Notice of Funds Availability for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2014, 33495-33505 [2014-13631]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Housing Service

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33495-33505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13631]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Funds Availability for Section 533 Housing Preservation 
Grants for Fiscal Year 2014

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces that the Rural Housing Service (``RHS'') 
is soliciting competitive applications under its Housing Preservation 
Grant (HPG) program pursuant to 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2014. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, Public Law 
113-76 (January 17, 2014) appropriated funding in FY 2014 for grants 
made by RHS for low- and very low-income housing repair and rural 
housing preservation, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474, and 1490m. The 
commitment of program dollars will be made in the order qualified 
applications are ranked under this notice.

DATES: If submitting a paper pre-application, the closing deadline for 
receipt of all applications in response to this Notice is 5:00 p.m., 
local time for each Rural Development State Office on July 28, 2014. 
The application should be submitted to the Rural Development State 
Office where the project will be located. If submitting the pre-
application in electronic format, the closing deadline for receipt is 
5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 28, 2014. RHS will not consider 
any pre-application that is received after the closing deadline. 
Applicants intending to mail pre-applications must provide sufficient 
time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline. Acceptance 
by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not 
constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) and postage due applications will 
not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Pre-applications can be sent to the State Office addresses. 
Please use the Web link provided, https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, applicants 
may contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, Finance and Loan Analyst, Multi-
Family Housing Preservation and Direct Loan 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 email at, Bonnie.Edwards@wdc.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Program Description

    The HPG program is a grant program which provides qualified public 
agencies, private non-profit organizations including, but not limited 
to, faith-based and community organizations, and other eligible 
entities, grant funds to assist low- and very 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 rural areas in repairing and rehabilitating their units if 
they agree to make such units available to low- and very low-income 
persons.

B. Federal Award Information

    The funding instrument for the HPG Program will be a grant 
agreement. The term of the grant can vary from one to two 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 where the project will be located to 
determine the state allocation.
    For Fiscal Year 2014, $3,905,553.50 is available for the HPG 
Program. 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-
application scores. Anyone interested in submitting an application for 
funding under this program is encouraged to consult the Rural 
Development Web site periodically for updated information regarding the 
status of funding authorized for this program.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    7 CFR part 1944, subpart N provides details on what information 
must be contained in the pre-application package. Entities wishing to 
apply for assistance should contact the Rural Development State Office 
where the project will be located to receive further information, the 
State allocation of funds, and copies of the pre-application package. 
Eligible entities for these competitively awarded grants include state 
and local governments, non-profit corporations including, but not be 
limited to faith-based and community organizations, Federally 
recognized Indian tribes, and consortia of eligible entities.
    Pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674, federally recognized Indian tribes are 
exempt from the requirement to consult with local leaders, including 
the requirement of announcing the availability of its statement of 
activities for review in a newspaper.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.652, grantees are expected to coordinate and 
leverage funding for repair and rehabilitation activities, as well as 
replacement housing, with housing and community development 
organizations or activities operating in the same geographic area. 
While HPG funds may be leveraged with other resources, it is not a 
requirement that the HPG applicant do so as the HPG applicant would not 
be denied an award of HPG funds if all other project selection criteria 
have been met.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Pre-application packages can be requested from the State Offices. 
Please use the Web link provided, https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    All pre-applications must meet the requirements of 7 CFR part 1944, 
subpart N, as well as comply with the provisions of this Notice. Pre-
applications can be submitted either electronically using the Section 
533 pre-application form as found at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-HPG_Grants.html or by hard copy to the appropriate Rural Development 
State Office where the project will be located. A hard-copy of the 
electronic pre-application form is included with this Notice. Note: 
Submission of the

