Announcement of the Grants to Assist Small, Minority Producer Program Application Deadlines, 29949-29955 [E7-10301]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark
Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the
deciding officer will decide whether or
not to make a new decision on the Big
Bend Ridge Vegetation Management
Project and Timber Sale and whether to
amend the Targhee Revised Forest Plan.
Scoping Process
The Forest is now seeking comments
on this proposal and will seek
comments on the Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Big Bend Ridge Vegetation Project and
Timber Sale and the proposed TRFP
amendment when it becomes available.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the supplemental
environmental impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft supplemental environmental
impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the
draft supplemental environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from
the date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this
early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings
related to public participation in the
environmental review process. First,
reviewers of draft environmental impact
statements must structure their
participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer’s position and contentions.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.
NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,
environmental objections that could be
raised at the draft environmental impact
statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final
environmental impact statement may be
waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,
1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
these court rulings, it is very important
that those interested in this proposed
action participate by the close of the 45day comment period so comments and
objections are made available to the
Forest Service at a time when it can
meaningfully consider them and
respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft supplemental
environmental impact statement should
be as specific as possible. It is also
helpful if comments refer to specific
pages or chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft supplemental
environmental impact statement or the
merits of the alternatives formulated
and discussed in the statement.
Reviewers may wish to refer to the
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR
1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: May 23, 2007.
Lawrence Timchak,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E7–10358 Filed 5–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Announcement of the Grants to Assist
Small, Minority Producer Program
Application Deadlines
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation of
applications.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service announces the
availability of approximately $1.1
million competitive grant funds for
fiscal year (FY) 2007 for cooperatives
and association of cooperatives to assist
small, minority agricultural producers.
USDA Rural Development Cooperative
Programs hereby requests proposals
from eligible cooperatives and
associations of cooperatives interested
in a competitively awarded grant. The
cooperatives and associations of
cooperatives will use the grant money to
fund technical assistance to small,
minority agricultural producers in rural
areas. The maximum award per grant is
$175,000.
DATES: Applications for grants must be
submitted on paper or electronically
according to the following deadlines:
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29949
Paper copies must be postmarked and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no
later than July 30, 2007, to be eligible for
FY 2007 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2007
grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by
July 30, 2007, to be eligible for FY 2007
grant funding. Late applications are not
eligible for FY 2007 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Application materials for
the Small, Minority Producers Grant
Program (SMPG) may be obtained at
https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
smpg/smpg.htm or by contacting the
applicant’s USDA Rural Development
State Office at (202) 720–4323 and
pressing ‘‘1’’.
Submit electronic grant applications
at https://www.grants.gov, following the
instructions found on this Web site.
Submit completed paper applications
for a grant to the applicant’s State Office
as follows:
A list of Rural Development State
Offices follows:
Alabama
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Sterling Center, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road,
Montgomery, AL 36106–3683, (334)
279–3400.
Alaska
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite
201, Palmer, AK 99645–6539, (907)
761–7705.
Arizona
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 230 North First Avenue,
Suite 206, Phoenix, AZ 85003–
1706, (602) 280–8701.
Arkansas
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 700 West Capitol Avenue,
Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201–
3225, (501) 301–3200.
California
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 430 G Street, #4169, Davis,
CA 95616–4169, (530) 792–5800.
Colorado
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E–
100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720)
544–2915.
Delaware-Maryland
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 1221 College Park Drive,
Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302)
857–3580.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State
Office, P. O. Box 147010, 4440 NW.
25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32614–
7010, (352) 338–3402.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
29950
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
Office, Stephens Federal Building
355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens,
GA 30601–2768, (706) 546–2162.
Hawaii
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Room 311,
154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI
96720, (808) 933–8380.
Idaho
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite
A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378–
5600.
Illinois
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite
A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403–
6200.
Indiana
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290–
3100.
Iowa
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Room 873,
210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA
50309, (515) 284–4663.
Kansas
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 1303 SW First American
Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604,
(785) 271–2700.
Kentucky
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite
200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859)
224–7300.
Louisiana
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 3727 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473–
7920.
Maine
USDA Rural Development State
Office, P.O. Box 405, 967 Illinois
Avenue, Suite 4, Bangor, ME
04402–0405 (207) 990–9160.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/
Connecticut
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 451 West Street, Amherst,
MA 01002 (413) 253–4300.
Michigan
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite
200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517)
324–5188.
Minnesota
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375
Jackson Street St, Paul, MN 55101,
(651) 602–7800.
Mississippi
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Suite 831,
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson,
MS 39269, (601) 965–4316.
Missouri
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West,
Parkade Center, Suite 235,
Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876–
0976.
Montana
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 900 Technology Blvd., Unit
1, Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59718,
(406) 585–2580.
Nebraska
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Room 152,
100 Centennial Mall North Lincoln,
NE 68508, (402) 437–5551.
Nevada
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 1390 South Curry Street,
Carson City, NV 89703–5146, (775)
887–1222.
New Jersey
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 5th Floor North, 8000
Midlantic Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ
08054, (856) 787–7700.
New Mexico
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE.,
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM
87109, (505) 761–4950.
New York
USDA Rural Development State
Office, The Galleries of Syracuse,
441 South Salina Street, Syracuse,
NY 13202, (315) 477–6400.
North Carolina
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873–2000.
North Dakota
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Room 208,
P.O. Box 1737, 220 East Rosser,
Bismarck, ND 58502–1737 (701)
530–2037.
Ohio
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Room 507,
200 North High Street, Columbus,
OH 43215–2477, (614) 255–2500,
Ext. 4.
Oklahoma
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108,
Stillwater, OK 74074–2654, (405)
742–1000.
Oregon
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 1201 Northeast Lloyd
Boulevard, Suite 801, Portland, OR
97232, (503) 414–3300.
Pennsylvania
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 1 Credit Union Place, Suite
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110–2996,
(717) 237–2262.
Puerto Rico
USDA Rural Development State
Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 654
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Munoz Rivera Avenue, San Juan,
Puerto Rico 00936–6106, (787) 766–
5095.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street,
Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201,
(803) 765–5163.
South Dakota
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Room 210,
200 4th Street, SW., Huron, SD
57350, (605) 352–1100.
Tennessee
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 3322 West End Avenue,
Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37203–
1084 (615) 783–1300.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Federal Building, Suite 102,
101 South Main Street , Temple, TX
76501 (254) 742–9700.
Utah
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street,
Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT
84138 (801) 524–4324.
Vermont/New Hampshire
USDA Rural Development State
Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89
Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828–6080.
Virginia
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Culpeper Building, Suite
238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road,
Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 287–
1552.
Washington
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard,
SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512–
5715 (360) 704–7715.
West Virginia
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 75 High Street, Suite 320,
Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 284–
4860.
Wisconsin
USDA Rural Development State
Office, 4949 Kirschling Court,
Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 345–
7600.
Wyoming
USDA Rural Development State
Office, Dick Cheney Federal
Building, P.O. Box 11005, 100 East
B Street, Room 1005, Casper, WY
82602–5006 (307) 233–6700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit
the program Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/
smpg.htm for application assistance or
contact the USDA Rural Development
State Office. Applicants are encouraged
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
to contact their State Offices well in
advance of the deadline to discuss their
projects and ask any questions about the
application process.
