Notice of Funds Availability for the Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2008, 9273-9277 [08-690]
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9273
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 73, No. 34
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The reporting requirements contained
in this Notice have been approved by
the Office of Management and Budget
under Control Number 0575–0115.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
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Notice of Funds Availability for the
Section 533 Housing Preservation
Grants for Fiscal Year 2008
Program Administration
Announcement Type: Initial Notice
inviting applications from qualified
applicants for Fiscal Year 2008.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Numbers (CFDA): 10.433.
SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service
(RHS), an agency within Rural
Development, announces that it is
soliciting competitive applications
under its Housing Preservation Grant
(HPG) program. The HPG program is a
grant program which provides qualified
public agencies, private nonprofit
organizations, which may include, but
not be limited to, faith-based and
community organizations, and other
eligible entities grant funds to assist
very low- and low-income homeowners
in repairing and rehabilitating their
homes in rural areas. In addition, the
HPG program assists rental property
owners and cooperative housing
complexes in repairing and
rehabilitating their units if they agree to
make such units available to low- and
very low-income persons. This action is
taken to comply with Agency
regulations found in 7 CFR part 1944,
subpart N, which require the Agency to
announce the opening and closing dates
for receipt of preapplications for HPG
funds from eligible applicants. The
intended effect of this Notice is to
provide eligible organizations notice of
these dates.
DATES: The closing deadline for receipt
of all applications in response to this
Notice is 5 p.m., local time for each
Rural Development State Office on April
21, 2008. The application closing
deadline is firm as to date and hour.
RHS will not consider any application
that is received after the closing
deadline. Applicants intending to mail
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applications must provide sufficient
time to permit delivery on or before the
closing deadline date and time.
Acceptance by the United States Postal
Service or private mailer does not
constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) and
postage due applications will not be
accepted.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunities Description
The funding instrument for the HPG
Program will be a grant agreement. The
term of the grant can vary from 1 to 2
years, depending on available funds and
demand. No maximum or minimum
grant levels have been established at the
National level. You should contact the
Rural Development State Office to
determine the allocation.
II. Award Information
For Fiscal Year 2008, $9,593,704 is
available for the HPG Program. The total
includes $656,704 in carryover funds. A
set-aside of $595,800 has been
established for grants located in
Empowerment Zones, Enterprise
Communities, and Rural Economic Area
Partnership Zones and other funds will
be distributed under a formula
allocation to states pursuant to 7 CFR
part 1940, subpart L, ‘‘Methodology and
Formulas for Allocation of Loan and
Grant Program Funds.’’ Decisions on
funding will be based on preapplications.
III. Eligibility Information
7 CFR part 1944, subpart N provides
details on what information must be
contained in the preapplication
package. Entities wishing to apply for
assistance should contact the Rural
Development State Office to receive
further information, the State allocation
of funds, and copies of the
preapplication package. Eligible entities
for these competitively awarded grants
include state and local governments,
nonprofit corporations, which may
include, but not be limited to faithbased and community organizations,
Federally recognized Indian tribes, and
consortia of eligible entities.
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Federally recognized Indian tribes,
pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674, are exempt
from the requirement to consult with
local leaders including announcing the
availability of its statement of activities
for review in a newspaper.
As part of the application, all
applicants must also provide a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number. As required by
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), all grant applicants must
provide a DUNS number when applying
for Federal grants, on or after October 1,
2003. Organizations can receive a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the
dedicated toll-free DUNS number
request line at 1–866–705–5711.
Additional information concerning this
requirement is provided in a policy
directive issued by OMB and published
in the Federal Register on June 27, 2003
(68 FR 38402–38405).
To comply with the President’s
Management Agenda, the Department of
Agriculture is participating as a partner
in the new Government-wide Grants.gov
site in FY 2008. Housing Preservation
Grants [Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 10.433] is one of the
programs included at this Web site. You
may access the electronic grant
application for Housing Preservation
Grants at: https://www.grants.gov. If you
are an applicant under the Housing
Preservation Grant Program, you may
submit your application to the Agency
in either electronic or paper format.
Please be mindful that the application
deadline for electronic format differs
from the deadline for paper format. The
electronic format deadline will be based
on Eastern Standard Time. The paper
format deadline is local time for each
Rural Development State Office.
Users of Grants.gov will be able to
download a copy of the application
package, complete it offline, and then
upload and submit the application via
the Grants.gov site. You may not e-mail
an electronic copy of a grant application
to USDA Rural Development; however,
the Agency encourages your
participation in Grants.gov.
The following are useful tips and
instructions on how to use the Web site:
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site as well as the hours of
operation. USDA Rural Development
strongly recommends that you do not
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wait until the application deadline date
to begin the application process through
Grants.gov. To use Grants.gov,
applicants must have a DUNS number.
• You may submit all documents
electronically through the Web site,
including all information typically
included on the Application for Rural
Housing Preservation Grants, and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
• Your application must comply with
any page limit requirements described
in this Notice.
• After you electronically submit
your application through the Web site,
you will receive an automatic
acknowledgement from Grants.gov that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
• RHS may request that you provide
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
• If you experience technical
difficulties on the closing date and are
unable to meet the 5 p.m. (Eastern
Standard Time) deadline, print out your
application and submit it to your State
Office; you must meet the closing date
and local time deadline.
• Please note that you must locate the
downloadable application package for
this program by the CFDA Number or
FedGrants Funding Opportunity
Number, which can be found at https://
www.fedgrants.gov.
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IV. Application and Submission
Information
Applicants wishing to apply for
assistance must make its statement of
activities available to the public for
comment. The applicant(s) must
announce the availability of its
statement of activities for review in a
newspaper of general circulation in the
project area and allow at least 15 days
for public comment. The start of this 15day period must occur no later than 16
days prior to the last day for acceptance
of pre-applications by USDA Rural
Development.
Applicants must also contact the
Rural Development State Office serving
the place in which they desire to submit
an application to receive further
information and copies of the
application package. Rural Development
will date and time stamp incoming
applications to evidence timely receipt,
and, upon request, will provide the
applicant with a written
acknowledgment of receipt. A listing of
Rural Development State Offices, their
addresses, telephone numbers, and
person to contact follows:
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not
toll-free.
