**BILLING CODE (3410-XY-U)**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Rural Business-Cooperative Service**

**Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and
Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2008**

**AGENCY:** Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

**ACTION:** Notice.

**SUMMARY:** This Notice announces the availability of approximately
\$33.077 million

of loan funds under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant
(REDLG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2008. This notice is being issued
to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, submit
applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within
the current fiscal year. The Agency will publish a subsequent notice
identifying the amount of funding received for grants, if any, and the
final maximum dollar amount for grant awards. The awards made as a
result of this notice are effective for loans made during the fiscal
year beginning October 1, 2007, and ending September 30, 2008. REDLG
loans and grants are to assist in economically developing rural areas.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:** Melvin Padgett, Loan Specialist,
USDA Rural Development, STOP 3225, Room 6866, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-3225. Telephone: (202) 720-1495, FAX: (202)
720-2213.

**ADDRESSES:** For further information, entities wishing to apply for
assistance should contact a Rural Development State Office to receive
further information and copies of the application package. A list of
Rural Development State Offices follows:

**District of Columbia**

USDA Rural Development

Specialty Lenders Division

1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

STOP 3225, Room 6867

Washington, DC 20250-3225

\(202\) 720-1400

**Alabama**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Sterling Centre, Suite 601

4121 Carmichael Road

Montgomery, AL 36106-3683

\(334\) 279-3400/TDD (334) 279-3495

**Alaska**

USDA Rural Development State Office

800 West Evergreen, Suite 201

Palmer, AK 99645-6539

\(907\) 761-7705/TDD (907) 761-8905

**Arizona**

USDA Rural Development State Office

230 N. 1^st^ First Ave., Suite 206

Phoenix, AZ 85003

\(602\) 280-8701/TDD (602) 280-8705

**Arkansas**

USDA Rural Development State Office

700 West Capitol Avenue, Room 3416

Little Rock, AR 72201-3225

\(501\) 301-3200/TDD (501) 301-3279

**California**

USDA Rural Development State Office

430 G Street, \# 4169

Davis, CA 95616-4169

\(530\) 792-5800/TDD (530) 792-5848

**Colorado**

USDA Rural Development State Office

655 Parfet Street, Room E100

Lakewood, CO 80215

\(720\) 544-2903/TDD (720) 544-2976

**Delaware-Maryland**

USDA Rural Development State Office

1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200

Dover, DE 19904

\(302\) 857-3580/TDD (302) 857-3585

**Florida/Virgin Islands**

USDA Rural Development State Office

4440 NW 25th Place

P.O. Box 147010

Gainesville, FL 32614-7010

\(352\) 338-3400/TDD (352) 338-3499

**Georgia**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Stephens Federal Building

355 E. Hancock Avenue

Athens, GA 30601-2768

\(706\) 546-2162/TDD (706) 546-2034

**Hawaii**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Room 311

154 Waianuenue Avenue

Hilo, HI 96720

\(808\) 933-8380/TDD (808) 933-8321

**Idaho**

USDA Rural Development State Office

9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite A1

Boise, ID 83709

\(208\) 378-5600/TDD (208) 378-5644

**Illinois**

USDA Rural Development State Office

2118 W. Park Court, Suite A

Champaign, IL 61821

\(217\) 403-6200/TDD (217) 403-6240

**Indiana**

USDA Rural Development State Office

5975 Lakeside Boulevard

Indianapolis, IN 46278

\(317\) 290-3100/TDD (317) 290-3343

**Iowa**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Room 873

210 Walnut Street

Des Moines, IA 50309

\(515\) 284-4663/TDD (515) 284-4858

**Kansas**

USDA Rural Development State Office

1303 S.W. First American Place, Suite 100

Topeka, KS 66604-4040

\(785\) 271-2700/TDD (785) 271-2767

**Kentucky**

USDA Rural Development State Office

771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200

Lexington, KY 40503

\(859\) 224-7300/TDD (859) 224-7422

**Louisiana**

USDA Rural Development State Office

3727 Government Street

Alexandria, LA 71302

\(318\) 473-7921/TDD (318) 473-7655

**Maine**

USDA Rural Development State Office

967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4

P.O. Box 405

Bangor, ME 04402-0405

\(207\) 990-9160/TDD (207) 942-7331

**Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut**

USDA Rural Development State Office

451 West Street, Suite 2

Amherst, MA 01002-2999

\(413\) 253-4300/TDD (413) 253-4590

**Michigan**

USDA Rural Development State Office

3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200

East Lansing, MI 48823

\(517\) 324-5190/TDD (517) 324-5169

**Minnesota**

USDA Rural Development State Office

375 Jackson Street, Suite 410