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Small,
Minority Producer Grant.
Announcement Type: Initial
announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 10.771
Dates: Application Deadline:
Completed applications for grants may
be submitted on paper or electronically
according to the following deadlines:
Paper copies must be postmarked and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no
later than July 30, 2007, to be eligible for
FY 2007 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2007
grant funding.
Complete electronic copies must be
received by July 30, 2007, to be eligible
for FY 2007 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2007
grant funding.
Programs Affected
This will not affect other programs in
USDA Rural Development.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
I. Funding Opportunity Description
This solicitation is issued pursuant to
the Revised Continuing Resolution,
2007, Public Law 110–5 dated February
15, 2007 which authorizes not to exceed
$1,473,000 for cooperatives or
associations of cooperatives whose
primary focus is to provide assistance to
small, minority agricultural producers
and whose governing board and/or
membership is comprised of at least 75
percent minority members. The
Secretary of Agriculture has delegated
the program’s administration to USDA
Rural Development Cooperative
Programs.
The primary objective of this grant
program is to assist small, minority
agricultural producers through
cooperatives and associations of
cooperatives. USDA Rural Development
Cooperative Programs will
competitively award grants to fund
cooperatives and/or associations of
cooperatives to provide technical
assistance to small, minority
agricultural producers in rural areas.
The maximum award amount per grant
is $175,000.
Definitions
Agency—Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, an agency of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Rural Development or a successor
agency.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
Agricultural Commodity—An
unprocessed product of farms, ranches,
nurseries, and forests. Agricultural
commodities include: livestock, poultry,
and fish; fruits and vegetables; grains,
such as wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale,
rice, corn, and sorghum; legumes, such
as field beans and peas; animal feed and
forage crops; seed crops; fiber crops,
such as cotton; oil crops, such as
safflower, sunflower, corn, and
cottonseed; trees grown for lumber and
wood products; nursery stock grown
commercially; Christmas trees;
ornamentals and cut flowers; and turf
grown commercially for sod.
Agricultural commodities do not
include horses or animals raised as pets,
such as cats, dogs, and ferrets.
Cooperative Programs—The office
within USDA Rural Development, and
its successor organization, that
administers programs authorized by the
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926 (7
U.S.C. 451 et seq.) and such other
programs identified in USDA
regulations.
Economic Development—The
economic growth of an area as
evidenced by increase in total income,
employment opportunities, decreased
out-migration of population, value of
production, increased diversification of
industry, higher labor force
participation rates, increased duration
of employment, higher wage levels, or
gains in other measurements of
economic activity, such as land values.
Feasibility Study—An analysis of the
economic, market, technical, financial,
and management feasibility of a
proposed project.
Minority—Individuals who have been
subjected to racial, ethnic, gender
prejudice or cultural bias within
American society because of their
identities as members of groups and
without regard to their individual
qualities. Minority groups are Women,
African Americans not of Hispanic
Origin, American Indians, Alaskan
Natives, Hispanics, Asian and Pacific
Islanders.
Minority Association of
Cooperatives—An association of
cooperatives whose primary focus is to
provide assistance to small, minority
agricultural producers and where the
governing board and/or membership is
comprised of at least 75 percent
minority.
Minority Cooperative—A farmer- or
rancher-owned and -controlled
business, organized and chartered as a
cooperative, from which benefits are
derived and distributed equitably on the
basis of use by each of the farmer or
rancher owners whose primary focus is
to provide assistance to small, minority
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29951
agricultural producers and where the
governing board and/or membership is
comprised of at least 75 percent
minority.
Operating Cost—The day-to-day
expenses of running a business; for
example: utilities, rent, salaries,
depreciation, product production costs,
marketing and advertising, and other
basic overhead items.
Project—Includes all activities to be
funded by the Small Minority
Agricultural Producer Grant and any
matching funds.
Small, Minority Agricultural
Producer—Minority persons or 100
percent minority-owned entities,
including farmers, ranchers, loggers,
agricultural harvesters, and fishermen,
with gross annual sales of not more than
$250,000 that engage in the production
or harvesting of an agricultural
commodity.
Rural and Rural Area—Includes all
the territory of a State that is not within
the outer boundary of any city or town
having a population of 50,000 or more
and the urbanized area contiguous and
adjacent to such city or town, as defined
by the U.S. Bureau of the Census using
the latest decennial census of the United
States.
Rural Development—A mission area
within USDA consisting of the Office of
Under Secretary for Rural Development,
Rural Development Business and
Cooperative Programs, Rural
Development Housing Programs, and
Rural Development Utilities Programs
and their successors.
State—Includes each of the several
States, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and, as may be determined by
the Secretary to be feasible, appropriate
and lawful, the Federated States of
Micronesia, the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the Republic of
Palau.
Technical Assistance—An advisory
service performed for the benefit of a
small, minority agricultural producer
such as market research; product and/or
service improvement; legal advice and
assistance; feasibility study, business
plan, and marketing plan development;
and training. Technical assistance does
not include the operating costs of a
cooperative being assisted.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007
Approximate Total Funding: $1.1
million
Approximate Number of Awards: 6
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
29952
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
Approximate Average Award:
$175,000
Floor of Award Range: None
Ceiling of Award Range: $175,000
Anticipated Award Date: September
14, 2007
Budget Period Length: 12 months
Project Period Length: 12 months
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be a minority
cooperative or a minority association of
cooperatives.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
No matching funds are required.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Use of Funds: The funds may only be
used for technical assistance projects.
Project Area Eligibility: The Project
proposed must take place in a rural area.
Grant Period Eligibility: If awarded,
funds must be expended in 1 year.
Applications must have a time frame of
no more than 365 days with the time
period beginning no earlier than
October 1, 2007 and ending no later
than December 31, 2008. Projects must
be completed within the 1-year time
frame. The Agency will not approve
requests to extend the grant period.
Applications that request funds for a
time period ending after December 31,
2008, will not be considered for
funding.
Completeness Eligibility: Applications
lacking sufficient information to
determine eligibility and scoring will be
considered ineligible. Applications that
are non-responsive to this notice will be
considered ineligible.
Multiple Grant Eligibility: An
applicant may not submit more than one
grant application in any one funding
cycle.
Activity Eligibility: Applications must
propose technical assistance, as defined,
to benefit their members or other small
minority agricultural producers who are
not members or they will not be
considered for funding. Applications
that have ineligible costs that equal
more than 10 percent of the total project
costs will be determined ineligible and
will not be considered for funding. An
application that has ineligible costs of
10 percent or less of total project costs
and is selected for funding, must
remove all ineligible costs from the
budget and replace them with eligible
activities or the amount of the grant
award will be reduced accordingly. An
applicant may not submit an application
that duplicates current activities or
activities to be paid for by other
Federally funded grant programs.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
IV. Application and Submission
Information
A. Address To Request Application
Package
The application package for applying
on paper for this funding opportunity
can be obtained at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/
smpg.htm. Alternatively, applicants
may contact their USDA Rural
Development State Office at the above
list. For electronic applications,
applicants must visit https://
www.grants.gov and follow the
instructions.