Alabama State Office
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Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121
Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL
36106–3683, (334) 279–3455, TDD (334)
279–3495, Judith Druckemiller.
Alaska State Office
800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK
99645, (907) 761–7740, TDD (907) 761–
8905, Debbie I. Davis.
Arizona State Office
Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building,
230 North First Ave., Suite 206, Phoenix,
AZ 85003–1706, (602) 280–8768, TDD
(602) 280–8706, Carol Torres.
Arkansas State Office
700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock,
AR 72201–3225, (501) 301–3258, TDD
(501) 301–3063, Clinton King.
California State Office
430 G Street, #4169, Davis, CA 95616–
4169, (530) 792–5821, TDD (530) 792–
5848, Debra Moretton.
Colorado State Office
655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood,
CO 80215, (720) 544–2923, TDD (800)
659–2656, Mary Summerfield.
Connecticut
Served by Massachusetts State Office.
Delaware and Maryland State Office
1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover,
DE 19904, (302) 857–3615, TDD (302)
857–3585, Pat Baker.
Florida & Virgin Islands State Office
4440 NW. 25th Place, Gainesville, FL
32606–6563, (352) 338–3465, TDD (352)
338–3499, Elizabeth M. Whitaker.
Georgia State Office
Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock
Avenue, Athens, GA 30601–2768, (706)
546–2164, TDD (706) 546–2034, Wayne
Rogers.
Hawaii State Office
(Services all Hawaii, American Samoa,
Guam, and Western Pacific), Room 311,
Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue
Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933–8300,
TDD (808) 933–8321, Gayle Kuheana.
Idaho State Office
Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID
83709, (208) 378–5628, TDD (208) 378–
5644, Joyce Weinzetl.
Illinois State Office
2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign,
IL 61821–2986, (217) 403–6222, TDD
(217) 403–6240, Barry L. Ramsey.
Indiana State Office
5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN
46278, (317) 290–3100 (ext. 423), TDD
(317) 290–3343, Stephen Dye.
Iowa State Office
210 Walnut Street, Room 873, Des Moines,
IA 50309, (515) 284–4666, TDD (515)
284–4858, Mary Beth Juergens.
Kansas State Office
1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100,
Topeka, KS 66604–4040, (785) 271–2721,
TDD (785) 271–2767, Virginia M.
Hammersmith.
Kentucky State Office
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington,
KY 40503, (859) 224–7325, TDD (859)
224–7422, Beth Moore.
Louisiana State Office
3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA
71302, (318) 473–7962, TDD (318) 473–
7655, Yvonne R. Emerson.
Maine State Office
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967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, P.O. Box 405,
Bangor, ME 04402–0405, (207) 990–
9110, TDD (207) 942–7331, Bob Nadeau.
Maryland
Served by Delaware State Office.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island
State Office
451 West Street, Suite 2, Amherst, MA
01002, (413) 253–4315, TDD (413) 253–
4590, Paul Geoffroy.
Michigan State Office
3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East
Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324–5192, TDD
(517) 337–6795, Ghulam R. Simbal.
Minnesota State Office
375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St.
Paul, MN 55125, (651) 602–7804, TDD
(651) 602–7830, Thomas Osborne.
Mississippi State Office
Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol
Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965–
4325, TDD (601) 965–5850, Darnella
Smith-Murray.
Missouri State Office
601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade
Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203,
(573) 876–9303, TDD (573) 876–9480,
Becky Eftink.
Montana State Office
900 Technology Blvd., Suite B, Bozeman,
MT 59771, (406) 585–2515, TDD (406)
585–2562, Deborah Chorlton.
Nebraska State Office
Federal Building, Room 152, 100
Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508,
(402) 437–5557, TDD (402) 437–5093,
Lanae Brasch.
Nevada State Office
1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV
89703–9910, (775) 887–1222 (ext. 14),
TDD (775) 885–0633, Mona Sargent.
New Hampshire State Office
Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10
Ferry Street, Concord, NH 03301–5004,
(603) 223–6046, TDD (603) 229–0536,
Sandra Hawkins.
New Jersey State Office
5th Floor North, Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic
Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787–
7740, TDD (856) 787–7784, George Hyatt,
Jr.
New Mexico State Office
6200 Jefferson St., NE., Room 255,
Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761–
4944, TDD (505) 761–4938, Carmen N.
Lopez.
New York State Office
The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina
Street, Suite 357, 5th Floor, Syracuse,
NY 13202, (315) 736–3316 (ext. 128),
TDD (315) 477–6447, Tia Shulkin.
North Carolina State Office
4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC
27609, (919) 873–2066, TDD (919) 873–
2003, William A. Hobbs.
North Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East
Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND
58502, (701) 530–2046, TDD (701) 530–
2113, Barry Borstad.
Ohio State Office
Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North
High Street, Columbus, OH 43215–2477,
(614) 255–2409, TDD (614) 255–2554,
Cathy Simmons.
Oklahoma State Office
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100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK
74074–2654, (405) 742–1070, TDD (405)
742–1007, Ivan Graves.
Oregon State Office
101 SW. Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR
97204–3222, (503) 414–3340, TDD (503)
414–3387, Barb Brandon.
Pennsylvania State Office
One Credit Union Place, Suite 330,
Harrisburg, PA 17110–2996, (717) 237–
2282, TDD (717) 237–2261, Martha E.
Hanson.
Puerto Rico State Office
IBM Building, Suite 601, Munoz Rivera
Ave., #654, San Juan, PR 00918, (787)
766–5095 (ext. 249), TDD (787) 766–
5332, Lourdes Colon.
Rhode Island
Served by Massachusetts State Office.
South Carolina State Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835
Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia,
SC 29201, (803) 253–3432, TDD (803)
765–5697, Larry D. Floyd.
South Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth
Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352–
1132, TDD (605) 352–1147, Roger
Hazuka or Pam Reilly.
Tennessee State Office
Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue,
Nashville, TN 37203–1084, (615) 783–
1375, TDD (615) 783–1397, Larry
Kennedy.
Texas State Office
Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South
Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742–
9767, TDD (254) 742–9712, Linda
Sultenfuss.