St. Paul, MN 55101-1853

\(651\) 602-7800/TDD (651) 602-3799

**Mississippi**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Suite 831

100 W. Capitol Street

Jackson, MS 39269

\(601\) 965-4316/TDD (601) 965-5850

**Missouri**

USDA Rural Development State Office

601 Business Loop 70 West

Parkade Center, Suite 235

Columbia, MO 65203

\(573\) 876-0976/TDD (573) 876-9480

**Montana**

USDA Rural Development State Office

900 Technology Boulevard, Suite B

P.O. Box 850

Bozeman, MT 59771

\(406\) 585-2580/TDD (406) 585-2562

**Nebraska**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Room 152

100 Centennial Mall North

Lincoln, NE 68508

\(402\) 437-5551/TDD (402) 437-5093

**Nevada**

USDA Rural Development State Office

1390 South Curry Street

Carson City, NV 89703-5146

\(775\) 887-1222/TDD (775) 885-0633

**New Jersey**

USDA Rural Development State Office

8000 Midlantic Drive

5^th^ Floor North, Suite 500

Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

\(856\) 787-7700/TDD (856) 787-7784

**New Mexico**

USDA Rural Development State Office

6200 Jefferson Street, NE, Room 255

Albuquerque, NM 87109

\(505\) 761-4950/TDD (505) 761-4938

**New York**

USDA Rural Development State Office

The Galleries of Syracuse

441 South Salina Street, Suite 357

Syracuse, NY 13202-2541

\(315\) 477-6400/TDD (315) 477-6447

**North Carolina**

USDA Rural Development State Office

4405 Bland Road, Suite 260

Raleigh, NC 27609

\(919\) 873-2000/TDD (919) 873-2003

**North Dakota**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Room 208

220 East Rosser

P.O. Box 1737

Bismarck, ND 58502-1737

\(701\) 530-2037/TDD (701) 530-2113

**Ohio**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Room 507

200 North High Street

Columbus, OH 43215-2418

\(614\) 255-2400/TDD (614) 255-2554

**Oklahoma**

USDA Rural Development State Office

100 USDA, Suite 108

Stillwater, OK 74074-2654

\(405\) 742-1000/TDD (405) 742-1007

**Oregon**

USDA Rural Development State Office

1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 801

Portland, OR 97232

\(503\) 414-3300/TDD (503) 414-3387

**Pennsylvania**

USDA Rural Development State Office

One Credit Union Place, Suite 330

Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996

\(717\) 237-2299/TDD (717) 237-2261

**Puerto Rico**

USDA Rural Development State Office

IBM Building, Suite 601

654 Munos Rivera Avenue

San Juan, PR 00918-6106

\(787\) 766-5095/TDD (787) 766-5332

**South Carolina**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Strom Thurmond Federal Building

1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007

Columbia, SC 29201

\(803\) 765-5163/TDD (803) 765-5697

**South Dakota**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Room 210

200 Fourth Street, SW

Huron, SD 57350

\(605\) 352-1100/TDD (605) 352-1147

**Tennessee**

USDA Rural Development State Office

3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300

Nashville, TN 37203-1084

\(615\) 783-1300

**Texas**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building, Suite 102

101 South Main

Temple, TX 76501

\(254\) 742-9700/TDD (254) 742-9712

**Utah**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building

125 South State Street, Room 4311

Salt Lake City, UT 84138

\(801\) 524-4320/TDD (801) 524-3309

**Vermont/New Hampshire**

USDA Rural Development State Office

City Center, 3rd Floor

89 Main Street

Montpelier, VT 05602

\(802\) 828-6000/TDD (802) 223-6365

**Virginia**

USDA Rural Development State Office

1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 238

Richmond, VA 23229-5014

\(804\) 287-1550/TDD (804) 287-1753

**Washington**

USDA Rural Development State Office

1835 Black Lake Boulevard SW., Suite B

Olympia, WA 98512-5715

\(360\) 704-7740/TDD (360) 704-7760

**West Virginia**

USDA Rural Development State Office

Federal Building

75 High Street, Room 320

Morgantown, WV 26505-7500

\(304\) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836

**Wisconsin**

USDA Rural Development State Office

4949 Kirschling Court

Stevens Point, WI 54481

\(715\) 345-7600/TDD (715) 345-7614

**Wyoming**

USDA Rural Development State Office

100 East B, Federal Building, Room 1005

P.O. Box 11005

Casper, WY 82602-5006

\(307\) 233-6700/TDD (307) 233-6733

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**

**Overview**

*Federal Agency:* Rural Business-Cooperative Service

*Funding Opportunity Type:* Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants

*Announcement Type:* Initial Announcement

*Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:* 10.854

*Dates:* Application Deadline: Completed applications must be received
in the

State Office as follows: for First and Second Quarters, January 31,
2008, Third Quarter, March 31, 2008, and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2008.

**I. Funding Opportunity Description**

The Regulations for these programs are at 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A.