B. Content and Form of Submission
Applications must be submitted on
paper or electronically. An application
guide may be viewed at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/
smpg.htm. It is recommended that
applicants use the template provided on
the Web site. The template can be filled
out electronically and printed out for
submission with the required forms for
paper submission or it can be filled out
electronically and submitted as an
attachment through https://
www.grants.gov.
Applications submitted by paper
form, applicants must submit one
signed original of the completed
application. The application should be
in the following format:
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
Printed on only one side of each page.
Held together only by rubber bands or
metal or plastic clips; not bound in any
other way.
The submission must include all
pages of the application. It is
recommended that the application be in
black and white, and not color.
If the application is submitted
electronically, the applicant must follow
the instructions given at the Internet
address: https://www.grants.gov.
Applicants are advised to visit the site
well in advance of the application
deadline if they plan to apply
electronically to ensure that they have
obtained the proper authentication and
have sufficient computer resources to
complete the application.
Applicants must complete and submit
the following elements. The Agency will
screen all applications for eligibility and
to determine whether the application is
complete and sufficiently responsive to
the requirements set forth in this notice
to allow for an informed review.
Information submitted as part of the
application will be protected to the
extent permitted by law.
1. Form SF–424, ‘‘Application for
Federal Assistance.’’ The form must be
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
completed, signed and submitted as part
of the application package.
Please note that applicants are
required to have a Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number. The DUNS number is
a nine-digit identification number,
which uniquely identifies business
entities. There is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access https://
www.dnb.com/us/ or call 866–705–
5711. For more information, see the
SMPG Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/
smpg.htm or by contacting the
applicant’s USDA Rural Development
State Office. In addition to the DUNS
number, an applicant must provide a
legal Employment Identification
Number.
2. Form SF–424A, ‘‘Budget
Information—Non-Construction
Programs.’’ This form must be
completed and submitted as part of the
application package.
3. Form SF–424B, ‘‘Assurances—NonConstruction Programs.’’ This form must
be completed, signed, and submitted as
part of the application package.
4. Table of Contents. For ease of
locating information, each application
must contain a detailed Table of
Contents (TOC) immediately following
the SF–424B. The TOC must include
page numbers for each component of the
application. Pagination should begin
immediately following the TOC.
5. Eligibility Discussion: A detailed
discussion, not to exceed four pages,
must describe how the applicant meets
the following requirements.
(i) Applicant Eligibility: If the
applicant is a cooperative, the
application must reference the
business’s good standing as a
cooperative in its state of incorporation.
If the applicant is an association of
cooperatives, the application must
reference the association’s good
standing as a legal business structure in
its state of incorporation. If the
applicant is selected for a grant, they
must provide their Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws along with
the State’s Certificate of Good Standing
to verify they are incorporated as a
cooperative or an association of
cooperatives in the State they have
applied. The applicant must describe
how it meets the definition of a
‘‘minority cooperative’’ or ‘‘minority
association of cooperatives’’ as defined
in the Definitions section of this Notice.
The applicant must apply as only one
type of applicant.
(ii) Use of Funds: The applicant must
provide a detailed discussion on how
the proposed project activities meet the
definition of technical assistance.
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
(iii) Project Area: The applicant must
provide information on where the
projects are planned to be located and
that the areas meet the ‘‘rural area’’
definition.
(iv) Grant Period: The applicant must
provide a time frame for the proposed
project and discuss how the project will
be completed within that time frame.
6. Budget/Work Plan: The applicant
must describe, in detail not to exceed
four pages, the purpose of the grant,
what type of assistance will be
provided, and the total amount of funds
needed to assist for each project. The
budget must also present a breakdown
of estimated costs associated with each
task/activity for each project. The
amount of grant funds requested will be
adjusted if the applicant does not have
justification for all costs.
7. Evaluation Criteria: Each of the
evaluation criteria referenced in this
notice must be addressed, specifically
and individually on separate pages, in
narrative form, not to exceed a total of
one page for each evaluation criteria.
Failure to address the evaluation criteria
by the application deadline will result
in the application being determined
ineligible.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: July 30,
2007.
Explanation of Deadlines: Paper
applications must be postmarked and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight by
the deadline date (see Section IV.F. for
the address). Electronic applications
must be received by https://
www.grants.gov by the deadline date.
Courier applications must be delivered
by the deadline date. If the Applicant’s
application does not meet the deadline,
it will not be considered for funding.
Applicants will be notified if their
application did not meet the submission
deadline. Applicants will also be
notified by mail or by e-mail if their
application is received on time.
D. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications
Executive Order (EO) 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, applies to this program. This
EO requires that Federal agencies
provide opportunities for consultation
on proposed assistance with State and
local governments. Many states have
established a Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. A
list of States that maintain an SPOC may
be obtained at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/
spoc.html. If your State has an SPOC,
you may submit your application
directly for review. Any comments
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
obtained through the SPOC must be
provided to Rural Development for
consideration as part of your
application. If your State has not
established an SPOC or you do not want
to submit your application, Rural
Development will submit your
application to the SPOC or other
appropriate agency or agencies.
You are also encouraged to contact
Cooperative Programs at 202–720–7558
or cpgrants@wdc.usda.gov if you have
questions about this process.
E. Funding Restrictions
Grant funds must be used for
technical assistance. No funds made
available under this solicitation shall be
used to:
1. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or
construct a building or facility,
including a processing facility;
2. Purchase, rent, or install fixed
equipment, including processing
equipment;
3. Purchase vehicles, including boats;
4. Pay for the preparation of the grant
application;
5. Pay expenses not directly related to
the funded project;
6. Fund political or lobbying
activities;
7. Fund any activities prohibited by 7
CFR parts 3015 and 3019;
8. Fund architectural or engineering
design work for a specific physical
facility;
9. Fund any direct expenses for the
production of any commodity or
product to which value will be added,
including seed, rootstock, labor for
harvesting the crop, and delivery of the
commodity to a processing facility;
10. Fund research and development;
11. Purchase land;
12. Duplicate current services or
replace or substitute support previously
provided;
13. Pay costs of the project incurred
prior to the date of grant approval;
14. Pay for assistance to any private
business enterprise which does not have
at least 51 percent ownership by those
who are either citizens of the United
States or reside in the United States
after being legally admitted for
permanent residence;
15. Pay any judgment or debt owed to
the United States;
16. Pay the operating costs of
cooperative and/or association of
cooperatives; or
17. Pay expenses for applicant
employee training.
F. Other Submission Requirements
Applicants may submit their paper
application for a grant to their Rural
Development State Office listed under
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29953
the Addresses section. Applicants may
submit their application electronically
at https://www.grants.gov. Applications
may not be submitted by electronic
mail, facsimile, or hand-delivery. Each
application submission must contain all
required documents in one envelope, if
sent by mail or express delivery service.
V. Application Scoring Criteria Review
Information
A. Criteria:
All eligible and complete applications
will be evaluated based upon the
following criteria. Failure to address any
one of the following criteria by the
application deadline will result in the
application being determined ineligible
and the application will not be
considered for funding. The total points
possible for the criteria are 60 and the
maximum number of points for each of
the following sections is 15. Any
application receiving less than 40 total
points will not be funded.
