Rural Business Center Program, 74403-74404 [2021-28331]

Download as PDF 74403 Notices Federal Register Vol. 86, No. 248 Thursday, December 30, 2021 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. CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD Sunshine Act Meeting January 26, 2022, 2:00 p.m. EDT (1.5 hours) PLACE: The meeting will be held virtually via ZOOM. The access information will be provided by email to registrants. Registration is required via the below link: https:// www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/ vJItdeitrj4uEiWH1mi6iKGmGrWpDP2YWA. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. STATUS: Open to the public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will convene a public meeting on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. This meeting serves to fulfill its quarterly January public meeting requirement. The Board will review the CSB’s progress in meeting its mission and highlight safety products newly released through investigations and safety recommendations. TIME AND DATE: CONTACT PERSON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Hillary Cohen, khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Communications Manager, at public@ csb.gov or (202) 446–8094. Further information about this public meeting can be found on the CSB website at: www.csb.gov. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Background The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency’s Board Members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents and hazards, including physical causes such VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Dec 29, 2021 Jkt 256001 as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. Public Participation The meeting is free and open to the public. This meeting will only be available via ZOOM. Close captions (CC) will be provided. To submit public comments for the record please email us at public@ csb.gov. Public comments sent in advance may be addressed at the meeting. Dated: December 28, 2021. Tamara Qureshi, Assistant General Counsel, Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. [FR Doc. 2021–28464 Filed 12–28–21; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6350–01–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Minority Business Development Agency Rural Business Center Program Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of request for public comments. AGENCY: On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included statutory authority within the Minority Business Development Act (the Act) for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish a Rural Business Center Program. MBDA is seeking public comment on various issues related to rural areas and rural minority business enterprises to inform the agency and provide fundamental information regarding this sector of the economy. This notice requests comments on or before January 25, 2022. SUMMARY: The deadline for filing comments is January 25, 2022. ADDRESSES: All comments should be submitted in electronic form to mbdapublicaffairs@mbda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danae Pauli, Senior Advisor to the National Director, MBDA, U.S. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Department of Commerce, by email at dpauli@mbda.gov, or at (202) 482–2332. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, leads Federal Government efforts to promote the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises (MBEs). The Minority Business Development Act (the Act) authorized MBDA to establish a rural business center program to serve rural minority business enterprises or minority business enterprises located more than 50 miles from an MBDA Business Center (other than an MBDA Rural Business Center) and provide education and training, legal, financial, and technical assistance to minority business enterprises. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117–58, division K, title III, sections 100301 and 100302 (November 15, 2021). Rural area is defined in the MBDA Act pursuant to section 371(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1991(a). The Act designated minority-serving institutions (as defined in section 371(a)(1) through (7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)) as the entities that are eligible to receive grants to operate a rural business center. MBDA has initiated the process of conducting research and collecting information to design the new program that meets the business development needs of MBEs located in rural areas across the United States. Comments may be used to help MBDA decide policy related to the areas of focus, geographical location and distribution, and additional areas of service for the rural business center program. As part of this process, MBDA is seeking comments from members of the public, including but not limited to operators of rural businesses and persons with expertise and information, to provide the following information related to minority businesses in rural areas: 1. Describe the types of business operations in rural areas. 2. What are the financial, operational, and logistical needs of rural business enterprises? 3. Are there unique challenges faced by MBEs located in rural and remote areas of the U.S.? If so, describe. 4. What are the best methods to provide education, training, legal, E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 74404 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 248 / Thursday, December 30, 2021 / Notices financial, and technical assistance to MBEs in rural areas? 5. Are there examples or success stories from organizations that provide services to MBEs in rural areas? 6. How should MBDA measure success for rural business centers? 7. What specific performance metrics should MBDA consider for rural business centers that would measure service to rural businesses? 8. What factors should be measured to demonstrate elements of success from the perspective of organizations that support, or customers served by rural businesses? 9. What is the most effective role for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to foster the establishment and growth of MBEs in rural America and how should that impact be measured? 10. How many MSIs have degree and/ or academic programs focused on business-related topics (e.g., entrepreneurship, supply chains, advanced manufacturing/ manufacturing, innovation, etc.) or offer business accelerator programs and/or business incubators? Provide names and locations of MSIs that have these programs. 11. What is the most effective way for MSIs to collaborate with communitybased organizations? Please provide examples. In addition, MBDA is seeking public comment regarding the focal points for the rural business centers as directed by the section 100302(c) of the MBDA Act: (i) The adoption of broadband internet access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy skills, and ecommerce by rural minority business enterprises; (ii) advanced manufacturing; (iii) the promotion of manufacturing in the United States; (iv) ways in which rural minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services for the United States; (v) improving the connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through transportation and logistics; (vi) promoting trade and export opportunities by rural minority business enterprises; (vii) securing financial capital; (viii) facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas; and (ix) creating jobs in rural areas. All comments must be submitted in electronic form (Word or other consistent software program) to the comment mailbox listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Comments should include the name or organization represented, contact information for the commenter, and the specific issue or VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Dec 29, 2021 Jkt 256001 subject addressed in accordance with this notice and the provisions of the MBDA Act, Rural Business Center Program section. Josephine Arnold, Chief Counsel, Minority Business Development Agency. [FR Doc. 2021–28331 Filed 12–29–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–21–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB590] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Exempted Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the REEF Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). If granted, the EFP would authorize the deployment of noncontainment and spiny lobster traps in the Federal waters of the South Atlantic by research and contracted commercial vessels to target lionfish. The project would seek to determine the effectiveness of these traps for attracting and collecting invasive lionfish while avoiding impacts to non-target species and habitats. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 14, 2022. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application, identified by ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2021–0119’’ by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2021–0119’’ in the Search box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Kelli O’Donnell, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. • Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Electronic copies of the application and programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ lionfish-traps-exempted-fishing-permitapplications. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O’Donnell, 727–824–5305; email: kelli.odonnell@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C 1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted fishing. Lionfish is an invasive marine species that occurs in both the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic. The harvest of lionfish in the Federal waters of the Gulf and South Atlantic is not currently managed by NMFS. The EFP application submitted to NMFS involves the use of prohibited gear in Federal waters. Federal regulations prohibit the use or possession of a fish trap in Federal waters in the Gulf and South Atlantic (50 CFR 622.9(c)). In South Atlantic Federal waters, the term ‘‘fish trap’’ refers to a trap capable of taking fish, except for a seabass pot, a golden crab trap, or a crustacean trap, which are a type of trap historically used in the directed fishery for blue crab, stone crab, red crab, jonah crab, or spiny lobster and that contains at any time not more than 25 percent, by number, of fish other than blue crab, stone crab, red crab, jonah crab, and spiny lobster (50 CFR 622.2). The EFP would exempt these activities from the regulations prohibiting the use or possession of a fish trap in Federal waters of the South Atlantic at 50 CFR 622.9(c) and exempt the activities from the spiny lobster seasonal closures at 50 CFR 622.403(b) and (c). This allows the applicant to use non-containment traps and spiny lobster traps to target lionfish throughout the calendar year, including during the spiny lobster closed season off Florida. This exemption does not apply to fishing in areas where spiny lobster trap fishing is currently prohibited in Federal waters to protect corals (50 CFR 622.406). As described in more detail later in this notice, the EFP will allow E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74403-74404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28331]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Rural Business Center Program