The primary objective of the program is to promote rural economic
development and job creation projects. Assistance provided to rural
areas, as defined, under this program may include business startup
costs, business expansion, business incubators, technical assistance
feasibility studies, advanced telecommunications services and computer
networks for medical, educational, and job training services and
community facilities projects for economic development. Awards are made
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7
CFR 4280, subpart A. Information required to be in the application
include an SF-424, "Application for Federal Assistance;" a Resolution of
the Board of Directors; AD-1047, "Debarment/Suspension Certification;"
Assurance statement for the Uniform Act; Restrictions on Lobbying, AD
1049; "Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements;"
Seismic certification (if construction); RD 1940-20, "Request for
Environmental Information;" RUS Form 7; "Financial and Statistical
Report;" and RUS Form 7a, "Investments, Loan Guarantees, and Loans," or
similar information; and written narrative of project description.
Applications will be tentatively scored by the State Offices and
submitted to the National Office for review.

*Definitions*

The definitions are published at 7 CFR 4280.3.

**II. Award Information**

*Type of Award:* Loan

*Fiscal Year Funds:* FY 2008

*Maximum Anticipated Award:* \$740,000

*Anticipated Award Date:* First and Second Quarters, March 14, 2008,
Third Quarter, May 14, 2008, and Fourth Quarter, August 15, 2008.

**III. Eligibility Information**

*A. Eligible Applicants*

Loans and grants may be made to any entity that is identified by USDA
Rural Development as an eligible borrower under the Rural
Electrification Act. In accordance with 7 CFR 4280.13, applicants that
are not delinquent on any Federal debt or otherwise disqualified from
participation in these program are eligible to apply. An applicant must
be eligible under 7 U.S.C. 940c.

*B. Cost Sharing or Matching*

For loans, either the Ultimate Recipient or the Intermediary must
provide supplemental funds for the project equal to at least 20 percent
of the loan to the Intermediary. For grants, the Intermediary must
provide supplemental funds for the project equal to at least 20 percent
of the grant to the Intermediary.

*C. Other Eligibility Requirements*

Applications will only be accepted for projects that promote rural
economic development and job creation.

*D. Completeness Eligibility*

Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not provide
sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing required
elements.

**IV. Fiscal Year 2008 Application and Submission Information:**

*A. Address to Request Application Package*

For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance should
contact the Rural Development State Office identified in this NOFA to
obtain copies of the application package.

Applicants are encouraged to submit applications through the Grants.gov
Web site at: [http://www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/).
Applications may be submitted in either electronic or paper format.
Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the application
package, complete it off line, and then upload and submit the
application via the Grants.gov Web site. Applications may not be
submitted by electronic mail.

-   When you enter the Grants.gov Web site, you will find information
    about submitting an application electronically through the site as
    well as the hours of operation. USDA Rural Development strongly
    recommends that you do not wait until the application deadline date
    to begin the application process through Grants.gov. To use
    Grants.gov, applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
    Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via
    a toll-free request line at 1-866-705-5711.

-   You may submit all documents electronically through the Web site,
    including all

> information typically included on the application for REDLGs and all
> necessary assurances and certifications.

-   After electronically submitting an application through the Web site,
    the applicant

> will receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that
> contains a Grants.gov tracking number.

-   USDA Rural Development may request that the applicant provide
    original signatures on forms at a later date.

-   If applicants experience technical difficulties on the closing date
    and are unable to meet the deadline, you may submit a paper copy of
    your application to your respective Rural Development State Office.
    Paper applications submitted to a Rural Development State Office
    must meet the closing date and local time deadline.

Please note that applicants must locate the downloadable application
package for this program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can be found at
[http://www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information
collection requirement contained in this Notice is approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number
0570-0024.

*B. Content and Form of Submission*

An application must contain all of the required elements. Each selection
priority criterion outlined in 7 CFR 4280.42(b), must be addressed in
the application. Failure to address any of the criteria will result in a
zero-point score for that criterion and will impact the overall
evaluation of the application. Copies of 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A,
will be provided to any interested applicant making a request to a Rural
Development State Office listed in this notice.

*C. Submission Dates and Times*

*Application Deadline Date:* First and Second Quarters, January 31,
2008, Third Quarter, March 31, 2008, and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2008.

*Explanation of Deadlines:* Applications must be in the Rural
Development State Office by the deadline dates as indicated above.

**V. Application Review Information**

The National Office will score applications based on the grant selection
criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A and will
select an Intermediary subject to the Intermediary's satisfactory
submission of the additional items required by

7CFR part 4280, subpart A and the USDA Rural Development Letter of
Conditions.

**VI. Award Administration Information**

*A. Award Notices*

Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from the
Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with all
applicable statutes and regulations before the loan/grant award will be
approved. Provided the application requirements have not changed, an
application not selected will be reconsidered in three subsequent
funding competitions for a total of four competitions. If an application
is withdrawn, it can be resubmitted and will be evaluated as a new
application.

*B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements*

Additional requirements that apply to Intermediary's selected for this
program can be found in the 7 CFR 4280, subpart A.

**VII. Agency Contacts**

For general questions about this announcement, please contact your Rural
Development State Office identified in this NOFA.

**NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:**

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status,
familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic
information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not
all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office
of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, D.C.
20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender."

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

BEN ANDERSON DATE

Administrator

Rural Business-Cooperative Service