63054 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2023 / Notices 

September 30, 2023, and complete and 

eligible applications which were not 

funded in the national unrestricted 

pooling must be withdrawn. The 

Agency is removing the self-imposed 

deadline on the national unrestricted 

pooling competitions for FY23 due to 

the overwhelming response to REAP for 

FY 2023. The Agency will continue 

processing applications received by 

June 30, 2023, into the first quarter of 

FY 2024 for participation in these 

national competitions. Unfunded 

applications from the national 

competitions will not be moved into the 

next FY 2024 funding cycle and must be 

withdrawn. 

Karama Neal, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19868 Filed 9–13–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

[Docket #: RBS–23–BUSINESS–0012] 

Notice of Solicitation of Applications 

for the Rural Microentrepreneur 

Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 

2024 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), 

an agency of the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), 

Rural Development (RD), is making an 

initial announcement to invite 

applications for loans and grants under 

the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 

Program (RMAP) for fiscal year (FY) 

2024, subject to the availability of 

funding. This notice is being issued 

prior to the passage of a FY 2024 

Appropriations Act, which may or may 

not provide funding for this program, in 

order to allow applicants sufficient time 

to leverage financing, prepare and 

submit their applications, and give the 

Agency time to process applications 

within FY 2024. Based on FY 2023 

appropriated funding, the Agency 

estimates that approximately 

$29,000,000 will be available for FY 

2024. Successful applications will be 

selected by the Agency for funding and 

subsequently awarded to the extent that 

funding may ultimately be made 

available through appropriations. All 

applicants are responsible for any 

expenses incurred in developing their 

applications or any costs incurred prior 

to the obligation date. 

DATES: The deadlines for completed 

applications to be received in the RD 

State Office for quarterly funding 

competitions are no later than 11:59 

p.m. Eastern time on: First Quarter, 

September 30, 2023; Second Quarter, 

December 31, 2023; Third Quarter, 

March 31, 2024; and Fourth Quarter, 

June 30, 2024. If the due date falls on 

a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, 

the application is due the next business 

day. 

The subsequent microlender technical 

assistance grant (existing 

Microenterprise Development 

Organizations (MDOs) with a 

microentrepreneur revolving loan fund) 

will be made, non-competitively, based 

on the microlender’s microlending 

activity and availability of funds. To 

determine the microlender technical 

assistance grant awards for FY2024, if 

available, the Agency will use the 

microlender’s outstanding balance of 

microloans as of June 30, 2024, to 

calculate the eligible grant amount. 

MDOs that are in compliance with the 

terms of their loan agreement may apply 

for this annual grant. 

ADDRESSES: Applications must be 

submitted electronically to the RD State 

Office for the State where the project is 

located. Applicants are encouraged to 

contact their respective RD State Office 

for an email contact to submit an 

electronic application prior to the 

submission deadline date(s). A list of 

the RD State Office contacts can be 

found at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

contact-us/state-offices. This funding 

opportunity will be made available for 

informational purposes on 

www.grants.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shamika Johnson at shamika.johnson@

usda.gov, Program Management 

Division, Business Programs, Rural 

Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 

3226, Room 5160–S, Washington, DC 

20250–3226, or call (202) 720–1400. For 

further information on this notice, 

please contact the RD State Office in the 

State in which the applicant’s 

headquarters is located. A list of RD 

State Office contacts is provided at the 

following link: http://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

contact-us/state-offices. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

(RBCS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural 

Microentrepreneur Assistance Program 

(RMAP). 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Solicitation of Application (NOSA). 

Funding Opportunity Number: RD– 

RBCS–24–RMAP. 

Assistance Listing: 10.870. 

Dates: The deadlines for completed 

applications to be received in the RD 

State Office for quarterly funding 

competitions are no later than 11:59 

p.m. Eastern time on: First Quarter, 

September 30, 2023; Second Quarter, 

December 31, 2023; Third Quarter, 

March 31, 2024, and Fourth Quarter, 

June 30, 2024. 

Rural Development Key Priorities: The 

Agency encourages applicants to 

consider projects that will advance the 

following key priorities (more details 

available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points): 

• Assisting rural communities recover 

economically through more and better 

market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure; 

• Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects; and 

• Reducing climate pollution and 

increasing resilience to the impacts of 

climate change through economic 

support to rural communities. 