Utah State Office
Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125
S. State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake
City, UT 84138, (801) 524–4329, TDD
(801) 524–3309, Kristine Dahlberg.
Vermont State Office
City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street,
Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828–6021,
TDD (802) 223–6365, Heidi Setien.
Virgin Islands
Served by Florida State Office.
Virginia State Office
Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa
Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804)
287–1596, TDD (804) 287–1753, CJ
Michels.
Washington State Office
1835 Black Lake Blvd., Suite B, Olympia,
WA 98512, (360) 704–7730, TDD (360)
704–7742, Robert L. Lund.
Western Pacific Territories
Served by Hawaii State Office.
West Virginia
Parkersburg West Virginia County Office,
91 Boyles Lane, Parkersburg, WV 26104,
(304) 422–9070, TDD (304) 284–4836,
Penny Thaxton.
Wisconsin State Office
4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI
54481, (715) 345–7608 (ext. 111), TDD
(715) 345–7614, Peter Kohnen.
Wyoming State Office
P.O. Box 82601, Casper, WY 82602–5006,
(307) 233–6716, TDD (307) 233–6733,
Alan Brooks.
For
general information, applicants may
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, Senior
Loan Specialist, Multi-Family Housing
Processing Division, USDA Rural
Development, Stop 0781, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–0781, telephone
(202) 690–0759 (voice) (this is not a toll
free number) or (800) 877–8339 (TDDFederal Information Relay Service) or
via e-mail at,
Bonnie.Edwards@wdc.usda.gov.
V. Application Review Information
All applications for Section 533 funds
must be filed with the appropriate Rural
Development State Office and must
meet the requirements of this Notice
and 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. Preapplications determined not eligible
and/or not meeting the selection criteria
will be notified by the Rural
Development State Office.
All applicants will file an original and
two copies of Standard Form (SF) 424,
‘‘Application For Federal Assistance,’’
and supporting information with the
appropriate Rural Development State
Office. A pre-application package,
including SF–424, is available in any
Rural Development State Office. All preapplications shall be accompanied by
the following information, which Rural
Development will use to determine the
applicant’s eligibility to undertake the
HPG program and to evaluate the preapplication under the project selection
criteria of § 1944.679 of 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N.
(a) A statement of activities proposed
by the applicant for its HPG program as
appropriate to the type of assistance the
applicant is proposing, including:
(1) A complete discussion of the type
of and conditions for financial
assistance for housing preservation,
including whether the request for
assistance is for a homeowner assistance
program, a rental property assistance
program, or a cooperative assistance
program;
(2) The process for selecting
recipients for HPG assistance,
determining housing preservation needs
of the dwelling, performing the
necessary work, and monitoring/
inspecting work performed;
(3) A description of the process for
identifying potential environmental
impacts in accordance with § 1944.672
of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, and the
provisions for compliance with
Stipulation I, A–G of the Programmatic
Memorandum of Agreement, also
known as PMOA, (RD Instruction 2000–
FF, available in any Rural Development
State Office) in accordance with
§ 1944.673(b) of 7 CFR part 1944,
subpart N;
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(4) The development standard(s) the
applicant will use for the housing
preservation work; and, if not the Rural
Development standards for existing
dwellings, the evidence of its
acceptance by the jurisdiction where the
grant will be implemented;
(5) The time schedule for completing
the program;
(6) The staffing required to complete
the program;
(7) The estimated number of very lowand low-income minority and
nonminority persons the grantee will
assist with HPG funds; and, if a rental
property or cooperative assistance
program, the number of units and the
term of restrictive covenants on their
use for very low- and low-income;
(8) The geographical area(s) to be
served by the HPG program;
(9) The annual estimated budget for
the program period based on the
financial needs to accomplish the
objectives outlined in the proposal. The
budget should include proposed direct
and indirect administrative costs, such
as personnel, fringe benefits, travel,
equipment, supplies, contracts, and
other cost categories, detailing those
costs for which the grantee proposes to
use the HPG grant separately from nonHPG resources, if any. The applicant
budget should also include a schedule
(with amounts) of how the applicant
proposes to draw HPG grant funds, i.e.,
monthly, quarterly, lump sum for
program activities, etc.;
(10) A copy of a indirect cost proposal
as required in 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016,
and 3019, when the applicant has
another source of federal funding in
addition to the Rural Development HPG
program;
(11) A brief description of the
accounting system to be used;
(12) The method of evaluation to be
used by the applicant to determine the
effectiveness of its program which
encompasses the requirements for
quarterly reports to Rural Development
in accordance with § 1944.683(b) of 7
CFR part 1944, subpart N and the
monitoring plan for rental properties
and cooperatives (when applicable)
according to § 1944.689 of 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N;
(13) The source and estimated amount
of other financial resources to be
obtained and used by the applicant for
both HPG activities and housing
development and/or supporting
activities;
(14) The use of program income, if
any, and the tracking system used for
monitoring same;
(15) The applicant’s plan for
disposition of any security instruments
held by them as a result of its HPG
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activities in the event of its loss of legal
status;
(16) Any other information necessary
to explain the proposed HPG program;
and
(17) The outreach efforts outlined in
§ 1944.671(b) of 7 CFR part 1944,
subpart N.
(b) Complete information about the
applicant’s experience and capacity to
carry out the objectives of the proposed
HPG program.
(c) Evidence of the applicant’s legal
existence, including, in the case of a
private nonprofit organization, which
may include, but not be limited to, faithbased and community organizations, a
copy of, or an accurate reference to, the
specific provisions of State law under
which the applicant is organized; a
certified copy of the applicant’s Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws or other
evidence of corporate existence;
certificate of incorporation for other
than public bodies; evidence of good
standing from the State when the
corporation has been in existence 1 year
or more; and the names and addresses
of the applicant’s members, directors
and officers. If other organizations are
members of the applicant-organization,
or the applicant is a consortium, preapplications should be accompanied by
the names, addresses, and principal
purpose of the other organizations. If the
applicant is a consortium,
documentation showing compliance
with paragraph (4)(ii) under the
definition of ‘‘organization’’ in
§ 1944.656 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart
N must also be included.