1. Rural Area: Projects must be in
rural areas. Points will be awarded
based upon the rural area where the
proposed project is located. The Agency
will determine if the area meets the
rural area definition by using the
following Web site: https://
maps.ers.usda.gov/loanlookup/
viewer.htm.
(i) If the proposed project is located in
a city or town with a population of at
least 15,000 and no more than 25,000
people, 5 points will be awarded;
(ii) If the proposed project is located
in a city or town with a population of
at least 5,000 and less than 15,000
people, 10 points will be awarded; or
(iii) If the proposed project is located
in a city or town with a population of
less than 5,000 people, 15 points will be
awarded.
(iv) If the proposed project is located
in an unincorporated area, 15 points
will be awarded.
If the applicant proposes to provide
assistance in multiple areas or cities, the
applicant must list the areas or cities
where the assistance will be provided,
the population for each and the amount
of assistance of each area. Points will be
calculated by using the above point
scale for each, with the points awarded
using a weighted average of the points
for the areas served. The information
needed for this criterion may be
obtained using the population finder
tool at https://www.census.gov/.
2. Per capita personal income: Points
will be awarded proportionally based
upon a comparison of the per capita
personal income of the county in which
a proposed project is located to the state
per capital personal income:
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
29954
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
(i) If the per capita personal income
level in the county where the proposed
project will be located is less than 80
percent of the state per capita personal
income level, 15 points will be awarded;
(ii) If the per capita personal income
level in the county where the proposed
project will be located is at least 80
percent and less than 90 percent of the
state per capita personal income level,
10 points will be awarded;
(iii) If the per capita personal income
level in the county where the proposed
project will be located is at least 90
percent and less than 100 percent of the
state per capita personal income level,
5 points will be awarded; or
(iv) If the per capita personal income
level in the county where the proposed
project will be located is equal to or
exceeds the state per capita personal
income, no points will be awarded.
If the applicant proposes to provide
assistance in multiple rural counties,
the applicant must list the counties
where the assistance will be provided;
the percentage of assistance intended to
be spent in each county, and the per
capita personal income level for each
county. Points will be calculated by
using the above point score for each
county’s per capital personal income
level, with the total points awarded in
proportion to where the assistance is
directed. (For example, if 50% of the
grant money will be spent in a county
where the per capita income is below 80
percent, and 50% will be spent in a
county where the per capita income is
between 90 and 100 percent, points will
be calculated as follows: [(.5)*(15) +
(.5)*(5) = 10 points]. The information
needed for this criterion may be
obtained at https://www.bea.gov.
3. Experience. Points will be awarded
based upon the relevant experience of
the staff or the consultants hired to
provide the proposed technical
assistance.
(i) If the staff or consultants have no
experience in providing technical
assistance, 0 points will be awarded;
(ii) If each of the staff or consultants
has 3 years of experience in providing
technical assistance, 5 points will be
awarded;
(iii) If each of the staff or consultants
have at least 3 years of experience in
providing the same type of technical
assistance as proposed in the project, 10
points will be awarded; or
(iv) If each of the staff or consultants
has at least 3 years of experience in
providing the same type of technical
assistance as proposed in the project to
small, minority agricultural producers,
15 points will be awarded.
Applicants must describe the specific
type of technical assistance that each
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
staff member or consultant has
experience in providing. Resumes of
each individual staff member or
consultant must be included as an
attachment listing their experience for
the type of technical assistance, along
with a list of small, minority
agricultural producers they’ve assisted.
The attachments will not count toward
the maximum page total. The Agency
will compare the described assistance
and the resumes to the work plan to
determine point total.
4. Number of small, minority
agricultural producers assisted. Points
will be awarded based upon the number
of agricultural, minority producers
being assisted.
(i) If the proposed project will benefit
1–10 producers, 5 points will be
awarded;
(ii) If the proposed project will benefit
11–50 producers, 10 points will be
awarded; or
(iii) If the proposed project will
benefit more than 50 producers, 15
points will be awarded.
Applicants must list the number of
small, minority agricultural producers
that will directly benefit from the
assistance provided.
B. Review and Selection Process
The Agency will screen all proposals
to determine whether the application is
eligible and sufficiently responsive to
the requirements set forth in this notice
to allow for an informed review.
Applications will be tentatively scored
by the State Offices and submitted to the
National Office for review and selection.
The National Office will review the
scores based upon the point allocation
specified in this notice. The
applications will be funded in scoring
rank order and will be submitted to the
Administrator in rank order, together
with funding level recommendations.
C. Anticipated Announcement and
Award Dates
Award Date: The announcement of
award selections is expected to occur on
or about September 14, 2007.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a
notification of tentative selection for
funding from Rural Development.
Applicants must comply with all
applicable statutes, regulations, and this
notice before the grant award will
receive final approval.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive
notification, including mediation
procedures and appeal rights, by mail.
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
B. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
7 CFR parts 3015, 3019, and subparts
A and F of part 4284 are applicable to
grants made under this notice. These
regulations may be obtained at https://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/page1.
The following additional
requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
• Agency approved Grant Agreement.
• Letter of Conditions.
• Form RD 1940–1, ‘‘Request for
Obligation of Funds.’’
• Form RD 1942–46, ‘‘Letter of Intent
to Meet Conditions.’’
• Form AD–1047, ‘‘Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters-Primary
Covered Transactions.’’
• Form AD–1048, ‘‘Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary ExclusionLower Tier Covered Transactions.’’
• Form AD–1049, ‘‘Certification
Regarding a Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements (Grants).’’
• Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance
Agreement.’’
• Form 2006–38, ‘‘Civil Rights Impact
Analysis.’’ Prior to approval of all
grants, a Civil Rights Impact Analysis
will be conducted.
Additional information on these
requirements can be found at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/
smpg.htm.
Fund Disbursement: The Agency will
determine, based on 7 CFR 3015, 3016
and 3019, as applicable, whether
disbursement of a grant will be by
advance or reimbursement. As needed,
but not more frequently than once every
30 days, an original of SF–270, ‘‘Request
for Advance or Reimbursement,’’ may
be submitted to Rural Development.
Recipient’s request for advance shall not
be made in excess of reasonable outlays
for the month covered.
Reporting Requirements: Grantees
must provide Rural Development with
an original or an electronic copy that
includes all required signatures of the
following reports. The reports should be
submitted to the Agency contact listed
on the Grant Agreement and Letter of
Conditions. Failure to submit
satisfactory reports on time may result
in suspension or termination of the
grant. Grantees will need to submit:
1. Form SF–269 or SF–269A. A
‘‘Financial Status Report,’’ listing
expenditures according to agreed upon
budget categories, on a semiannual
basis. Reporting periods end each March
31 and September 30. Reports are due
30 days after the reporting period ends.
2. Semiannual performance reports
that compare accomplishments to the
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Notices
objectives stated in the proposal.
Identify all tasks completed to date and
provide documentation supporting the
reported results. If the original schedule
provided in the work plan is not being
met, the report should discuss the
problems or delays that may affect
completion of the Project. Objectives for
the next reporting period should be
listed. Compliance with any special
condition on the use of award funds
must be discussed. Reports are due as
provided in paragraph (1) of this
section. Supporting documentation
must also be submitted for completed
tasks. The supporting documentation for
completed tasks include, but are not
limited to, feasibility studies, marketing
plans, business plans, articles of
incorporation, and bylaws as they relate
to the assistance provided.