[[Page 33496]]

electronic Section 533 pre-application form does not constitute 
submission of the entire pre-application package which requires 
additional forms and supporting documentation as listed in Section E of 
this Notice. Although applicants are encouraged to submit the pre-
application form electronically, the complete package in its entirety 
must still be submitted to the local Rural Development State Office 
where the project will be located.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is participating as a partner 
in the Government-wide Grants.gov site. Electronic applications must be 
submitted through the Grants.gov Web site at: https://www.grants.gov, 
following the instructions found on the Web site. Please be mindful 
that the deadline for the application for electronic format differs 
from the deadline for paper format. The electronic format deadline will 
be based on Eastern Daylight Time. The paper format deadline is local 
time for each Rural Development State Office.
    In addition to the electronic application at the https://www.grants.gov Web site, all applicants must complete and submit the 
Fiscal Year 2014 pre-application for Section 533 HPG, a copy of which 
is included with this Notice. Applicants are encouraged to submit this 
pre-application form electronically by accessing the Web site: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-HPG_Grants.html and clicking on the link for 
``Fiscal Year 2014 Pre-application for Section 533 Housing Preservation 
Grants (HPG).''
    Applicants are encouraged but not required, to also provide an 
electronic copy of all hard copy forms and documents submitted in the 
pre-application/application package as requested by this Notice. The 
forms and documents must be submitted as read-only Adobe Acrobat PDF 
files on an electronic media such as CDs, DVDs or USB drives. For each 
electronic device that you submit, you must include a Table of Contents 
listing all of the documents and forms on that device. The electronic 
medium must be submitted to the local Rural Development State Office 
where the project will be located.

    Please Note:  If you receive a loan or grant award under this 
Notice, USDA reserves the right to post all information that is not 
protected by the Privacy Act submitted as part of the pre-
application/application package on a public Web site with free and 
open access to any member of the public.

3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for 
Award Management

    Please note that all applicants must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet 
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and register, and 
maintain such registration, in the Central Contractor Registration 
(CCR) prior to submitting a pre-application pursuant to 2 CFR part 25. 
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 
(866) 705-5711 or by accessing https://www.dnb.com/us/. 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). Similarly, applicants may register for 
the CCR at https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/ or by calling 
(877) 252-2700.
    In addition, an entity applicant must maintain registration of the 
CCR database at all times during which it has an active Federal award 
or an application or plan of construction by the Agency. Similarly all 
recipients of Federal Financial assistance are required to report 
information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation in 
accordance with 2 CFR part 170. So long as an entity applicant does not 
have exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b), the applicant must have 
necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting 
requirements should the applicant receive funding; see 2 CFR 
170.200(b).

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Hard copy pre-applications that are submitted to a Rural 
Development State Office will be date and time stamped to evidence 
timely or untimely receipt, and upon request, Rural Development will 
provide the applicant with a written acknowledgement of receipt. A list 
of Rural Development State Office contacts may be found in the Section 
VIII, Agency Contacts, of this Notice. Incomplete pre-applications will 
be returned to the applicant. No pre-application will be accepted after 
the closing deadline in the ``Dates'' section of this notice unless 
that date and time is extended by a Notice published in the Federal 
Register.

5. Intergovernmental Review

    The HPG Program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and 
local officials.

6. Funding Restrictions

    The HPG Program funds are to be utilized only for their original 
award purpose. HPG Program grant funds cannot be transferred to fund 
other HPG projects. In instances whereby HPG Program funds cannot be 
used for their original award purpose, the unused funds will be 
refunded to the United States Department of the Treasury.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    In accordance with 7 CFR 1944.679 applicants and proposed projects 
must meet the following criteria:
    (a) Provide 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) Serve eligible rural areas with a concentration of substandard 
housing for households with very low- or low-income.
    (c) Be an eligible applicant as defined in 7 CFR 1944.658.
    (d) Meet the requirements of consultation and public comment in 
accordance with 7 CFR 1944.674.
    (e) Submit a complete pre-application as outlined in 7 CFR 
1944.676.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Unless otherwise noted herein, applicants wishing to apply for 
assistance must make their 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 Rural 
Development.
    All applications for Section 533 funds must be filed electronically 
or with the appropriate Rural Development State Office and must meet 
the requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. 
Applicants whose pre-applications are determined not eligible and/or 
not meeting the selection criteria will be notified by the Rural 
Development State Office. All adverse determinations are appealable 
pursuant to 7 CFR part 11. Instructions on the appeal process will be 
provided at the time the applicant is notified of the adverse decision.