(d) For a private nonprofit entity,
which may include, but not be limited
to faith-based organizations, the most
recent audited statement and a current
financial statement dated and signed by
an authorized officer of the entity
showing the amounts and specific
nature of assets and liabilities together
with information on the repayment
schedule and status of any debt(s) owed
by the applicant.
(e) A brief narrative statement which
includes information about the area to
be served and the need for improved
housing (including both percentage and
the actual number of both low-income
and low-income minority households
and substandard housing), the need for
the type of housing preservation
assistance being proposed, the
anticipated use of HPG resources for
historic properties, the method of
evaluation to be used by the applicant
in determining the effectiveness of its
efforts.
(f) Applicant must submit an original
and one copy of Form RD 1940–20,
‘‘Request for Environmental
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Information,’’ prepared in accordance
with Exhibit F–1 of RD Instruction
1944–N (available in any Rural
Development State Office).
(g) Applicant must also submit a
description of its process for:
(1) Identifying and rehabilitating
properties listed on or eligible for listing
on the National Register of Historic
Places;
(2) Identifying properties that are
located in a floodplain or wetland;
(3) Identifying properties located
within the Coastal Barrier Resources
System; and
(4) Coordinating with other public
and private organizations and programs
that provide assistance in the
rehabilitation of historic properties
(Stipulation I, D, of the PMOA, RD
Instruction 2000–FF, available in any
Rural Development State Office).
(h) The applicant must also submit
evidence of the State Historic
Preservation Office’s, also known as
SHPO, concurrence in the proposal, or
in the event of nonconcurrence, a copy
of SHPO’s comments together with
evidence that the applicant has received
the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation’s advice as to how the
disagreement might be resolved, and a
copy of any advice provided by the
Council.
(i) The applicant must submit written
statements and related correspondence
reflecting compliance with § 1944.674(a)
and (c) of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N
regarding consultation with local
government leaders in the preparation
of its program and the consultation with
local and state government pursuant to
the provisions of Executive Order
12372.
(j) The applicant is to make its
statement of activities available to the
public for comment prior to submission
to Rural Development pursuant to
§ 1944.674(b) of 7 CFR part 1944,
subpart N. The application must contain
a description of how the comments (if
any were received) were addressed.
(k) The applicant must submit an
original and one copy of Form RD 400–
1, ‘‘Equal Opportunity Agreement,’’ and
Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance
Agreement,’’ in accordance with
§ 1944.676 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart
N.
Applicants should review 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N for a comprehensive list
of all application requirements.
VI. Selection Criteria
The Rural Development State Offices
will utilize the following project
selection criteria for applicants in
accordance with § 1944.679 of 7 CFR
part 1944, subpart N:
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(a) Providing a financially feasible
program of housing preservation
assistance. ‘‘Financially feasible’’ is
defined as proposed assistance which
will be affordable to the intended
recipient or result in affordable housing
for very low- and low-income persons.
(b) Serving eligible rural areas with a
concentration of substandard housing
for households with very low- and lowincome.
(c) Being an eligible applicant as
defined in § 1944.658 of 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N.
(d) Meeting the requirements of
consultation and public comment in
accordance with § 1944.674 of 7 CFR
part 1944, subpart N.
(e) Submitting a complete
preapplication as outlined in § 1944.676
of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
For applicants meeting all of the
requirements listed above, the Rural
Development State Offices will use
weighted criteria in accordance with 7
CFR part 1944, subpart N as selection
for the grant recipients. Each
preapplication and its accompanying
statement of activities will be evaluated
and, based solely on the information
contained in the preapplication, the
applicant’s proposal will be numerically
rated on each criteria within the range
provided. The highest-ranking
applicant(s) will be selected based on
allocation of funds available to the state.
(a) Points are awarded based on the
percentage of very low-income persons
that the applicant proposes to assist,
using the following scale:
(1) More than 80%: 20 points.
(2) 61% to 80%: 15 points.
(3) 41% to 60%: 10 points.
(4) 20% to 40%: 5 points.
(5) Less than 20%: 0 points.
(b) The applicant’s proposal may be
expected to result in the following
percentage of HPG fund use (excluding
administrative costs) to total cost of unit
preservation. This percentage reflects
maximum repair or rehabilitation with
the least possible HPG funds due to
leveraging, innovative financial
assistance, owner’s contribution or other
specified approaches. Points are
awarded based on the following
percentage of HPG funds (excluding
administrative costs) to total funds:
(1) 50% or less: 20 points.
(2) 51% to 65%: 15 points.
(3) 66% to 80%: 10 points.
(4) 81% to 95%: 5 points.
(5) 96% to 100%: 0 points.
(c) The applicant has demonstrated its
administrative capacity in assisting very
low- and low-income persons to obtain
adequate housing based on the
following:
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 34 / Wednesday, February 20, 2008 / Notices
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(1) The organization or a member of
its staff has 2 or more years experience
successfully managing and operating a
rehabilitation or weatherization type
program: 10 points.
(2) The organization or a member of
its staff has 2 or more years experience
successfully managing and operating a
program assisting very low- and lowincome persons obtain housing
assistance: 10 points.
(3) If the organization has
administered grant programs, there are
no outstanding or unresolved audit or
investigative findings which might
impair carrying out the proposal: 10
points.
(d) The proposed program will be
undertaken entirely in rural areas
outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas,
also known as MSAs, identified by
Rural Development as having
populations below 10,000 or in remote
parts of other rural areas (i.e., rural areas
contained in MSAs with less than 5,000
population) as defined in § 1944.656 of
7 CFR part 1944, subpart N: 10 points.
(e) The program will use less than 20
percent of HPG funds for administration
purposes:
(1) More than 20%: Not eligible.
(2) 20%: 0 points.
(3) 19%: 1 point.
(4) 18%: 2 points.
(5) 17%: 3 points.
(6) 16%: 4 points.
(7) 15% or less: 5 points.
(f) The proposed program contains a
component for alleviating overcrowding
as defined in § 1944.656 of 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N: 5 points.