3. Final project performance reports
that compare accomplishments to the
objectives stated in the proposal.
Identify all tasks completed and provide
documentation supporting the reported
results. If the original schedule provided
in the work plan was not met, the report
must discuss the problems or delays
that affected completion of the project.
Compliance with any special condition
on the use of award funds must be
discussed. Supporting documentation
for completed tasks must also be
submitted. The supporting
documentation for completed tasks
includes, but is not limited to,
feasibility studies, marketing plans,
business plans, articles of incorporation,
and bylaws as they relate to the
assistance provided. The final
performance report is due within 90
days of the completion of the project.
The report must also include a summary
at the end of the report with the number
of small minority agricultural producers
assisted to assist in documenting the
annual performance goals of the SMPG
program for Congress.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this
announcement and for program
technical assistance, please contact the
appropriate State Office as indicated in
the Addresses section of this notice.
VIII. Non-Discrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex,
martial status, familial status, parental
status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:13 May 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of
program information (Braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–
2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call
(800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–
6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.
Dated: May 22, 2007.
Jackie J. Gleason,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service.
[FR Doc. E7–10301 Filed 5–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
29955
908, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.
Comments may be e-mailed to
frobinson@usccr.gov. Records generated
by this meeting may be inspected and
reproduced at the Central Regional
Office, as they become available, both
before and after the meeting. Persons
interested in the work of this advisory
committee are advised to go to the
Commission’s Web site, https://
www.usccr.gov, or to contact the Farella
E. Robinson at the Central Regional
Office at the above e-mail or street
address.
The meeting will be conducted
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the Commission and
FACA.
Dated in Washington, DC, May 22, 2007.
Ivy L. Davis,
Acting Director, Acting Chief, Regional
Programs Coordination Unit.
[FR Doc. E7–10287 Filed 5–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting
of the Alabama Advisory Committee
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
the provisions of the rules and
regulations of the U.S. Commission on
Civil Rights (Commission), and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), that a planning meeting of the
Alabama Advisory Committee to the
Commission will convene by conference
call at 9 a.m. and adjourn at 11 a.m., on
Monday, June 11, 2007. The purpose of
the meeting is to conduct program
planning for future briefing meeting.
This meeting is available to the public
through the following toll-free call-in
number (866) 364–7584, access code
8903253. Any interested member of the
public may call this number and listen
to the meeting. Callers can expect to
incur charges for calls they initiate over
wireless lines, and the Commission will
not refund any incurred charges. Callers
will incur no charge for calls they
initiate over land-line connections to
the toll-free telephone number. Persons
with hearing impairments may also
follow the proceedings by first calling
the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–977–
8339 and providing the Service with the
conference call number (866) 364–7584.
To ensure that the Commission
secures an appropriate number of lines
for the public, persons are asked to
register by contacting Corrine Sanders of
the Central Regional Office at (913) 551–
1400, TTY (913) 551–1414, by
Thursday, June 7, 2007.
Members of the public are entitled to
submit written comments. The
comments must be received in the
regional office by Friday, June 29, 2007.
The address is 400 State Avenue, Suite
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35).
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: U.S. Census Age Search Service.
Form Number(s): BC–600, BC–
600(SP), BC–649(L), BC–658(L).
Agency Approval Number: 0607–
0117.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Burden: 772 hours.
Number of Respondents: 3,233.
Average Hours Per Response: 10
minutes.
Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau
requests an extension of the currently
approved collection for the United
States Age Search Service. The age and
citizenship searching service provided
by the National Processing Center is a
self-supporting operation of the U.S.
Census Bureau. Expenses incurred in
providing census transcripts are covered
by the fees paid by individuals
requesting a search of the census
records. The Survey Processing Branch/
Personal Census Search Unit in
Jeffersonville, Indiana, maintains the
1910–2000 Federal censuses for
searching purposes. The purpose of the
searching is to provide, upon request,
transcripts of personal data from
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29949-29955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10301]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Announcement of the Grants to Assist Small, Minority Producer
Program Application Deadlines
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the
availability of approximately $1.1 million competitive grant funds for
fiscal year (FY) 2007 for cooperatives and association of cooperatives
to assist small, minority agricultural producers. USDA Rural
Development Cooperative Programs hereby requests proposals from
eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives interested in a
competitively awarded grant. The cooperatives and associations of
cooperatives will use the grant money to fund technical assistance to
small, minority agricultural producers in rural areas. The maximum
award per grant is $175,000.
DATES: Applications for grants must be submitted on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent
overnight no later than July 30, 2007, to be eligible for FY 2007 grant
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2007 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by July 30, 2007, to be eligible
for FY 2007 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY
2007 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Application materials for the Small, Minority Producers
Grant Program (SMPG) may be obtained at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/
coops/smpg/smpg.htm or by contacting the applicant's USDA Rural
Development State Office at (202) 720-4323 and pressing ``1''.
Submit electronic grant applications at https://www.grants.gov,
following the instructions found on this Web site. Submit completed
paper applications for a grant to the applicant's State Office as
follows:
A list of Rural Development State Offices follows:
Alabama
USDA Rural Development State Office, Sterling Center, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400.
Alaska
USDA Rural Development State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7705.
Arizona
USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 North First Avenue, Suite
206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8701.
Arkansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200.
California
USDA Rural Development State Office, 430 G Street, 4169,
Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5800.
Colorado
USDA Rural Development State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E-100,
Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-2915.
Delaware-Maryland
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3580.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State Office, P. O. Box 147010, 4440 NW.
25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3402.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State
[[Page 29950]]
Office, Stephens Federal Building 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA
30601-2768, (706) 546-2162.
Hawaii
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 311,
154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8380.
Idaho
USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite
A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600.
Illinois
USDA Rural Development State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A,
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6200.
Indiana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100.
Iowa
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 873,
210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663.
Kansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 SW First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604, (785) 271-2700.
Kentucky
USDA Rural Development State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite
200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7300.
Louisiana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3727 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7920.
Maine
USDA Rural Development State Office, P.O. Box 405, 967 Illinois
Avenue, Suite 4, Bangor, ME 04402-0405 (207) 990-9160.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
USDA Rural Development State Office, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA
01002 (413) 253-4300.
Michigan
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5188.
Minnesota
USDA Rural Development State Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375
Jackson Street St, Paul, MN 55101, (651) 602-7800.
Mississippi
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831,
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4316.
Missouri
USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West,
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976.
Montana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 900 Technology Blvd., Unit 1,
Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 585-2580.
Nebraska
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152,
100 Centennial Mall North Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551.
Nevada
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1390 South Curry Street,
Carson City, NV 89703-5146, (775) 887-1222.
New Jersey
USDA Rural Development State Office, 5th Floor North, 8000
Midlantic Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700.
New Mexico
USDA Rural Development State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE.,
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4950.
New York
USDA Rural Development State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441
South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 477-6400.
North Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000.
North Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 208,
P.O. Box 1737, 220 East Rosser, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737 (701) 530-2037.
Ohio
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 507,
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2477, (614) 255-2500, Ext. 4.
Oklahoma
USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108,
Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1000.