A. Program Description 

1. Purpose of the Program. The 

purpose of RMAP is to support the 

development and ongoing success of 

rural microentrepreneurs and 

microenterprises, each as defined in 7 

CFR 4280.302. RMAP provides the 

following types of support: loan only, 

combination loan and technical 

assistance grant, and subsequent 

technical assistance grants to 

microenterprise development 

organizations (MDOs). Loan funds are 

used by the MDO to establish or 

recapitalize a revolving loan program for 

making microloans to a rural 

microentrepreneur business. Grant 

funds are used by the MDO to provide 

technical assistance and 

entrepreneurship training to rural 

individuals and businesses. 

2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. 

RMAP is authorized by Section 379E of 

the Consolidated Farm and Rural 

Development Act (Pub. L. 87–128), as 

amended, and is codified as 7 U.S.C. 

2008s and implemented by 7 CFR part 

4280, subpart D. 

3. Definitions. The definitions 

applicable to this notice are published 

at 7 CFR 4280.302. 

4. Application Awards. The Agency 

will review, evaluate, and score 

applications received in response to this 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2023 / Notices 63055 

notice based on the provisions found in 

7 CFR part 4280, subpart D, and as 

indicated in this notice. Awards under 

RMAP will be made using the 

application scoring criteria contained in 

7 CFR 4280.316 and this notice. The 

Agency advises all interested parties 

that the applicant bears the burden in 

preparing and submitting an application 

in response to this notice regardless of 

whether or not funding is appropriated 

for this program in FY 2024. 

B. Federal Award Information 

Type of Award: Loans and/or Grants. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024. 

Available Funds: Dependent upon FY 

2024 appropriations. Funding is 

anticipated to be approximately 

$29,000,000 based on FY 2023 amounts. 

RBCS may at its discretion, increase the 

total level of funding available in this 

funding round from any available 

source provided the awards meet the 

requirements of the statute which made 

the funding available to the Agency. 

Award Amounts: The Agency 

anticipates the following maximum 

amounts per award: Loans—$500,000; 

Grants—$100,000. 

Anticipated Award Dates: 

(a) Regular Funding: First Quarter— 

December 1, 2023, Second Quarter— 

March 1, 2024, Third Quarter—June 1, 

2024, Fourth Quarter—September 1, 

2024. 

(b) Subsequent Annual Microlender 

Technical Assistance Grants: September 

30, 2024. 

Performance Period: Subsequent 

Annual Microlender Technical 

Assistance Grants September 30, 2024 to 

September 30, 2025. 

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: 

Unless withdrawn by the applicant, 

completed applications that receive a 

score of at least 60 (7 CFR 4280.310(c)) 

but have not yet been funded, will be 

retained by the Agency for 

consideration in subsequent reviews 

through a total of four consecutive 

quarterly reviews. Applications that 

remain unfunded after four quarterly 

reviews, including the initial quarter in 

which the application was competed, 

will not be considered further for an 

award. 

Type of Assistance Instrument: Direct 

Loan, Financial Assistance Agreement. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible 

applicants are domestic organizations 

that are non-profit entities, Indian tribes 

(25 U.S.C. 5304(e)) or public institutions 

of higher education. Eligible applicants 

must provide training and technical 

assistance, make microloans, facilitate 

access to capital, or have an effective 

plan or program to deliver such 

services. The applicant must meet the 

eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 

4280.310 and must not be delinquent on 

any Federal debt or otherwise 

disqualified from participation in this 

program to be eligible to apply. The 

Agency will check the Do Not Pay portal 

to determine if the applicant has been 

debarred or suspended at the time of 

application and also prior to funding 

any grant award. All other restrictions 

in this notice will apply. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching. The cost 

share requirement shall be met by the 

microlender in accordance with the 

requirements specified in 7 CFR 

4280.311(d). 

The MDO is required to provide a 

match of not less than 15 percent of the 

total amount of the grant in the form of 

matching funds, indirect costs, or inkind goods or services. 