In the event more than one
preapplication receives the same
amount of points, those preapplications
will then be ranked based on the actual
percentage figure used for determining
the points. Further, in the event that
preapplications are still tied, then those
preapplications still tied will be ranked
based on the percentage for HPG fund
use (low to high). Further, for
applications where assistance to rental
properties or cooperatives is proposed,
those still tied will be further ranked
based on the number of years the units
are available for occupancy under the
program (a minimum of 5 years is
required). For this part, ranking will be
based from most to least number of
years.
Finally, if there is still a tie, then a
lottery system will be used.
VII. Non-Discrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex,
marital status, familial status, parental
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:47 Feb 19, 2008
Jkt 214001
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), (202) 720–6382
(TDD). ‘‘USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.’’
Dated: February 8, 2008.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 08–690 Filed 2–19–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting
of the Arizona State 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
Arizona Advisory Committee to the
Commission will convene by conference
call at 2 p.m. Mountain Standard Time
on March 3, 2008. The purpose of the
meeting is to plan future activities.
This meeting is available to the public
through the following toll-free call-in
number: Dialing 1–866–349–3556,
access code: 34933357. 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 landline 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 and access code.
To ensure that the Commission
secures an appropriate number of lines
for the public, persons are asked to
register by contacting Angelica Trevino
at the Commission’s Western Regional
Office, (213) 894–3437, by 3 p.m.,
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9277
Pacific Standard Time, on Friday,
February 29, 2008.
Members of the public are entitled to
submit written comments. The
comments must be received in the
regional office by April 3, 2008. The
address is 300 N. Los Angeles St., Suite
2010, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Comments may be e-mailed to
atrevino@usccr.gov. Records generated
by this meeting may be inspected and
reproduced at the Western 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
Western Regional Office at the above email 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, February 14,
2008.
Christopher Byrnes,
Chief, Regional Programs Coordination Unit.
[FR Doc. E8–3134 Filed 2–19–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign–Trade Zones Board
[Docket 6–2008]
Foreign–Trade Zone 42 Orlando, FL
Application for Expansion of
Manufacturing Authority
Subzone 42A Mitsubishi Power
Systems Americas, Inc.
(Power Generation Turbine
Components)
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign–Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the Greater Orlando Aviation
Authority, grantee of FTZ 42, on behalf
of Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas,
Inc. (MPSA), operator of Subzone 42A at
the MPSA power generation turbine
components repair/ manufacturing plant
in Orlando, Florida, requesting an
expansion of the scope of FTZ
manufacturingauthority to include new
manufacturing capacity and finished
products. The application was
submitted pursuant to the provisions of
the Foreign–Trade Zones Act, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), and
section 400.28(a)(2) of the Board’s
regulations (15 CFR Part 400). It was
formally filed on February 6, 2008.
Subzone 42A was approved in 2002
for the manufacture and repair of large
E:\FR\FM\20FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9273-9277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-690]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 34 / Wednesday, February 20, 2008 /
Notices
[[Page 9273]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Funds Availability for the Section 533 Housing
Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2008
Announcement Type: Initial Notice inviting applications from
qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2008.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA): 10.433.
SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within Rural
Development, announces that it is soliciting competitive applications
under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. The HPG program is
a grant program which provides qualified public agencies, private
nonprofit organizations, which may include, but not be limited to,
faith-based and community organizations, and other eligible entities
grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing
and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the HPG
program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing
complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to
make such units available to low- and very low-income persons. This
action is taken to comply with Agency regulations found in 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N, which require the Agency to announce the opening and
closing dates for receipt of preapplications for HPG funds from
eligible applicants. The intended effect of this Notice is to provide
eligible organizations notice of these dates.
DATES: The closing deadline for receipt of all applications in response
to this Notice is 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State
Office on April 21, 2008. The application closing deadline is firm as
to date and hour. RHS will not consider any application that is
received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail
applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or
before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United
States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery.
Facsimile (FAX) and postage due applications will not be accepted.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
The reporting requirements contained in this Notice have been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number
0575-0115.
Program Administration
I. Funding Opportunities Description
The funding instrument for the HPG Program will be a grant
agreement. The term of the grant can vary from 1 to 2 years, depending
on available funds and demand. No maximum or minimum grant levels have
been established at the National level. You should contact the Rural
Development State Office to determine the allocation.
II. Award Information
For Fiscal Year 2008, $9,593,704 is available for the HPG Program.
The total includes $656,704 in carryover funds. A set-aside of $595,800
has been established for grants located in Empowerment Zones,
Enterprise Communities, and Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones and
other funds will be distributed under a formula allocation to states
pursuant to 7 CFR part 1940, subpart L, ``Methodology and Formulas for
Allocation of Loan and Grant Program Funds.'' Decisions on funding will
be based on pre-applications.
III. Eligibility Information
7 CFR part 1944, subpart N provides details on what information
must be contained in the preapplication package. Entities wishing to
apply for assistance should contact the Rural Development State Office
to receive further information, the State allocation of funds, and
copies of the preapplication package. Eligible entities for these
competitively awarded grants include state and local governments,
nonprofit corporations, which may include, but not be limited to faith-
based and community organizations, Federally recognized Indian tribes,
and consortia of eligible entities.
Federally recognized Indian tribes, pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674, are
exempt from the requirement to consult with local leaders including
announcing the availability of its statement of activities for review
in a newspaper.
As part of the application, all applicants must also provide a Dun
and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. As
required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), all grant
applicants must provide a DUNS number when applying for Federal grants,
on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at
no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at
1-866-705-5711. Additional information concerning this requirement is
provided in a policy directive issued by OMB and published in the
Federal Register on June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402-38405).
To comply with the President's Management Agenda, the Department of
Agriculture is participating as a partner in the new Government-wide
Grants.gov site in FY 2008. Housing Preservation Grants [Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance No. 10.433] is one of the programs included
at this Web site. You may access the electronic grant application for
Housing Preservation Grants at: https://www.grants.gov. If you are an
applicant under the Housing Preservation Grant Program, you may submit
your application to the Agency in either electronic or paper format.
Please be mindful that the application deadline for electronic format
differs from the deadline for paper format. The electronic format
deadline will be based on Eastern Standard Time. The paper format
deadline is local time for each Rural Development State Office.
Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit
the application via the Grants.gov site. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to USDA Rural Development;
however, the Agency encourages your participation in Grants.gov.