Oregon
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1201 Northeast Lloyd
Boulevard, Suite 801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3300.
Pennsylvania
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1 Credit Union Place, Suite
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2262.
Puerto Rico
USDA Rural Development State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 654
Munoz Rivera Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-6106, (787) 766-5095.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)
765-5163.
South Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 210,
200 4th Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100.
Tennessee
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite
300, Nashville, TN 37203-1084 (615) 783-1300.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102,
101 South Main Street , Temple, TX 76501 (254) 742-9700.
Utah
USDA Rural Development State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138
(801) 524-4324.
Vermont/New Hampshire
USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89
Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 828-6080.
Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238,
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229 (804) 287-1552.
Washington
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard,
SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715 (360) 704-7715.
West Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, 75 High Street, Suite 320,
Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 284-4860.
Wisconsin
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens
Point, WI 54481 (715) 345-7600.
Wyoming
USDA Rural Development State Office, Dick Cheney Federal Building,
P.O. Box 11005, 100 East B Street, Room 1005, Casper, WY 82602-5006
(307) 233-6700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit the program Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/smpg.htm for application assistance
or contact the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants are
encouraged
[[Page 29951]]
to contact their State Offices well in advance of the deadline to
discuss their projects and ask any questions about the application
process.
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Small, Minority Producer Grant.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.771
Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications for grants may
be submitted on paper or electronically according to the following
deadlines:
Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent
overnight no later than July 30, 2007, to be eligible for FY 2007 grant
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2007 grant funding.
Complete electronic copies must be received by July 30, 2007, to be
eligible for FY 2007 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible
for FY 2007 grant funding.
Programs Affected
This will not affect other programs in USDA Rural Development.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
This solicitation is issued pursuant to the Revised Continuing
Resolution, 2007, Public Law 110-5 dated February 15, 2007 which
authorizes not to exceed $1,473,000 for cooperatives or associations of
cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide assistance to small,
minority agricultural producers and whose governing board and/or
membership is comprised of at least 75 percent minority members. The
Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the program's administration to
USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs.
The primary objective of this grant program is to assist small,
minority agricultural producers through cooperatives and associations
of cooperatives. USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs will
competitively award grants to fund cooperatives and/or associations of
cooperatives to provide technical assistance to small, minority
agricultural producers in rural areas. The maximum award amount per
grant is $175,000.
Definitions
Agency--Rural Business-Cooperative Service, an agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development or a
successor agency.
Agricultural Commodity--An unprocessed product of farms, ranches,
nurseries, and forests. Agricultural commodities include: livestock,
poultry, and fish; fruits and vegetables; grains, such as wheat,
barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice, corn, and sorghum; legumes, such as
field beans and peas; animal feed and forage crops; seed crops; fiber
crops, such as cotton; oil crops, such as safflower, sunflower, corn,
and cottonseed; trees grown for lumber and wood products; nursery stock
grown commercially; Christmas trees; ornamentals and cut flowers; and
turf grown commercially for sod. Agricultural commodities do not
include horses or animals raised as pets, such as cats, dogs, and
ferrets.
Cooperative Programs--The office within USDA Rural Development, and
its successor organization, that administers programs authorized by the
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926 (7 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) and such other
programs identified in USDA regulations.
Economic Development--The economic growth of an area as evidenced
by increase in total income, employment opportunities, decreased out-
migration of population, value of production, increased diversification
of industry, higher labor force participation rates, increased duration
of employment, higher wage levels, or gains in other measurements of
economic activity, such as land values.
Feasibility Study--An analysis of the economic, market, technical,
financial, and management feasibility of a proposed project.
Minority--Individuals who have been subjected to racial, ethnic,
gender prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of
their identities as members of groups and without regard to their
individual qualities. Minority groups are Women, African Americans not
of Hispanic Origin, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian
and Pacific Islanders.
Minority Association of Cooperatives--An association of
cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide assistance to small,
minority agricultural producers and where the governing board and/or
membership is comprised of at least 75 percent minority.
Minority Cooperative--A farmer- or rancher-owned and -controlled
business, organized and chartered as a cooperative, from which benefits
are derived and distributed equitably on the basis of use by each of
the farmer or rancher owners whose primary focus is to provide
assistance to small, minority agricultural producers and where the
governing board and/or membership is comprised of at least 75 percent
minority.
Operating Cost--The day-to-day expenses of running a business; for
example: utilities, rent, salaries, depreciation, product production
costs, marketing and advertising, and other basic overhead items.
Project--Includes all activities to be funded by the Small Minority
Agricultural Producer Grant and any matching funds.
Small, Minority Agricultural Producer--Minority persons or 100
percent minority-owned entities, including farmers, ranchers, loggers,
agricultural harvesters, and fishermen, with gross annual sales of not
more than $250,000 that engage in the production or harvesting of an
agricultural commodity.
Rural and Rural Area--Includes all the territory of a State that is
not within the outer boundary of any city or town having a population
of 50,000 or more and the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to
such city or town, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census using
the latest decennial census of the United States.
Rural Development--A mission area within USDA consisting of the
Office of Under Secretary for Rural Development, Rural Development
Business and Cooperative Programs, Rural Development Housing Programs,
and Rural Development Utilities Programs and their successors.
State--Includes each of the several States, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and, as may be
determined by the Secretary to be feasible, appropriate and lawful, the
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands
and the Republic of Palau.
Technical Assistance--An advisory service performed for the benefit
of a small, minority agricultural producer such as market research;
product and/or service improvement; legal advice and assistance;
feasibility study, business plan, and marketing plan development; and
training. Technical assistance does not include the operating costs of
a cooperative being assisted.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007
Approximate Total Funding: $1.1 million
Approximate Number of Awards: 6
[[Page 29952]]
Approximate Average Award: $175,000
Floor of Award Range: None
Ceiling of Award Range: $175,000
Anticipated Award Date: September 14, 2007
Budget Period Length: 12 months
Project Period Length: 12 months
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be a minority cooperative or a minority association
of cooperatives.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
No matching funds are required.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Use of Funds: The funds may only be used for technical assistance
projects.
Project Area Eligibility: The Project proposed must take place in a
rural area.
Grant Period Eligibility: If awarded, funds must be expended in 1
year. Applications must have a time frame of no more than 365 days with
the time period beginning no earlier than October 1, 2007 and ending no
later than December 31, 2008. Projects must be completed within the 1-
year time frame. The Agency will not approve requests to extend the
grant period. Applications that request funds for a time period ending
after December 31, 2008, will not be considered for funding.
Completeness Eligibility: Applications lacking sufficient
information to determine eligibility and scoring will be considered
ineligible. Applications that are non-responsive to this notice will be
considered ineligible.
Multiple Grant Eligibility: An applicant may not submit more than
one grant application in any one funding cycle.
Activity Eligibility: Applications must propose technical
assistance, as defined, to benefit their members or other small
minority agricultural producers who are not members or they will not be
considered for funding. Applications that have ineligible costs that
equal more than 10 percent of the total project costs will be
determined ineligible and will not be considered for funding. An
application that has ineligible costs of 10 percent or less of total
project costs and is selected for funding, must remove all ineligible
costs from the budget and replace them with eligible activities or the
amount of the grant award will be reduced accordingly. An applicant may
not submit an application that duplicates current activities or
activities to be paid for by other Federally funded grant programs.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address To Request Application Package
The application package for applying on paper for this funding
opportunity can be obtained at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
smpg/smpg.htm. Alternatively, applicants may contact their USDA Rural
Development State Office at the above list. For electronic
applications, applicants must visit https://www.grants.gov and follow
the instructions.
