Department of the Treasury December 13, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Treasury is issuing a revised interim rule implementing the Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program) administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (Fund). The mission of the CDFI Fund is to increase the capacity of financial institutions to provide capital, credit and financial services in underserved markets. Its long-term vision is an America in which all people have access to affordable credit, capital and financial services. The purpose of the CDFI Program is to promote economic revitalization and community development through investment in and assistance to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Under the CDFI Program, the Fund provides financial assistance in the form of grants, loans, equity investments and deposits to CDFIs selected through a merit-based application process. The Fund provides financial assistance to CDFIs to enhance their ability to make loans and investments, and to provide related services for the benefit of designated investment areas, targeted populations, or both. In addition, through the CDFI Program, the Fund provides technical assistance grants to CDFIs and entities that propose to become CDFIs, for the purpose of increasing their capacity to serve their target markets. This revised interim rule includes one revision that the Fund believes will inure to the benefit of CDFIs, CDFI Program applicants, and CDFI Program awardees. This revised interim rule includes a revised Sec. 1805.504, Retained Earnings, which clarifies the use of retained earnings as matching funds for a financial assistance award.

On September 9, 2004, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the ``Fund'') announced in a NOFA for the BEA Program (69 FR 54718) that BEA Program applicants that are also Community Development Financial Institutions (``CDFIs'') cannot receive credit under the BEA Program for financial assistance or Qualified Activities provided to CDFI Partners that are also FDIC-insured depository institutions or depository institution holding companies. Due to the recent occurrence of certain natural disasters, the Fund will waive this provision with regard to the FY 2006 funding round of the BEA Program for applicants providing financial assistance or Qualified Activities to CDFI Partners that are also FDIC-insured depository institutions or depository institution holding companies which have been directly affected by said disasters. For the FY 2006 funding round, CDFIs may receive BEA Program credit for financial assistance or Qualified Activities provided to CDFI Partners that are FDIC-insured depository institutions or depository institution holding companies whose principal place of business is located in a county for which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a ``major disaster declaration'' due to Hurricane Katrina on or after August 28, 2005 or due to Hurricane Rita on or after September 24, 2005 and made a determination that such county is eligible for both ``individual and public assistance.'' A list of the eligible counties may be found on the FEMA Web site (https:// www.fema.gov). Change of Application Deadlines: The NOFA published on September 9, 2004 for the BEA Program (69 FR 54718) also announced that the deadline for applications for the FY 2006 funding round is February 14, 2006. This notice is to announce that the deadline for the submission of applications via Grants.gov for the FY 2006 funding round of the BEA Program has been changed to 5 p.m. EST on March 1, 2006. Paper attachments to the application must be received no later than 5 p.m. EST on March 6, 2006. Increase of Award Amount: The NOFA published on September 9, 2004 for the BEA Program (69 FY 54718) also announced that the Fund expects that it may award approximately $6 million in appropriated funds for FY 2006 BEA Program awards. This notice is to announce that the Fund now expects that it may award approximately $12 million for FY 2006 BEA Program awards. The Fund reserves the right to make awards in an amount less than or in excess of this amount subject to funding availability. Modification of Application and Submission Information: The NOFA published on September 9, 2004 for the BEA Program (69 FY 54718) provided information regarding submission of applications in response to the NOFA. This notice is to announce that for the FY 2006 funding round, in compliance with Public Law 106-107 and Section 5(a) of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act, the Fund is required to accept applications submitted through the Grants.gov electronic system. The Fund will post to its Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov instructions for accessing and submitting an application through Grants.gov. The application instructions will be posted as soon as they are available and once the application materials are accessible through Grants.gov. The anticipated release date for the application instructions is January 6, 2006. Applicants are encouraged to start the registration process now at www.Grants.gov as the process may take several weeks to fully complete. See the following link for information on getting started on Grants.gov: https://grants.gov/assets/ GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf. All other information and requirements set forth in the September 9, 2004 NOFA for the BEA Program shall remain effective, as published.