions or depository institution holding companies. 
Due to the recent occurrence of certain natural disasters, the Fund 
will waive this provision with regard to the FY 2006 funding round of 
the BEA Program for applicants providing financial assistance or 
Qualified Activities to CDFI Partners that are also FDIC-insured 
depository institutions or depository institution holding companies 
which have been directly affected by said disasters.
    For the FY 2006 funding round, CDFIs may receive BEA Program credit 
for financial assistance or Qualified Activities provided to CDFI 
Partners that are FDIC-insured depository institutions or depository 
institution holding companies whose principal place of business is 
located in a county for which the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) has issued a ``major disaster declaration'' due to Hurricane 
Katrina on or after August 28, 2005 or due to Hurricane Rita on or 
after September 24, 2005 and made a determination that such county is 
eligible for both ``individual and public assistance.'' A list of the 
eligible counties may be found on the FEMA Web site (https://
www.fema.gov).
    Change of Application Deadlines: The NOFA published on September 9, 
2004 for the BEA Program (69 FR 54718) also announced that the deadline 
for applications for the FY 2006 funding round is February 14, 2006.
    This notice is to announce that the deadline for the submission of 
applications via Grants.gov for the FY 2006 funding round of the BEA 
Program has been changed to 5 p.m. EST on March 1, 2006. Paper 
attachments to the application must be received no later than 5 p.m. 
EST on March 6, 2006.
    Increase of Award Amount: The NOFA published on September 9, 2004 
for the BEA Program (69 FY 54718) also announced that the Fund expects 
that it may award approximately $6 million in appropriated funds for FY 
2006 BEA Program awards.
    This notice is to announce that the Fund now expects that it may 
award approximately $12 million for FY 2006 BEA Program awards. The 
Fund reserves the right to make awards in an amount less than or in 
excess of this amount subject to funding availability.
    Modification of Application and Submission Information: The NOFA 
published on September 9, 2004 for the BEA Program (69 FY 54718) 
provided information regarding submission of applications in response 
to the NOFA.
    This notice is to announce that for the FY 2006 funding round, in 
compliance with Public Law 106-107 and Section 5(a) of the Federal 
Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act, the Fund is required 
to accept applications submitted through the Grants.gov electronic 
system. The Fund will post to its Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov 
instructions for accessing and submitting an application through 
Grants.gov. The application instructions will be posted as soon as they 
are available and once the application materials are accessible through 
Grants.gov. The anticipated release date for the application 
instructions is January 6, 2006. Applicants are encouraged to start the 
registration process now at www.Grants.gov as the process may take 
several weeks to fully complete. See the following link for information 
on getting started on Grants.gov: https://grants.gov/assets/
GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf.
    All other information and requirements set forth in the September 
9, 2004 NOFA for the BEA Program shall remain effective, as published.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Fund will respond to questions and 
provide support concerning the NOFA and the funding application between 
the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, starting the date of the 
publication of the NOFA through close of business February 27, 2006 for 
the FY 2006 funding round (2 business days before the application 
deadline).
    The Fund will not respond to questions or provide support 
concerning the application after 5:00 p.m. EST on February 27, 2006 for 
the FY 2006 funding round, until after the application deadline of 
March 1, 2006.
    Other information regarding the Fund and its programs may be 
downloaded and printed from the Fund's Web site at https://
www.cdfifund.gov. The Fund will post on its Web site responses to 
questions of general applicability regarding the BEA Program.
    A. Information technology support: Technical support can be 
obtained by calling (202) 622-2455 or by e-mail at 
ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov. People who have visual or mobility 
impairments that prevent them from creating Hot Zone or Distressed 
Community maps using the Fund's Web site should call (202) 622-2455 for 
assistance. These are not toll free numbers.
    B. Programmatic support: If you have any questions about the 
programmatic requirements (such as the eligibility of specific 
transactions or CDFI Partners), contact a member of the BEA Program 
staff, who can be reached by e-mail at cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov, by 
telephone at (202) 622-6355, by facsimile at (202) 622-7754, or by mail 
at CDFI Fund, 601 13th Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 
20005. These are not toll-free numbers.
    C. Administrative support: If you have any questions regarding the 
administrative requirements of the NOFA, contact the Fund's Grants 
Manager by e-mail at grantsmanagement@cdfi.treas.gov, by telephone at 
(202) 622-8226, by facsimile at (202) 622-9625, or by mail at CDFI 
Fund, 601 13th Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 20005. 
These are not toll free numbers.
    D. Legal counsel support: If you have any questions or matters that 
you believe require response by the Fund's Office of Legal Counsel, 
please refer to the document titled ``How to Request a Legal Review'', 
found on the Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov.

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1834a, 4703, 4703 note, 4713; 12 CFR part 
1806.

    Dated: December 2, 2005.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 05-23749 Filed 12-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-70-P