[Federal Register: April 3, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 64)]
[Notices]               
[Page 15773-15777]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap02-36]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

 
Inviting Preapplications for Rural Cooperative Development Grants

AGENCY: Rural Business--Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business--Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the 
availability of approximately $5.3 million in competing Rural 
Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) funds for fiscal year (FY) 2002. 
Of this amount, approximately $1.5 million will be reserved for 
preapplications which focus on assistance to small, minority producers 
through their cooperative businesses. Applicants for the reserved 
amount must have a governing board or

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membership base comprised of at least 75 percent minority members. This 
action will comply with legislation which authorizes grants for 
establishing and operating centers for rural cooperative development. 
The intended effect of this notice is to solicit preapplications for FY 
2002 and award grants before September 1, 2002.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of a preapplication is May 17, 2002. 
Preapplications received after that date will not be considered. 
Preapplications should be sent to the Rural Development State offices. 
State offices will forward the preapplications to the National office 
by May 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact 
their USDA Rural Development State office to receive further 
information and copies of the preapplication package.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Haskell, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, Cooperative Services, Rural Business--Cooperative 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 3250, Room 4016, South 
Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3250. Telephone (202) 720-8460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements continued in this regulation were 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 
were assigned OMB control number 0570-0006.

General Information

    Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) are authorized by 
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1932). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. 
The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the economic 
condition of rural areas through cooperative development. The program 
is administered through USDA Rural Development State offices acting on 
behalf of RBS.
    Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit 
corporations and institutions of higher education based on specific 
selection criteria. Approximately $1.5 million is reserved for 
preapplications which focus on assistance to small, minority producers 
through their cooperative businesses. Applicants for the reserved 
amount must have a governing board or membership base comprised of at 
least 75 percent minority members. The priorities described in this 
paragraph will be used by RBS to rate preapplications. Points will be 
distributed in comparison to other preapplications on hand. Up to five 
points will be awarded to each factor. Each factor will receive equal 
weight. Preference will be given to applications that:
    (1) Demonstrate a proven track record in administering a nationally 
coordinated, regionally or State-wide operated project;
    (2) Demonstrate previous expertise in providing technical 
assistance to cooperatives in rural areas;
    (3) Demonstrate the ability to assist in the retention of business, 
facilitate the establishment of cooperatives and new cooperative 
approaches, and generate employment opportunities that will improve the 
economic conditions of rural areas;
    (4) Demonstrate the ability to create horizontal linkages among 
cooperative businesses within and among various sectors in rural areas 
of the United States and vertical linkages to domestic and 
international markets;
    (5) Commit to providing technical assistance and other services to 
underserved and economically distressed rural areas of the United 
States;
    (6) Commit to providing greater than a 25 percent matching 
contribution, with private funds and in-kind contributions;
    (7) Demonstrate transferability or demonstration value to assist 
rural areas outside of project area; and
    (8) Demonstrate that any cooperative development activity is 
consistent with positive environmental stewardship.

Fiscal Year 2002 Preapplication Submission

    Preapplications must include a clear statement of the goals and 
objectives of the project and a plan which describes the proposed 
project as required by the statute and 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Each 
preapplication received in the State office will be reviewed to 
determine if the preapplication is consistent with the eligible 
purposes outlined in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Preapplications 
without supportive data to address selection criteria will not be 
considered.
    Since the primary objective of the cooperative center concept is to 
provide technical assistance services, including feasibility analysis, 
preapplications that do not propose development or continuation of the 
cooperative center concept will not be considered. Also, 
preapplications that focus on assistance to only one cooperative within 
the project area will not be considered. To enhance the long-term 
viability of cooperative development centers, strengthening of 
technical assistance capacity within new and existing centers is 
strongly encouraged.
    Copies of 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, will be provided to any 
interested applicant by making a request to the Rural Development State 
office or RBS National office. Preapplications must be completed and 
submitted to the State Rural Development Office as soon as possible, 
but no later than May 17, 2002. Preapplications received after May 17 
will not be considered.
    For ease of locating information and in addition to the 
preapplication requirements contained in 7 CFR part 4284 subpart F, 
each preapplication should contain the following:
    (1) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each 
component of the reapplication.
    (2) A project summary of 250 words or less on a separate page. This 
page must include the title of the project and the names of the primary 
project contacts and the applicant organization, followed by the 
summary. The summary should be self-contained and should describe the 
overall goals, relevance of the project, and a listing of all 
organizations involved in the project. The project summary should 
immediately follow the Table of Contents.
    (3) A separate one-page information sheet which lists each of the 
eight evaluation criteria followed by the page numbers of all relevant 
material and documentation contained in the preapplication which 
supports that criteria. This page should immediately follow the project 
summary.
    (4) An additional requirement for those applicants who have 
received funding under the RCDG program in Fiscal Years 1997 through 
2001 is a summation, not to exceed three pages, of progress and results 
for all projects funded fully or partially by the RCDG program in those 
years. This summary should include the status of cooperative businesses 
organized and all eligible grant purpose activities listed under 7 CFR 
4284.515. The summary should immediately follow the page described 
above in (3) documenting the location of evaluation criteria supporting 
material.
    Preapplications requesting Federal funds in excess of $300,000 will 
not be considered. The National office will score preapplications based 
on the grant selection criteria contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart 
F, and will select awardees subject to the availability of funds and 
the awardee's satisfactory submission of a formal application and 
related materials in accordance with

[[Page 15775]]

subpart F. Entities submitting preapplications that are selected for 
awards will be invited by the Rural Development State office to submit 
a formal application prior to September 1. It is anticipated that grant 
awardees will be selected by September 1, 2002.
    In the event that the applicant is awarded a grant that is less 
than the amount requested, the applicant will be required to modify its 
application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the 
grant agreement. The Agency reserves the right to reduce or de-obligate 
the award, if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the 
awardees within 15 working days from the date the application is 
returned to the applicant. Any modifications must be within the scope 
of the original application.
    All applicants and grants must be in compliance with the 
requirements of 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019.

    Dated: March 27, 2002.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business--Cooperative Service.
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[FR Doc. 02-8025 Filed 4-2-02; 8:45 am]
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