Rural Housing Service 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends the servicing regulations that apply when it is determined that unauthorized recipients have received financial assistance under USDA Business, Cooperative, and Community Facility loan and grant programs. The changes make clear that the first demand letter notifying the recipient of the Agency's determination serves as the initial step in the Agency's collection efforts, and that it may serve as the basis for the recipient's appeal rights. The terms of the first demand letter remain in full force and effect, unless the demand letter is subsequently amended in writing by the Agency after discussions with the recipient or modified as a result of judicial proceedings.

The Rural Housing Service, an Agency under USDA Rural Development, is proposing to amend its regulations to change the due date of the annual guarantee fee. The annual fee is a non-refundable amount that the lender must pay each year that the loan guarantee remains in effect. Currently, the Finance Office in St. Louis calculates annual fees manually since the borrower submissions of December 31 year-end financial information are not loaded into their automated systems by January 1, when annual fees are due. The Finance Office has requested that the annual fee due date be changed from January 1 to February 28 to allow their automated systems to be uploaded with December 31 year-end information thus enabling them to automate the annual fee calculation process.

The Rural Housing Service programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. This Notice is intended to announce the availability of supplemental hurricane disaster assistance to be administered through the Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan and Grant program. USDA Rural Development will provide CF Grant funds in the amount of $20,000,000 and CF Direct Loan funds in the amount of $149,253,000 for essential community facilities in rural areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes of the 2005 season.

This Notice announces the availability of approximately $6 million of grant funds for the RCDI program through the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area herein referred to as the Agency. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. This Notice lists the information needed to submit an application for these funds.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) and Rural Development, henceforth collectively known as Rural Development, or individually as Housing and Community Programs, Business and Cooperative Programs, Utility Programs, to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of compliance with applicable acts for planning and performing construction and other development work.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the deployment and implementation of the PIX System. PIX is a web-based automated system that will allow interested non-profit organizations and public bodies to register to receive e-mail notification of all relevant prepayment requests and potential sales to non-profits or public bodies of Section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) properties.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agencies' intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 7 CFR part 1951, subpart F, ``Analyzing Credit Needs and Graduation of Borrowers.''

The Rural Housing Service, an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area, provides housing loan guarantees to rural residents through its Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program. The Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (Act), Pub. L. 109-148 (12/30/05) provides USDA Rural Development with additional authorities and resources to address the damage caused by hurricanes that occurred during the 2005 calendar year. The intent of this NOFA is to introduce a temporary Mortgage Recovery Advance Program for existing Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program borrowers impacted by certain 2005 hurricanes.

The Rural Housing Service is correcting a notice published in the Federal Register on Monday, April 17, 2006. This action is taken to correct a State Office address referenced in the contact information of the application and submission portion of the notice. This correction will insure that the applicant receives the most current and accurate information necessary for the submission of the proposal packages. Accordingly, the notice published on April 17, 2006 (71 FR 19682- 19690), is corrected as follows: On page 19685, in the third column under the heading, ``Where to file,'' the Delaware & Maryland State Office address is corrected to read as follows: Delaware & Maryland State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904-8724. (302) 857-3600, TDD (302) 857- 3585, W. Drew Clendaniel.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agencies' intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A, ``Community Facility Loans.''

The Rural Housing Service is correcting a notice published March 20, 2006 [71 FR 14056-14070]. The action is taken to correct the listing of the State Office addresses on pages 14062 and 14063. The list is attached at the end of the document.

The Rural Housing Service, (RHS), an Agency under USDA Rural Development, announces the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications for loans to private non-profit organizations, or such non-profit organizations' affiliate loan funds and State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a housing demonstration program to provide revolving loans for the preservation and revitalization of low-income multi-family housing. Housing that is assisted by this demonstration program must be financed by USDA Rural Development through its multi-family housing loan program under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949. This demonstration program will be achieved through loans made to intermediaries that establish programs for the purpose of providing loans to ultimate recipients for the preservation and revitalization of section 515 multi-family housing as affordable housing.

This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) loan funds, including applications for the nonprofit set-aside for eligible nonprofit entities, the set-aside for the most Underserved Counties and Colonias (Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act), and the set-aside for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) and Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) zones. This document describes the methodology that will be used to distribute funds, the application process, submission requirements, and areas of special emphasis or consideration.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the availability of housing funds for fiscal year 2006 (FY 2006). This action is taken to comply with 42 U.S.C. 1490p, which requires that RHS publish in the Federal Register notice of the availability of any housing assistance.

The Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities programs are administered through USDA Rural Development. This Notice is intended to announce the availability of hurricane disaster assistance provided pursuant to chapter 1 of title I of Division B of the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 with respect to programs and activities of the Rural Development Mission Area of USDA.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the regulation for Account Servicing Policies.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of Form RD 410-8 ``Applicant Reference Letter.''

This is a request for proposals for loan guarantees under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 subject to the availability of funding. FY 2006 funding for the section 538 program is $99 million. Applicants will submit proposals in the form of ''RESPONSES.'' The commitment of program dollars will be made to applicants of selected responses that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation. The commitment of program dollars will be made to applicants of selected responses that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation, to the extent an appropriation act provides funding for GRRHP for FY 2006. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant's risk. The following paragraphs outline the timeframes, eligibility requirements, lender responsibilities, and the overall response and application processes. The GRRHP operates under 7 CFR part 3565. The GRRHP Origination and Servicing Handbook (HB-1-3565) is available to provide lenders and the general public with guidance on program administration. HB-1-3565, which contains a copy of 7 CFR part 3565 in Appendix 1, can be found at the Rural Development Instructions Web site address https:// www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/hblist.html#hbw6. Eligible lenders are invited to submit responses for the development or acquisition with rehabilitation of affordable rental housing to serve rural America. In addition, this fiscal year, guarantees will be available for the revitalization, repair, and transfer cost of existing direct section 515 housing (transfer costs are subject to Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds as listed in 7 CFR 3565.205). In order to be considered, direct section 515 housing projects must need repairs and/or undergo revitalization of a minimum of $6,500 per unit. The Rural Housing Service (RHS) will review responses submitted by eligible lenders, on the lender's letterhead, and signed by both the prospective borrower and lender. Although a complete application is not required in response to this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), eligible lenders may submit a complete application concurrently with the response. However, submitting a complete application will not have an effect on the response's score.