3. Other Eligibility Requirements. 

Applications will only be accepted from 

eligible MDOs. Applications will not be 

considered for funding if they do not 

provide sufficient information to 

determine eligibility or are otherwise 

not suitable for evaluation. Such 

applications will be withdrawn and not 

considered for funding. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package. For further information, 

entities wishing to apply for assistance 

should contact the RD State Office as 

identified in the ADDRESSES section of 

this notice to obtain an electronic copy 

of the application package. 

An MDO may submit an initial 

application for a loan with a 

microlender technical assistance grant, 

or an initial or subsequent loan-only 

(without a microlender technical 

assistance grant). Loan applications 

must be submitted electronically to the 

RD State Office where the project is 

located and must be organized in the 

same order set forth in 7 CFR 4280.315. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to 

contact their respective RD State Office 

for an email contact to submit an 

electronic application prior to the 

submission deadline date(s). 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission. An application must 

contain all of the required elements 

outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315 and in this 

notice. Each application must address 

the applicable scoring criteria presented 

in 7 CFR 4280.316 for the type of 

funding being requested. 

For entities applying for program loan 

funds to become an RMAP microlender 

only, the following items are also 

required: (1) Form RD 1910–11, 

‘‘Applicant Certification Federal 

Collection Policies for Consumer or 

Commercial Debts;’’ available at https:// 

forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/ 

eFileServices/eForms/RD1910-11.PDF; 

(2) Demonstration that the applicant is 

eligible to apply to participate in this 

program; and (3) Certification by the 

applicant that it cannot obtain sufficient 

credit elsewhere to fund the activities 

called for under this program with 

similar rates and terms. 

Current MDO entities may be eligible 

for subsequent annual microlender 

technical assistance grants that are 

awarded subject to funding availability 

and determined non-competitively 

based on Agency appropriations for the 

fiscal year. The MDO must submit a 

prescribed worksheet, listing the 

outstanding balance of their microloans 

and unexpended grant funds as of June 

30, 2024, and a letter certifying that 

their organization still meets all the 

requirements set forth in 7 CFR part 

4280, subpart D, and that no significant 

changes have occurred within the last 

year that would affect its ability to carry 

out the MDO functions. In addition, all 

MDOs who request Subsequent Annual 

Microlender Technical Assistance 

Grants must complete their reporting 

into the Lenders Interactive Network 

Connection (LINC) for the Federal fiscal 

quarter ending June 30, 2024 which will 

verify the outstanding balance of their 

microloans as stated in their request for 

grant funds. The deadline for reporting 

into LINC and requesting a technical 

assistance grant is no later than 4:30 

p.m. (Eastern time) on August 1, 2024. 

3. System for Award Management and 

Unique Entity Identifier. 

(a) At the time of application, each 

applicant must have an active 

registration in the System for Award 

Management (SAM) before submitting 

its application in accordance with 2 

CFR part 25. In order to register in SAM, 

entities will be required to obtain a 

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). 

Instructions for obtaining the UEI are 

available at https://sam.gov/content/ 

entity-registration. 

(b) Applicants must maintain an 

active SAM registration, with current, 

accurate and complete information, at 

all times during which it has an active 

Federal award or an application under 

consideration by a Federal awarding 

agency. 

(c) Applicant must ensure they 

complete the Financial Assistance 

General Certifications and 

Representations in SAM. 

(d) Applicants must provide a valid 

UEI in its application, unless 

determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. 


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63056 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2023 / Notices 

(e) The Agency will not make an 

award until the applicant has complied 

with all SAM requirements including 

providing the UEI. If an applicant has 

not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the Agency is 

ready to make an award, the Agency 

may determine that the applicant is not 

qualified to receive a Federal award and 

use that determination as a basis for 

making a Federal award to another 

applicant. 

4. Submission Dates and Times. 

Competitions for the available loan and 

grant funds will be made quarterly for 

applications that are received no later 

than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on: First 

Quarter, September 30, 2023; Second 

Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third 

Quarter, March 31, 2024; and Fourth 

Quarter, June 30, 2024. 

Applications must be received by the 

RD State Office by the dates and times 

as indicated above to compete for 

available funds in that fiscal quarter. If 

the due date falls on a Saturday, 

Sunday, or Federal holiday, the 

application is due the next business 

day. 