The following are useful tips and instructions on how to use the
Web site:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site as well as the hours of operation. USDA Rural Development strongly
recommends that you do not
[[Page 9274]]
wait until the application deadline date to begin the application
process through Grants.gov. To use Grants.gov, applicants must have a
DUNS number.
You may submit all documents electronically through the
Web site, including all information typically included on the
Application for Rural Housing Preservation Grants, and all necessary
assurances and certifications.
Your application must comply with any page limit
requirements described in this Notice.
After you electronically submit your application through
the Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
RHS may request that you provide original signatures on
forms at a later date.
If you experience technical difficulties on the closing
date and are unable to meet the 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
deadline, print out your application and submit it to your State
Office; you must meet the closing date and local time deadline.
Please note that you must locate the downloadable
application package for this program by the CFDA Number or FedGrants
Funding Opportunity Number, which can be found at https://
www.fedgrants.gov.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must make its statement
of activities available to the public for comment. The applicant(s)
must announce the availability of its statement of activities for
review in a newspaper of general circulation in the project area and
allow at least 15 days for public comment. The start of this 15-day
period must occur no later than 16 days prior to the last day for
acceptance of pre-applications by USDA Rural Development.
Applicants must also contact the Rural Development State Office
serving the place in which they desire to submit an application to
receive further information and copies of the application package.
Rural Development will date and time stamp incoming applications to
evidence timely receipt, and, upon request, will provide the applicant
with a written acknowledgment of receipt. A listing of Rural
Development State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and
person to contact follows:
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.
Alabama State Office
Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL
36106-3683, (334) 279-3455, TDD (334) 279-3495, Judith Druckemiller.
Alaska State Office
800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 761-7740,
TDD (907) 761-8905, Debbie I. Davis.
Arizona State Office
Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building, 230 North First Ave.,
Suite 206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8768, TDD (602) 280-
8706, Carol Torres.
Arkansas State Office
700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501)
301-3258, TDD (501) 301-3063, Clinton King.
California State Office
430 G Street, 4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-
5821, TDD (530) 792-5848, Debra Moretton.
Colorado State Office
655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-
2923, TDD (800) 659-2656, Mary Summerfield.
Connecticut
Served by Massachusetts State Office.
Delaware and Maryland State Office
1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-
3615, TDD (302) 857-3585, Pat Baker.
Florida & Virgin Islands State Office
4440 NW. 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606-6563, (352) 338-3465,
TDD (352) 338-3499, Elizabeth M. Whitaker.
Georgia State Office
Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA
30601-2768, (706) 546-2164, TDD (706) 546-2034, Wayne Rogers.
Hawaii State Office
(Services all Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and Western
Pacific), Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo,
HI 96720, (808) 933-8300, TDD (808) 933-8321, Gayle Kuheana.
Idaho State Office
Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5628,
TDD (208) 378-5644, Joyce Weinzetl.
Illinois State Office
2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821-2986, (217)
403-6222, TDD (217) 403-6240, Barry L. Ramsey.
Indiana State Office
5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100
(ext. 423), TDD (317) 290-3343, Stephen Dye.
Iowa State Office
210 Walnut Street, Room 873, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-
4666, TDD (515) 284-4858, Mary Beth Juergens.
Kansas State Office
1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040,
(785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Virginia M. Hammersmith.
Kentucky State Office
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-
7325, TDD (859) 224-7422, Beth Moore.
Louisiana State Office
3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7962,
TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson.
Maine State Office
967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405,
(207) 990-9110, TDD (207) 942-7331, Bob Nadeau.
Maryland
Served by Delaware State Office.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office
451 West Street, Suite 2, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4315, TDD
(413) 253-4590, Paul Geoffroy.
Michigan State Office
3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517)
324-5192, TDD (517) 337-6795, Ghulam R. Simbal.
Minnesota State Office
375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St. Paul, MN 55125,
(651) 602-7804, TDD (651) 602-7830, Thomas Osborne.
Mississippi State Office
Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS
39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965-5850, Darnella Smith-Murray.
Missouri State Office
601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia,
MO 65203, (573) 876-9303, TDD (573) 876-9480, Becky Eftink.
Montana State Office
900 Technology Blvd., Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-
2515, TDD (406) 585-2562, Deborah Chorlton.
Nebraska State Office
Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE
68508, (402) 437-5557, TDD (402) 437-5093, Lanae Brasch.
Nevada State Office
1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-9910, (775) 887-
1222 (ext. 14), TDD (775) 885-0633, Mona Sargent.
New Hampshire State Office
Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10 Ferry Street, Concord, NH
03301-5004, (603) 223-6046, TDD (603) 229-0536, Sandra Hawkins.
New Jersey State Office
5th Floor North, Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ
08054, (856) 787-7740, TDD (856) 787-7784, George Hyatt, Jr.
New Mexico State Office
6200 Jefferson St., NE., Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
761-4944, TDD (505) 761-4938, Carmen N. Lopez.
New York State Office
The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357, 5th
Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 736-3316 (ext. 128), TDD (315) 477-
6447, Tia Shulkin.
North Carolina State Office
4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2066,
TDD (919) 873-2003, William A. Hobbs.
North Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737,
Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 530-2046, TDD (701) 530-2113, Barry
Borstad.
Ohio State Office
Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH
43215-2477, (614) 255-2409, TDD (614) 255-2554, Cathy Simmons.
Oklahoma State Office
[[Page 9275]]
100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1070,
TDD (405) 742-1007, Ivan Graves.
Oregon State Office
101 SW. Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222, (503) 414-
3340, TDD (503) 414-3387, Barb Brandon.
Pennsylvania State Office
One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996,
(717) 237-2282, TDD (717) 237-2261, Martha E. Hanson.
Puerto Rico State Office
IBM Building, Suite 601, Munoz Rivera Ave., 654, San
Juan, PR 00918, (787) 766-5095 (ext. 249), TDD (787) 766-5332,
Lourdes Colon.
Rhode Island
Served by Massachusetts State Office.
South Carolina State Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room
1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 253-3432, TDD (803) 765-5697, Larry
D. Floyd.
South Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street, SW., Huron, SD
57350, (605) 352-1132, TDD (605) 352-1147, Roger Hazuka or Pam
Reilly.
