Rural Utilities Service May 1, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service, agencies that comprise the Rural Development Mission Area within the United States Department of Agriculture, published a notice of solicitation of applications in the Federal Register on February 13, 2024, entitled "Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for the Strategic Economic and Community Development Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024." The NOSA provides requirements to applicants submitting applications for Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) points through Secretary of Agriculture designated covered programs. Based on funding availability guidance published in the NOSA, this Correction Notice is issued to clarify that Community Facilities Grant Program funds will not be reserved for SECD in FY 2024. This Correction Notice also clarifies that approved USDA Rural Partners Network (RPN) networks are considered multi-jurisdictional entities for purposes of SECD and that community and economic development plans created in association with an RPN network will be accepted as plans under SECD.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service (RBCS, RHS, RUS, or collectively referred to as the Agency), of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this final rule to update the data it uses to determine a State's percentage of national nonmetropolitan unemployment income. The Agency is amending two regulations to correct the source for the data and provide transparency on its process of determining state funding allocations for various Agency programs.