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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

SUMMARY: On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included statutory 
authority within the Minority Business Development Act (the Act) for 
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish a Rural 
Business Center Program. MBDA is seeking public comment on various 
issues related to rural areas and rural minority business enterprises 
to inform the agency and provide fundamental information regarding this 
sector of the economy. This notice requests comments on or before 
January 25, 2022.

DATES: The deadline for filing comments is January 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be submitted in electronic form to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danae Pauli, Senior Advisor to the 
National Director, MBDA, U.S. Department of Commerce, by email at 
[email protected], or at (202) 482-2332.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce, leads Federal Government efforts to 
promote the growth and global competitiveness of minority business 
enterprises (MBEs). The Minority Business Development Act (the Act) 
authorized MBDA to establish a rural business center program to serve 
rural minority business enterprises or minority business enterprises 
located more than 50 miles from an MBDA Business Center (other than an 
MBDA Rural Business Center) and provide education and training, legal, 
financial, and technical assistance to minority business enterprises. 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, division K, 
title III, sections 100301 and 100302 (November 15, 2021). Rural area 
is defined in the MBDA Act pursuant to section 371(a) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1991(a). The Act 
designated minority-serving institutions (as defined in section 
371(a)(1) through (7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 
1067q(a)) as the entities that are eligible to receive grants to 
operate a rural business center. MBDA has initiated the process of 
conducting research and collecting information to design the new 
program that meets the business development needs of MBEs located in 
rural areas across the United States. Comments may be used to help MBDA 
decide policy related to the areas of focus, geographical location and 
distribution, and additional areas of service for the rural business 
center program. As part of this process, MBDA is seeking comments from 
members of the public, including but not limited to operators of rural 
businesses and persons with expertise and information, to provide the 
following information related to minority businesses in rural areas:
    1. Describe the types of business operations in rural areas.
    2. What are the financial, operational, and logistical needs of 
rural business enterprises?
    3. Are there unique challenges faced by MBEs located in rural and 
remote areas of the U.S.? If so, describe.
    4. What are the best methods to provide education, training, legal,

[[Page 74404]]

financial, and technical assistance to MBEs in rural areas?
    5. Are there examples or success stories from organizations that 
provide services to MBEs in rural areas?
    6. How should MBDA measure success for rural business centers?
    7. What specific performance metrics should MBDA consider for rural 
business centers that would measure service to rural businesses?
    8. What factors should be measured to demonstrate elements of 
success from the perspective of organizations that support, or 
customers served by rural businesses?
    9. What is the most effective role for Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSIs) to foster the establishment and growth of MBEs in 
rural America and how should that impact be measured?
    10. How many MSIs have degree and/or academic programs focused on 
business-related topics (e.g., entrepreneurship, supply chains, 
advanced manufacturing/manufacturing, innovation, etc.) or offer 
business accelerator programs and/or business incubators? Provide names 
and locations of MSIs that have these programs.
    11. What is the most effective way for MSIs to collaborate with 
community-based organizations? Please provide examples.
    In addition, MBDA is seeking public comment regarding the focal 
points for the rural business centers as directed by the section 
100302(c) of the MBDA Act: (i) The adoption of broadband internet 
access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy 
skills, and e-commerce by rural minority business enterprises; (ii) 
advanced manufacturing; (iii) the promotion of manufacturing in the 
United States; (iv) ways in which rural minority business enterprises 
can meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential 
goods and services for the United States; (v) improving the 
connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through 
transportation and logistics; (vi) promoting trade and export 
opportunities by rural minority business enterprises; (vii) securing 
financial capital; (viii) facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas; 
and (ix) creating jobs in rural areas.
    All comments must be submitted in electronic form (Word or other 
consistent software program) to the comment mailbox listed in the 
ADDRESSES section above. Comments should include the name or 
organization represented, contact information for the commenter, and 
the specific issue or subject addressed in accordance with this notice 
and the provisions of the MBDA Act, Rural Business Center Program 
section.

Josephine Arnold,
Chief Counsel, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-28331 Filed 12-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P


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