Tennessee State Office
Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615)
783-1375, TDD (615) 783-1397, Larry Kennedy.
Texas State Office
Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501,
(254) 742-9767, TDD (254) 742-9712, Linda Sultenfuss.
Utah State Office
Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 S. State Street, Room
4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, (801) 524-4329, TDD (801) 524-3309,
Kristine Dahlberg.
Vermont State Office
City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602,
(802) 828-6021, TDD (802) 223-6365, Heidi Setien.
Virgin Islands
Served by Florida State Office.
Virginia State Office
Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA
23229, (804) 287-1596, TDD (804) 287-1753, CJ Michels.
Washington State Office
1835 Black Lake Blvd., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-
7730, TDD (360) 704-7742, Robert L. Lund.
Western Pacific Territories
Served by Hawaii State Office.
West Virginia
Parkersburg West Virginia County Office, 91 Boyles Lane,
Parkersburg, WV 26104, (304) 422-9070, TDD (304) 284-4836, Penny
Thaxton.
Wisconsin State Office
4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7608
(ext. 111), TDD (715) 345-7614, Peter Kohnen.
Wyoming State Office
P.O. Box 82601, Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 233-6716, TDD (307)
233-6733, Alan Brooks.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants
may contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-
Family Housing Processing Division, USDA Rural Development, Stop 0781,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781, telephone
(202) 690-0759 (voice) (this is not a toll free number) or (800) 877-
8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service) or via e-mail at,
Bonnie.Edwards@wdc.usda.gov.
V. Application Review Information
All applications for Section 533 funds must be filed with the
appropriate Rural Development State Office and must meet the
requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. Pre-
applications determined not eligible and/or not meeting the selection
criteria will be notified by the Rural Development State Office.
All applicants will file an original and two copies of Standard
Form (SF) 424, ``Application For Federal Assistance,'' and supporting
information with the appropriate Rural Development State Office. A pre-
application package, including SF-424, is available in any Rural
Development State Office. All pre-applications shall be accompanied by
the following information, which Rural Development will use to
determine the applicant's eligibility to undertake the HPG program and
to evaluate the pre-application under the project selection criteria of
Sec. 1944.679 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
(a) A statement of activities proposed by the applicant for its HPG
program as appropriate to the type of assistance the applicant is
proposing, including:
(1) A complete discussion of the type of and conditions for
financial assistance for housing preservation, including whether the
request for assistance is for a homeowner assistance program, a rental
property assistance program, or a cooperative assistance program;
(2) The process for selecting recipients for HPG assistance,
determining housing preservation needs of the dwelling, performing the
necessary work, and monitoring/inspecting work performed;
(3) A description of the process for identifying potential
environmental impacts in accordance with Sec. 1944.672 of 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N, and the provisions for compliance with Stipulation I,
A-G of the Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement, also known as PMOA,
(RD Instruction 2000-FF, available in any Rural Development State
Office) in accordance with Sec. 1944.673(b) of 7 CFR part 1944,
subpart N;
(4) The development standard(s) the applicant will use for the
housing preservation work; and, if not the Rural Development standards
for existing dwellings, the evidence of its acceptance by the
jurisdiction where the grant will be implemented;
(5) The time schedule for completing the program;
(6) The staffing required to complete the program;
(7) The estimated number of very low- and low-income minority and
nonminority persons the grantee will assist with HPG funds; and, if a
rental property or cooperative assistance program, the number of units
and the term of restrictive covenants on their use for very low- and
low-income;
(8) The geographical area(s) to be served by the HPG program;
(9) The annual estimated budget for the program period based on the
financial needs to accomplish the objectives outlined in the proposal.
The budget should include proposed direct and indirect administrative
costs, such as personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies,
contracts, and other cost categories, detailing those costs for which
the grantee proposes to use the HPG grant separately from non-HPG
resources, if any. The applicant budget should also include a schedule
(with amounts) of how the applicant proposes to draw HPG grant funds,
i.e., monthly, quarterly, lump sum for program activities, etc.;
(10) A copy of a indirect cost proposal as required in 7 CFR parts
3015, 3016, and 3019, when the applicant has another source of federal
funding in addition to the Rural Development HPG program;
(11) A brief description of the accounting system to be used;
(12) The method of evaluation to be used by the applicant to
determine the effectiveness of its program which encompasses the
requirements for quarterly reports to Rural Development in accordance
with Sec. 1944.683(b) of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N and the monitoring
plan for rental properties and cooperatives (when applicable) according
to Sec. 1944.689 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N;
(13) The source and estimated amount of other financial resources
to be obtained and used by the applicant for both HPG activities and
housing development and/or supporting activities;
(14) The use of program income, if any, and the tracking system
used for monitoring same;
(15) The applicant's plan for disposition of any security
instruments held by them as a result of its HPG
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activities in the event of its loss of legal status;
(16) Any other information necessary to explain the proposed HPG
program; and
(17) The outreach efforts outlined in Sec. 1944.671(b) of 7 CFR
part 1944, subpart N.
(b) Complete information about the applicant's experience and
capacity to carry out the objectives of the proposed HPG program.
(c) Evidence of the applicant's legal existence, including, in the
case of a private nonprofit organization, which may include, but not be
limited to, faith-based and community organizations, a copy of, or an
accurate reference to, the specific provisions of State law under which
the applicant is organized; a certified copy of the applicant's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or other evidence of corporate
existence; certificate of incorporation for other than public bodies;
evidence of good standing from the State when the corporation has been
in existence 1 year or more; and the names and addresses of the
applicant's members, directors and officers. If other organizations are
members of the applicant-organization, or the applicant is a
consortium, pre-applications should be accompanied by the names,
addresses, and principal purpose of the other organizations. If the
applicant is a consortium, documentation showing compliance with
paragraph (4)(ii) under the definition of ``organization'' in Sec.
1944.656 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N must also be included.
(d) For a private nonprofit entity, which may include, but not be
limited to faith-based organizations, the most recent audited statement
and a current financial statement dated and signed by an authorized
officer of the entity showing the amounts and specific nature of assets
and liabilities together with information on the repayment schedule and
status of any debt(s) owed by the applicant.