[[Page 33497]]

    If submitting a paper application, 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. In addition, the 
pre-application form included with this Notice must be submitted either 
electronically or in hard copy form with all supporting documentation.
    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 7 CFR 
1944.679. Please note that references to private non-profit 
organizations include, but are not limited to faith and community-based 
organizations. The information to be submitted with the pre-application 
includes:
    (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 7 CFR 1944.672, 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 or at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/2000ff.pdf) in accordance with 7 
CFR 1944.673(b);
    (4) The development standard(s) the applicant will use for the 
housing preservation work; and, if the applicant will use 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 
non-minority 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 persons;
    (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 an indirect cost proposal as required in 7 CFR parts 
3015, 3016, and 3019, as applicable, 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 7 CFR 1944.683(b), frequency of audits according to 7 CFR 
1944.688(e), 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3016, and the monitoring plan for 
rental properties and cooperatives (when applicable) according to 7 CFR 
1944.689;
    (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 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 7 CFR 1944.671(b).
    (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, a copy of, or an 
accurate reference to, the specific provisions of State (or Tribal) 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 
applicants that are not public bodies; evidence of good standing from 
the State (or Tribe) 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 7 CFR 1944.656 must also be 
included.
    (d) For a private non-profit entity, the most recently 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 very 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) A statement containing the component for alleviating any 
overcrowding as defined by 7 CFR 1944.656.
    (g) 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 or at https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD1940-20.PDF).
    (h) Applicant must also submit a description of its process for:

[[Page 33498]]

    (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 or at: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/2000ff.pdf.
    (i) The applicant must also submit evidence of the State Historic 
Preservation Office's (SHPO), or where appropriate the Tribal Historic 
Preservation Office's (THPO) concurrence in the proposal, or in the 
event of nonconcurrence, a copy of SHPO's or THPO's comments together 
with evidence that the applicant has received the Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation's (Council) advice as to how the disagreement 
might be resolved, and a copy of any advice provided by the Council.
    (j) The applicant must submit written statements and related 
correspondence reflecting compliance with 7 CFR 1944.674(a) and (c) 
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.
    (k) The applicant is to make its statement of activities available 
to the public for comment prior to submission to Rural Development 
pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674(b). The application must contain a 
description of how the comments (if any were received) were addressed.
    (l) 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 7 CFR 1944.676. These forms can be 
obtained at any state office or at https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD400-1.PDF and https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD400-4.PDF.
    Applicants should review 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N for a 
comprehensive list of all application requirements.

3. Scoring

    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 to select the grant 
recipients. Each pre-application and its accompanying statement of 
activities will be evaluated and, based solely on the information 
contained in the pre-application; the applicant's proposal will be 
numerically rated on each selection criteria within the point range 
provided. The highest-ranking applicant(s) will be selected based on 
allocation of funds available to the State.
    (a) Points that 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) Whether the applicant's proposal is expected to result in the 
following percentage of HPG fund use (excluding administrative costs) 
in comparison to the total cost of unit preservation. This percentage 
reflects maximum repair or rehabilitation results 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) Whether the applicant has demonstrated its administrative 
capacity in assisting very low- and low-income persons to obtain 
adequate housing based on the following (30 points maximum):
    (1) The organization or a member of its staff has at least one 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 at least one 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) Whether the proposed program will be undertaken entirely in a 
rural area defined by section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 1490) as, ``any open country, or any place, town, 
village, or city which is not (except in the cases of Pajaro, in the 
State of California, and Guadalupe, in the State of Arizona) part of or 
associated with an urban area and which (1) has a population not in 
excess of 2,500 inhabitants, or (2) has a population in excess of 2,500 
but not in excess of 10,000 if it is rural in character, or (3) has a 
population in excess of 10,000 but not in excess of 20,000, and (A) is 
not contained within a standard metropolitan statistical area, and (B) 
has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income 
families, as determined by the Secretary and the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development. For purposes of this [Notice], any area 
classified as `rural' or a `rural area' prior to October 1, 1990, and 
determined not to be `rural' or a `rural area' as a result of data 
received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 decennial census, and 
any area deemed to be a `rural area' for purposes of this subchapter 
under any other provision of law at any time during the period 
beginning January 1, 2000, and ending December 31, 2010, shall continue 
to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census 
in the year 2020, if such area has a population in excess in 10,000 but 
not in excess of 35,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack 
of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this [Notice], the city of 
Plainview, Texas, shall be considered a rural area for purposes of this 
[Notice], and the city of Altus, Oklahoma, shall be considered a rural 
area for purposes of this [Notice] until the receipt of data from the 
decennial census in the year 2000'': 10 points.
    (e) Whether 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) Whether the proposed program contains a component for 
alleviating overcrowding as defined in 7 CFR 1944.656: 5 points.
    (g) In the event more than one pre-application receives the same 
amount of points, those pre-applications will then be ranked based on 
the actual percentage of very-low income persons that the applicant 
proposes to assist. Further, in the event that