B. Content and Form of Submission
Applications must be submitted on paper or electronically. An
application guide may be viewed at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/
coops/smpg/smpg.htm. It is recommended that applicants use the template
provided on the Web site. The template can be filled out electronically
and printed out for submission with the required forms for paper
submission or it can be filled out electronically and submitted as an
attachment through https://www.grants.gov.
Applications submitted by paper form, applicants must submit one
signed original of the completed application. The application should be
in the following format:
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
Printed on only one side of each page.
Held together only by rubber bands or metal or plastic clips; not
bound in any other way.
The submission must include all pages of the application. It is
recommended that the application be in black and white, and not color.
If the application is submitted electronically, the applicant must
follow the instructions given at the Internet address: https://
www.grants.gov. Applicants are advised to visit the site well in
advance of the application deadline if they plan to apply
electronically to ensure that they have obtained the proper
authentication and have sufficient computer resources to complete the
application.
Applicants must complete and submit the following elements. The
Agency will screen all applications for eligibility and to determine
whether the application is complete and sufficiently responsive to the
requirements set forth in this notice to allow for an informed review.
Information submitted as part of the application will be protected to
the extent permitted by law.
1. Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' The form
must be completed, signed and submitted as part of the application
package.
Please note that applicants are required to have a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The DUNS
number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies
business entities. There is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access
https://www.dnb.com/us/ or call 866-705-5711. For more information, see
the SMPG Web site at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/smpg.htm
or by contacting the applicant's USDA Rural Development State Office.
In addition to the DUNS number, an applicant must provide a legal
Employment Identification Number.
2. Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.''
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application
package.
3. Form SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.'' This
form must be completed, signed, and submitted as part of the
application package.
4. Table of Contents. For ease of locating information, each
application must contain a detailed Table of Contents (TOC) immediately
following the SF-424B. The TOC must include page numbers for each
component of the application. Pagination should begin immediately
following the TOC.
5. Eligibility Discussion: A detailed discussion, not to exceed
four pages, must describe how the applicant meets the following
requirements.
(i) Applicant Eligibility: If the applicant is a cooperative, the
application must reference the business's good standing as a
cooperative in its state of incorporation. If the applicant is an
association of cooperatives, the application must reference the
association's good standing as a legal business structure in its state
of incorporation. If the applicant is selected for a grant, they must
provide their Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws along with the
State's Certificate of Good Standing to verify they are incorporated as
a cooperative or an association of cooperatives in the State they have
applied. The applicant must describe how it meets the definition of a
``minority cooperative'' or ``minority association of cooperatives'' as
defined in the Definitions section of this Notice. The applicant must
apply as only one type of applicant.
(ii) Use of Funds: The applicant must provide a detailed discussion
on how the proposed project activities meet the definition of technical
assistance.
[[Page 29953]]
(iii) Project Area: The applicant must provide information on where
the projects are planned to be located and that the areas meet the
``rural area'' definition.
(iv) Grant Period: The applicant must provide a time frame for the
proposed project and discuss how the project will be completed within
that time frame.
6. Budget/Work Plan: The applicant must describe, in detail not to
exceed four pages, the purpose of the grant, what type of assistance
will be provided, and the total amount of funds needed to assist for
each project. The budget must also present a breakdown of estimated
costs associated with each task/activity for each project. The amount
of grant funds requested will be adjusted if the applicant does not
have justification for all costs.
7. Evaluation Criteria: Each of the evaluation criteria referenced
in this notice must be addressed, specifically and individually on
separate pages, in narrative form, not to exceed a total of one page
for each evaluation criteria. Failure to address the evaluation
criteria by the application deadline will result in the application
being determined ineligible.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: July 30, 2007.
Explanation of Deadlines: Paper applications must be postmarked and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight by the deadline date (see Section
IV.F. for the address). Electronic applications must be received by
https://www.grants.gov by the deadline date. Courier applications must
be delivered by the deadline date. If the Applicant's application does
not meet the deadline, it will not be considered for funding.
Applicants will be notified if their application did not meet the
submission deadline. Applicants will also be notified by mail or by e-
mail if their application is received on time.
D. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order (EO) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, applies to this program. This EO requires that Federal
agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance
with State and local governments. Many states have established a Single
Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. A list of
States that maintain an SPOC may be obtained at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. If your State has an SPOC, you
may submit your application directly for review. Any comments obtained
through the SPOC must be provided to Rural Development for
consideration as part of your application. If your State has not
established an SPOC or you do not want to submit your application,
Rural Development will submit your application to the SPOC or other
appropriate agency or agencies.
You are also encouraged to contact Cooperative Programs at 202-720-
7558 or cpgrants@wdc.usda.gov if you have questions about this process.
E. Funding Restrictions
Grant funds must be used for technical assistance. No funds made
available under this solicitation shall be used to:
1. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or
facility, including a processing facility;
2. Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including processing
equipment;
3. Purchase vehicles, including boats;
4. Pay for the preparation of the grant application;
5. Pay expenses not directly related to the funded project;
6. Fund political or lobbying activities;
7. Fund any activities prohibited by 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019;
8. Fund architectural or engineering design work for a specific
physical facility;
9. Fund any direct expenses for the production of any commodity or
product to which value will be added, including seed, rootstock, labor
for harvesting the crop, and delivery of the commodity to a processing
facility;
10. Fund research and development;
11. Purchase land;
12. Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support
previously provided;
13. Pay costs of the project incurred prior to the date of grant
approval;
14. Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise which
does not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either
citizens of the United States or reside in the United States after
being legally admitted for permanent residence;
15. Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
16. Pay the operating costs of cooperative and/or association of
cooperatives; or
17. Pay expenses for applicant employee training.
F. Other Submission Requirements
Applicants may submit their paper application for a grant to their
Rural Development State Office listed under the Addresses section.
Applicants may submit their application electronically at https://
www.grants.gov. Applications may not be submitted by electronic mail,
facsimile, or hand-delivery. Each application submission must contain
all required documents in one envelope, if sent by mail or express
delivery service.
V. Application Scoring Criteria Review Information
A. Criteria:
All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based upon
the following criteria. Failure to address any one of the following
criteria by the application deadline will result in the application
being determined ineligible and the application will not be considered
for funding. The total points possible for the criteria are 60 and the
maximum number of points for each of the following sections is 15. Any
application receiving less than 40 total points will not be funded.
1. Rural Area: Projects must be in rural areas. Points will be
awarded based upon the rural area where the proposed project is
located. The Agency will determine if the area meets the rural area
definition by using the following Web site: https://maps.ers.usda.gov/
loanlookup/viewer.htm.
(i) If the proposed project is located in a city or town with a
population of at least 15,000 and no more than 25,000 people, 5 points
will be awarded;
(ii) If the proposed project is located in a city or town with a
population of at least 5,000 and less than 15,000 people, 10 points
will be awarded; or
(iii) If the proposed project is located in a city or town with a
population of less than 5,000 people, 15 points will be awarded.
