Administration for Children and Families May 4, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has supported the field of microenterprise development since 1991 with discretionary grants to various State governments, community economic development agencies, community action and other human service agencies, local mutual assistance associations, and voluntary agencies. Organizations with successful programs have typically been those with a long-term commitment to microenterprise, particularly access to lending, and to its adaptation to the refugee experience. They have committed agency resources to support refugee programs; and their work in refugee microenterprise development has been consistent with the overall agency mission. A public or private non-profit agency interested in receiving funding under this announcement must have the organizational capacity to work with refugees who have low incomes, limited English-language proficiency, and neither assets nor American business experience. Many newly arrived refugees do not qualify for commercial loans or for admission into mainstream microenterprise development programs for these reasons. Organizations that cannot support in-house lending and essential loan-servicing responsibilities may experience difficulties in implementing a microenterprise project. Refugees bring positive attributes to microenterprise development projects, including a diverse and rich array of business ideas, skills, experiences, and ambitions. These characteristics have been largely responsible for the success of the ORR program. During the last 14 years, refugees have started or expanded more than 1,800 micro- businesses (with a business survival rate of over 88 percent). ORR grantees have provided over $4 million in financing to these entrepreneurs and clients have used these loans to leverage an additional $4,500,000 in loans from other sources. The loan repayment rate is close to 100 percent. Additionally, 2,666 new jobs have been created. Over 10,500 refugees have gained new entrepreneurial skills and knowledge; and the additional business income is helping refugee families to achieve economic self-sufficiency. By commonly accepted measures of performance (business survival rates, loan default rates, etc.), the ORR-funded programs have excelled and frequently led the field in achievement. Building on the experience of the last 14 years, ORR seeks in this announcement to continue support to this field, particularly on behalf of those refugees who, because of language and cultural barriers, are unlikely to gain access to commercial loans or business training through other programs. To be successful in this competition, refugee- serving organizations must demonstrate their organization's capacity to provide the technical expertise necessary to help refugees start, expand, or strengthen businesses, and to provide access to credit. Economic development agencies must show how they will modify their existing programs to serve refugees effectively. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant applications for microenterprise development projects for refugees.\1\ Applications will be accepted pursuant to the Director's discretionary authority under section 412(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1522(c)), as amended. Applications will be screened and evaluated as indicated in this program announcement. Awards will be contingent on the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.

Specialized Outreach Demonstration Projects for Services to Underserved and Diverse Populations: In order to further the commitment to bring diverse voices and approaches to the discussions on the elimination of domestic violence, the Administration on Children, Youth and Families announces grant funds to support projects that convene researchers, activists, survivors of domestic violence, and practitioners who have been advocates of a more culturally appropriate and familial orientation to the elimination of domestic violence. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families seeks to support coordinated outreach efforts to underserved and diverse communities, of which each effort is staffed and/or supported by expert and multi- disciplined teams that are culturally responsive and competent in regard to the issue of domestic violence in their particular communities. On a nationwide basis the expertise assembled within the Special Outreach projects will offer assistance on resource accumulation and information, capacity building within community organizations, policy analysis and review, training, and technical assistance for public and private organizations providing service in the domestic violence community. This assistance will be available to the entire domestic violence community as well as the specific communities to be served by these demonstration projects. Domestic Violence/Runaway and Homeless Youth Collaborations on the Prevention of Adolescent Dating Violence: The collaboration of the Runaway Youth and Domestic Violence communities will foster the development and implementation of effective strategies and program requirements for the use of domestic violence prevention services concurrently with services provided through Basic Center, Transitional Living and Street Outreach Projects. These collaborations will help to eliminate adolescent dating violence. These collaborative efforts will focus on the youth who are identified within the domestic violence and runaway and homeless youth communities as individuals that may be responsive to a collaborative set of interventions that are useful as effective prevention and intervention strategies. Minority Training Grant Stipends in Domestic Violence for Historically Black, Hispanic-Serving, and Tribal Colleges and Universities: The Minority Training Grant Stipends to Historically Black, Hispanic Serving, and Tribal Colleges and Universities will assist in generating skill-building and training opportunities in domestic violence prevention and services. These projects will be particularly responsive to issues of cultural content and designed to increase the extent to which minority groups participate in the domestic violence service community. A substantial proportion of the domestic violence that occurs in the general population involves underserved populations, including populations that are underserved because of ethnic, racial, cultural, language diversity or geographic isolation. The purpose of this effort and priority area is to increase the numbers and the capacity of the advocates and allies to do the work that is needed in these communities to prevent domestic violence.