[[Page 33499]]

preapplications are still tied, then those preapplications still tied 
will be ranked based on the percentage of 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 five years is required). For these purposes, 
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. After the award selections are made, all applicants will be 
notified of the status of their applications by mail.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

    The Agency will notify, in writing, applicants whose pre-
applications have been selected for funding. If the Agency determines 
it is unable to select the application for funding, the applicant will 
be so informed in writing. Such notification will include the reasons 
the applicant was not selected.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The Agency will advise applicants, whose pre-applications did not 
meet eligibility and/or selection criteria, of their review rights or 
appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.682.

3. Reporting

    Reporting requirements can be found in the Grant Agreement.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

1. Points of Contacts

    Applicants must contact the Rural Development State Office serving 
the state 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 or untimely 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 
persons to contact follows:

    Note:  Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.

Alabama State Office, Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, 
Montgomery, Alabama 36106-3683, (334) 279-3456, TDD (800) 877-8339, 
Melinda George
Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, Alaska 
99645, (907) 761-7725, TDD (907) 761-7786, Cathy Milazzo
Arizona State Office, Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building, 230 
North First Avenue, Suite 206, Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1706, (602) 280-
8768, TDD (602) 280-8705, Justin Hilary
Arkansas State Office, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room 3416, Little Rock, 
Arkansas 72201-3225, (501) 301-3258, TDD (501) 301-3279, Clinton King
California State Office, 430 G Street, 4169, Davis, California 
95616-4169, (530) 885-6505, TDD (530) 792-5848, Debra Moretton
Colorado State Office, Denver Federal Center, Building 56, Room 2300, 
P. O. Box 25426, Denver, Colorado 80225-0426, (720) 544-2923, TDD (800) 
659-3656, Mary Summerfield
Connecticut, Served by Massachusetts State Office, Delaware and 
Maryland State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, 
Delaware 19904, (302) 857-3615, TDD (302) 857-3585, Tonya D. Craven
Florida and Virgin Islands State Office, 4440 NW. 25th Place, 
Gainesville, Florida 32606-6563, (352) 338-3438, TDD (352) 338-3499, 
Theresa Purnell
Georgia State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 East Hancock 
Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601-2768, (706) 546-2164, TDD (706) 546-2034, 
Revonda Pearson and Jennifer Daughtery
Hawaii State Office, (Services all Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and 
Western Pacific), Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, 
Hilo, Hawaii 96720, (808) 933-8303, TDD (808) 933-8321, Nathan Riedel
Idaho State Office, Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Boise, Idaho 
83709, (208) 327-6466, TDD (800) 877-8339, Yvette Caraveau
Illinois State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, 
Illinois 61821-2986, (217) 403-6225, TDD (217) 403-6240, Brenda Barr
Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, Indiana 
46278, (317) 290-3100, ext. 423, TDD (317) 295-5799, Michael Boards
Iowa State Office, 210 Walnut Street Room 873, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, 
(515) 284-4487, TDD (515) 284-4858, Mary Beth Juergens
Kansas State Office, 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, 
Kansas 66604-4040, (785) 271-2700, TDD (785) 271-2767, Mike Resnik
Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, 
Kentucky 40503, (859) 224-7357, TDD (859) 224-7422, Paul Higgins
Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 
71302, (318) 473-7962, TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson
Maine State Office, Post Office Box 405, Bangor, Maine 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, Massachusetts 01002, (413) 253-4312, TDD (413) 
253-4590, Julie Hanieski
Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, 
Michigan 48823, (517) 324-5194, TDD (517) 324-5169, Julie Putnam
Minnesota State Office, 375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St. 
Paul, Minnesota 55125, (763) 689-3354 x 4, TDD (651) 602-7830, Linda 
Swanson
Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 West Capitol 
Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965-5717, 
Darnella Smith-Murray
Missouri State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 
235, Columbia, Missouri 65203, (573) 876-0976, TDD (573) 876-9480, 
Nancy Long
Montana State Office, 2229 Boot Hill Court, Bozeman, Montana 59715, 
(406) 585-2559, TDD (800) 253-4091, Sandi Messenger
Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, Suite 308, 100 Centennial Mall 
North, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, (402) 437-5035, TDD (402) 437-5093, 
Sharon Kluck
Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, Nevada 
89703-9910, (775) 887-1222, ext. 106, TDD 711 Relay (775) 887-1222, 
Mona Sargent
New Hampshire State Office, Concord Center, 10 Ferry Street, Suite 218, 
Concord, New Hampshire 03301, (603) 223-6049, TDD (603) 223-6083, 
Daphne Fenney
New Jersey State Office, 5th Floor North, Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic 
Drive, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054, (856) 787-7773, TDD (856) 787-
7784, Derrick S. Waltz
New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room 255, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, (505) 761-4940, TDD (800) 877-8339, 
Cynthia Jackson
New York State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 South Salina 
Street, Suite 357 5th Floor, Syracuse, New York 13202, (315) 477-6418, 
TDD (315) 477-6447, Erin Farley