(iv) If the proposed project is located in an unincorporated area,
15 points will be awarded.
If the applicant proposes to provide assistance in multiple areas
or cities, the applicant must list the areas or cities where the
assistance will be provided, the population for each and the amount of
assistance of each area. Points will be calculated by using the above
point scale for each, with the points awarded using a weighted average
of the points for the areas served. The information needed for this
criterion may be obtained using the population finder tool at https://
www.census.gov/.
2. Per capita personal income: Points will be awarded
proportionally based upon a comparison of the per capita personal
income of the county in which a proposed project is located to the
state per capital personal income:
[[Page 29954]]
(i) If the per capita personal income level in the county where the
proposed project will be located is less than 80 percent of the state
per capita personal income level, 15 points will be awarded;
(ii) If the per capita personal income level in the county where
the proposed project will be located is at least 80 percent and less
than 90 percent of the state per capita personal income level, 10
points will be awarded;
(iii) If the per capita personal income level in the county where
the proposed project will be located is at least 90 percent and less
than 100 percent of the state per capita personal income level, 5
points will be awarded; or
(iv) If the per capita personal income level in the county where
the proposed project will be located is equal to or exceeds the state
per capita personal income, no points will be awarded.
If the applicant proposes to provide assistance in multiple rural
counties, the applicant must list the counties where the assistance
will be provided; the percentage of assistance intended to be spent in
each county, and the per capita personal income level for each county.
Points will be calculated by using the above point score for each
county's per capital personal income level, with the total points
awarded in proportion to where the assistance is directed. (For
example, if 50% of the grant money will be spent in a county where the
per capita income is below 80 percent, and 50% will be spent in a
county where the per capita income is between 90 and 100 percent,
points will be calculated as follows: [(.5)*(15) + (.5)*(5) = 10
points]. The information needed for this criterion may be obtained at
https://www.bea.gov.
3. Experience. Points will be awarded based upon the relevant
experience of the staff or the consultants hired to provide the
proposed technical assistance.
(i) If the staff or consultants have no experience in providing
technical assistance, 0 points will be awarded;
(ii) If each of the staff or consultants has 3 years of experience
in providing technical assistance, 5 points will be awarded;
(iii) If each of the staff or consultants have at least 3 years of
experience in providing the same type of technical assistance as
proposed in the project, 10 points will be awarded; or
(iv) If each of the staff or consultants has at least 3 years of
experience in providing the same type of technical assistance as
proposed in the project to small, minority agricultural producers, 15
points will be awarded.
Applicants must describe the specific type of technical assistance
that each staff member or consultant has experience in providing.
Resumes of each individual staff member or consultant must be included
as an attachment listing their experience for the type of technical
assistance, along with a list of small, minority agricultural producers
they've assisted. The attachments will not count toward the maximum
page total. The Agency will compare the described assistance and the
resumes to the work plan to determine point total.
4. Number of small, minority agricultural producers assisted.
Points will be awarded based upon the number of agricultural, minority
producers being assisted.
(i) If the proposed project will benefit 1-10 producers, 5 points
will be awarded;
(ii) If the proposed project will benefit 11-50 producers, 10
points will be awarded; or
(iii) If the proposed project will benefit more than 50 producers,
15 points will be awarded.
Applicants must list the number of small, minority agricultural
producers that will directly benefit from the assistance provided.
B. Review and Selection Process
The Agency will screen all proposals to determine whether the
application is eligible and sufficiently responsive to the requirements
set forth in this notice to allow for an informed review. Applications
will be tentatively scored by the State Offices and submitted to the
National Office for review and selection. The National Office will
review the scores based upon the point allocation specified in this
notice. The applications will be funded in scoring rank order and will
be submitted to the Administrator in rank order, together with funding
level recommendations.
C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Award Date: The announcement of award selections is expected to
occur on or about September 14, 2007.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a notification of tentative
selection for funding from Rural Development. Applicants must comply
with all applicable statutes, regulations, and this notice before the
grant award will receive final approval.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification, including
mediation procedures and appeal rights, by mail.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
7 CFR parts 3015, 3019, and subparts A and F of part 4284 are
applicable to grants made under this notice. These regulations may be
obtained at https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/page1.
The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
Agency approved Grant Agreement.
Letter of Conditions.
Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered
Transactions.''
Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.''
Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding a Drug-Free
Workplace Requirements (Grants).''
Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.''
Form 2006-38, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis.'' Prior to
approval of all grants, a Civil Rights Impact Analysis will be
conducted.
Additional information on these requirements can be found at http:/
/www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/smpg.htm.
Fund Disbursement: The Agency will determine, based on 7 CFR 3015,
3016 and 3019, as applicable, whether disbursement of a grant will be
by advance or reimbursement. As needed, but not more frequently than
once every 30 days, an original of SF-270, ``Request for Advance or
Reimbursement,'' may be submitted to Rural Development. Recipient's
request for advance shall not be made in excess of reasonable outlays
for the month covered.
Reporting Requirements: Grantees must provide Rural Development
with an original or an electronic copy that includes all required
signatures of the following reports. The reports should be submitted to
the Agency contact listed on the Grant Agreement and Letter of
Conditions. Failure to submit satisfactory reports on time may result
in suspension or termination of the grant. Grantees will need to
submit:
1. Form SF-269 or SF-269A. A ``Financial Status Report,'' listing
expenditures according to agreed upon budget categories, on a
semiannual basis. Reporting periods end each March 31 and September 30.
Reports are due 30 days after the reporting period ends.
2. Semiannual performance reports that compare accomplishments to
the
[[Page 29955]]
objectives stated in the proposal. Identify all tasks completed to date
and provide documentation supporting the reported results. If the
original schedule provided in the work plan is not being met, the
report should discuss the problems or delays that may affect completion
of the Project. Objectives for the next reporting period should be
listed. Compliance with any special condition on the use of award funds
must be discussed. Reports are due as provided in paragraph (1) of this
section. Supporting documentation must also be submitted for completed
tasks. The supporting documentation for completed tasks include, but
are not limited to, feasibility studies, marketing plans, business
plans, articles of incorporation, and bylaws as they relate to the
assistance provided.
3. Final project performance reports that compare accomplishments
to the objectives stated in the proposal. Identify all tasks completed
and provide documentation supporting the reported results. If the
original schedule provided in the work plan was not met, the report
must discuss the problems or delays that affected completion of the
project. Compliance with any special condition on the use of award
funds must be discussed. Supporting documentation for completed tasks
must also be submitted. The supporting documentation for completed
tasks includes, but is not limited to, feasibility studies, marketing
plans, business plans, articles of incorporation, and bylaws as they
relate to the assistance provided. The final performance report is due
within 90 days of the completion of the project. The report must also
include a summary at the end of the report with the number of small
minority agricultural producers assisted to assist in documenting the
annual performance goals of the SMPG program for Congress.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement and for program
technical assistance, please contact the appropriate State Office as
indicated in the Addresses section of this notice.
VIII. Non-Discrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, martial
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or
call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.
Dated: May 22, 2007.
Jackie J. Gleason,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. E7-10301 Filed 5-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