The Agency will not solicit or 

consider new scoring or eligibility 

information that is submitted after the 

application deadline. RBCS also 

reserves the right to ask applicants for 

clarifying information and additional 

verification of assertions in the 

application. 

5. Intergovernmental Review. 

Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs,’’ applies to this program. This 

E.O. requires that Federal agencies 

provide opportunities for consultation 

on proposed assistance with State and 

local governments. Many states have 

established a Single Point of Contact 

(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. 

For a list of states that maintain a SPOC, 

please see the White House website: 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ 

management/office-federal-financialmanagement/. If your state has a SPOC, 

you may submit a copy of the 

application directly for review. Any 

comments obtained through the SPOC 

must be provided to your RD State 

Office for consideration as part of your 

application. If your state has not 

established a SPOC, you may submit 

your application directly to the Agency. 

Applications from Federally recognized 

Indian Tribes are not subject to this 

requirement. 

6. Funding Restrictions. No funds 

made available under this notice shall 

be used for ineligible purposes outlined 

in 7 CFR 4280.313(e). 

7. Other Submission Requirements. 

All applications must be submitted as a 

complete application, in one package. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria. All eligible and complete 

applications for new loan and grant 

funds will be evaluated and scored 

based on the selection criteria and 

weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, 

subpart D. Failure to address any one of 

the criteria by the application deadline 

will result in the application being 

determined ineligible and the 

application will not be considered for 

funding. An application must receive at 

least 60 points out of 100 possible 

points in the scoring criteria stated in 7 

CFR 4280.316 to be considered for 

funding in the quarter in which it is 

scored. 

2. Review and Selection Process. The 

RD State Offices will review 

applications to determine if they are 

eligible for assistance based on 

requirements contained in 7 CFR part 

4280, subpart D. If determined eligible, 

the application will be submitted to the 

National Office, where it will be 

reviewed and prioritized by ranking 

each application received in that 

quarter, from highest to lowest score 

order. All applications will be funded 

from the highest to lowest score until 

funds have been exhausted for each 

funding cycle. Funding of projects is 

subject to the MDO’s satisfactory 

submission of the additional items 

required by that subpart and the USDA 

RD Letter of Conditions. 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices. Successful 

applicants will receive notification for 

funding from the RD State Office. 

Applicants must comply with all 

applicable statutes and regulations 

before the award will be approved. 

Provided the application and eligibility 

requirements have not changed, an 

application not selected will be 

reconsidered for 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. 

Unsuccessful applications will receive 

notification by mail, detailing why the 

application was unsuccessful. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements. Additional requirements 

that apply to MDOs selected for this 

program can be found in 7 CFR part 

4280, subpart D. The USDA and the 

Agency have adopted the USDA grant 

regulations at 2 CFR chapter IV. This 

regulation incorporates the latest 

revisions to the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) regulations 2 CFR 

part 200 and 2 CFR part 400 for 

monitoring and servicing RMAP 

funding. 

3. Reporting. In addition to any 

reports required by 2 CFR part 200 and 

2 CFR part 400, the MDO must provide 

reports as required by 7 CFR part 4280, 

subpart D. 

Intermediaries must collect and 

maintain data provided by Ultimate 

Recipients defined by 7 CFR 4280.3 on 

race, sex, and national origin and must 

also ensure that Ultimate Recipients 

collect and maintain this data. Race and 

ethnicity data will be collected in 

accordance with OMB Federal Register 

notice, ‘‘Revisions to the Standards for 

the Classification of Federal Data on 

Race and Ethnicity’’ (62 FR 58782), 

October 30, 1997. Sex data will be 

collected in accordance with Title IX of 

the Education Amendments of 1972. 

These items should not be submitted 

with the application but should be 

available upon request by the Agency. 

The applicant and the Ultimate 

Recipients must comply with Title VI of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of 

the Education Amendments of 1972, the 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 

1975, Executive Order 12250, Executive 

Order 13166 Limited English 

Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, 

subpart E. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For general questions about this 

notice, please contact the RD State 

Office as provided in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice. 

H. Other Information 

1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 

chapter 35), the information collection 

requirements associated with RMAP, as 

covered in this notice, have been 

approved by OMB under OMB Control 

Number 0570–0062. 