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North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, North 
Carolina 27609, (919) 873-2062, TDD 711 Relay (919) 873-2061, Rebecca 
Dillard
North Dakota State Office, 2493 4th Avenue West, Room B, Dickinson, 
North Dakota 58601, (701) 225-9168, ext. 4, TDD (800) 366-6888, Steve 
Lervik
Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, 
Columbus, Ohio 43215-2477, (614) 255-2409, TDD (800) 877-8339, Cathy 
Simmons
Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-
2654, (580) 237-4321, TDD (405) 742-1007, Lesley Worthan
Oregon State Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 801, Portland, 
Oregon 97232-1274, (503) 414-3353, TDD (503)414-3387, Rod Hansen
Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-2996, (717) 237-2282, TDD (717) 237-
2261, Martha Hanson
Puerto Rico State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, Munoz Rivera Ave. 
654, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, (787) 766-5095, ext. 163, 
TDD (787) 766-5332, Raul Cepeda
Rhode Island, Served by Massachusetts State Office, South Carolina 
State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, 
Room 1007, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, (803) 253-3244, TDD (803) 
765-5697, Rosemary Hickman
South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth 
Street, SW, Huron, South Dakota 57350, (605) 352-1132, TDD (605) 352-
1147, Linda Weber
Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, 
Tennessee 37203-1084, (615) 783-1300, TDD (615) 783-1397, Abby Boggs
Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, 
Temple, Texas 76501, (254) 742-9772, TDD (800) 877-8339, Ana Placencia
Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 South State 
Street, Room 301, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138, (801) 524-4308, TDD 711 
Relay (801) 524-4308, Janice Kocher
Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, 
Montpelier, Vermont 05602, (802) 828-6028, TDD (802) 223-6365, Tammy 
Surprise
Virgin Islands, Served by Florida State Office
Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa 
Road, Richmond, Virginia 23229, (804) 287-1596, TDD (804) 287-1753, CJ 
Michels
Washington State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard, Suite B, Olympia, 
Washington 98512, (360) 704-7706, TDD (800) 833-6384, Bill Kirkwood
Western Pacific Territories, Served by Hawaii State Office
West Virginia, 530 Freedom Road, Ripley, West Virginia 25271-9794, 
(304) 372-3441, ext. 105, TDD (304) 284-4836, Penny Thaxton
Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 
54481, (715) 345-7620, TDD (715) 345-7614, Dave Schwobe or Julie Czappa
Wyoming State Office, Post Office Box 82601, Casper, Wyoming 82602-
5006, (307) 233-6733, TDD (800) 877-9965, Laura Koenig

Non-Discrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the 
bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender 
identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, 
marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all 
or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any 
program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all 
prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment 
activities.)
    If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form 
(PDF), found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the 
form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information 
requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to 
us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, 
by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
    Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech 
disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint 
please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 
or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
    Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program complaint, 
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or 
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: June 5, 2014.
Tony J. Hernandez,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P

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[FR Doc. 2014-13631 Filed 6-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-C