(e) A brief narrative statement which includes information about
the area to be served and the need for improved housing (including both
percentage and the actual number of both low-income and low-income
minority households and substandard housing), the need for the type of
housing preservation assistance being proposed, the anticipated use of
HPG resources for historic properties, the method of evaluation to be
used by the applicant in determining the effectiveness of its efforts.
(f) Applicant must submit an original and one copy of Form RD 1940-
20, ``Request for Environmental Information,'' prepared in accordance
with Exhibit F-1 of RD Instruction 1944-N (available in any Rural
Development State Office).
(g) Applicant must also submit a description of its process for:
(1) Identifying and rehabilitating properties listed on or eligible
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places;
(2) Identifying properties that are located in a floodplain or
wetland;
(3) Identifying properties located within the Coastal Barrier
Resources System; and
(4) Coordinating with other public and private organizations and
programs that provide assistance in the rehabilitation of historic
properties (Stipulation I, D, of the PMOA, RD Instruction 2000-FF,
available in any Rural Development State Office).
(h) The applicant must also submit evidence of the State Historic
Preservation Office's, also known as SHPO, concurrence in the proposal,
or in the event of nonconcurrence, a copy of SHPO's comments together
with evidence that the applicant has received the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation's advice as to how the disagreement might be
resolved, and a copy of any advice provided by the Council.
(i) The applicant must submit written statements and related
correspondence reflecting compliance with Sec. 1944.674(a) and (c) of
7 CFR part 1944, subpart N regarding consultation with local government
leaders in the preparation of its program and the consultation with
local and state government pursuant to the provisions of Executive
Order 12372.
(j) The applicant is to make its statement of activities available
to the public for comment prior to submission to Rural Development
pursuant to Sec. 1944.674(b) of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. The
application must contain a description of how the comments (if any were
received) were addressed.
(k) The applicant must submit an original and one copy of Form RD
400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement,'' and Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance
Agreement,'' in accordance with Sec. 1944.676 of 7 CFR part 1944,
subpart N.
Applicants should review 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N for a
comprehensive list of all application requirements.
VI. Selection Criteria
The Rural Development State Offices will utilize the following
project selection criteria for applicants in accordance with Sec.
1944.679 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N:
(a) Providing a financially feasible program of housing
preservation assistance. ``Financially feasible'' is defined as
proposed assistance which will be affordable to the intended recipient
or result in affordable housing for very low- and low-income persons.
(b) Serving eligible rural areas with a concentration of
substandard housing for households with very low- and low-income.
(c) Being an eligible applicant as defined in Sec. 1944.658 of 7
CFR part 1944, subpart N.
(d) Meeting the requirements of consultation and public comment in
accordance with Sec. 1944.674 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
(e) Submitting a complete preapplication as outlined in Sec.
1944.676 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
For applicants meeting all of the requirements listed above, the
Rural Development State Offices will use weighted criteria in
accordance with 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N as selection for the grant
recipients. Each preapplication and its accompanying statement of
activities will be evaluated and, based solely on the information
contained in the preapplication, the applicant's proposal will be
numerically rated on each criteria within the range provided. The
highest-ranking applicant(s) will be selected based on allocation of
funds available to the state.
(a) Points are awarded based on the percentage of very low-income
persons that the applicant proposes to assist, using the following
scale:
(1) More than 80%: 20 points.
(2) 61% to 80%: 15 points.
(3) 41% to 60%: 10 points.
(4) 20% to 40%: 5 points.
(5) Less than 20%: 0 points.
(b) The applicant's proposal may be expected to result in the
following percentage of HPG fund use (excluding administrative costs)
to total cost of unit preservation. This percentage reflects maximum
repair or rehabilitation with the least possible HPG funds due to
leveraging, innovative financial assistance, owner's contribution or
other specified approaches. Points are awarded based on the following
percentage of HPG funds (excluding administrative costs) to total
funds:
(1) 50% or less: 20 points.
(2) 51% to 65%: 15 points.
(3) 66% to 80%: 10 points.
(4) 81% to 95%: 5 points.
(5) 96% to 100%: 0 points.
(c) The applicant has demonstrated its administrative capacity in
assisting very low- and low-income persons to obtain adequate housing
based on the following:
[[Page 9277]]
(1) The organization or a member of its staff has 2 or more years
experience successfully managing and operating a rehabilitation or
weatherization type program: 10 points.
(2) The organization or a member of its staff has 2 or more years
experience successfully managing and operating a program assisting very
low- and low-income persons obtain housing assistance: 10 points.
(3) If the organization has administered grant programs, there are
no outstanding or unresolved audit or investigative findings which
might impair carrying out the proposal: 10 points.
(d) The proposed program will be undertaken entirely in rural areas
outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas, also known as MSAs, identified
by Rural Development as having populations below 10,000 or in remote
parts of other rural areas (i.e., rural areas contained in MSAs with
less than 5,000 population) as defined in Sec. 1944.656 of 7 CFR part
1944, subpart N: 10 points.
(e) The program will use less than 20 percent of HPG funds for
administration purposes:
(1) More than 20%: Not eligible.
(2) 20%: 0 points.
(3) 19%: 1 point.
(4) 18%: 2 points.
(5) 17%: 3 points.
(6) 16%: 4 points.
(7) 15% or less: 5 points.
(f) The proposed program contains a component for alleviating
overcrowding as defined in Sec. 1944.656 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart
N: 5 points.
In the event more than one preapplication receives the same amount
of points, those preapplications will then be ranked based on the
actual percentage figure used for determining the points. Further, in
the event that preapplications are still tied, then those
preapplications still tied will be ranked based on the percentage for
HPG fund use (low to high). Further, for applications where assistance
to rental properties or cooperatives is proposed, those still tied will
be further ranked based on the number of years the units are available
for occupancy under the program (a minimum of 5 years is required). For
this part, ranking will be based from most to least number of years.
Finally, if there is still a tie, then a lottery system will be
used.
VII. Non-Discrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital 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), (202) 720-
6382 (TDD). ``USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and
lender.''
Dated: February 8, 2008.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 08-690 Filed 2-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