2. National Environmental Policy Act. 

All recipients under this notice are 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

part 1970. However, awards for 

technical assistance and training under 

this notice are classified as a Categorical 

Exclusion according to 7 CFR 

1970.53(b), and usually do not require 

any additional documentation. RBCS 

will review each grant application to 

determine its compliance with 7 CFR 

part 1970. The applicant may be asked 

to provide additional information or 

documentation to assist RBCS with this 

determination. 


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3. Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act. All applicants, 

in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must 

be registered in SAM and have a UEI 

number as stated in Section D.3 of this 

notice. 

4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made 

under this notice are subject to title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as 

required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15, 

subpart A—Nondiscrimination in 

Federally-Assisted Programs of the 

Department of Agriculture—Effectuation 

of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 

1964) and section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, title VIII of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX, 

Executive Order 13166 (Limited English 

Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, 

and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 

1974. 

5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In 

accordance with Federal civil rights 

laws and USDA civil rights regulations 

and policies, the USDA, its Mission 

Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, 

and institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are 

prohibited from discriminating based on 

race, color, national origin, religion, sex, 

gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/ 

parental status, income derived from a 

public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior 

civil rights activity, in any program or 

activity conducted or funded by USDA 

(not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing 

deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Program information may be made 

available in languages other than 

English. Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means of 

communication to obtain program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language) 

should contact the responsible Mission 

Area, agency, or staff office or the 711 

Relay Service. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, a complainant should 

complete a Form AD–3027, USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, which can be obtained online at 

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/ 

files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any 

USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992, 

or by writing a letter addressed to 

USDA. The letter must contain the 

complainant’s name, address, telephone 

number, and a written description of the 

alleged discriminatory action in 

sufficient detail to inform the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about 

the nature and date of an alleged civil 

rights violation. The completed AD– 

3027 form or letter must be submitted to 

USDA by: 

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20250–9410; or 

(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 

7442; or 

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Karama Neal, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA Rural Development. 

[FR Doc. 2023–19928 Filed 9–13–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

[Docket #: RBS–23–BUSINESS–0010] 

Notice of Solicitation of Applications 

for Inviting Applications for the Rural 

Economic Development Loan and 

Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2024 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), 

a Rural Development (RD) agency of the 

United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA), invites applications for loans 

and grants under the Rural Economic 

Development Loan and Grant Programs 

(REDLG or Programs) for fiscal year (FY) 

2024, subject to the availability of 

funding. This notice is being issued 

prior to the passage of a FY 24 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

which may or may not provide funding 

for this program, to allow applicants 

sufficient time to leverage financing, 

prepare and submit their applications, 

and give the Agency time to process 

applications within FY 2024. Based on 

FY 2023 appropriated funding, the 

Agency estimates that approximately 

$90,000,000 will be available for FY 

2024. Successful applications will be 

selected by the Agency for funding and 

subsequently awarded to the extent that 

funding may ultimately be made 

available through appropriations. All 

applicants are responsible for any 

expenses incurred in developing their 

applications. 

DATES: The deadlines for completed 

applications to be received in the RD 

State Office for quarterly funding 

competitions are no later than 4:30 p.m. 

(local time) on: First Quarter, September 

30, 2023; Second Quarter, December 31, 

2023; Third Quarter, March 31, 2024 

and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2024. The 

Agency will not consider any 

application received after the deadline 

for funding competition in that fiscal 

quarter. 

ADDRESSES: Applications must be 

submitted in paper or electronically to 

the RD State Office for the state where 

the project is located. A list of the RD 

State Office contacts can be found at: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/stateoffices. This notice will also be 

announced at www.grants.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cindy Mason at cindy.mason@usda.gov, 

Program Management Division, 

Business Programs, Rural BusinessCooperative Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW, Stop 3226, Room 5160-South, 

Washington, DC 20250–3226, or call 

(202) 720–1400. For further information 

on this notice, please contact the RD 

State Office in the state which the 

applicant’s headquarters is located. A 

list of RD State Office contacts is 

provided at the following link: https:// 

www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

(RBCS). 

Funding Opportunity Type: Rural 

Economic Development Loans and 

Grants (REDLG). 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Solicitation of Application (NOSA). 

Funding Opportunity Number: RD– 

RBCS–24–REDLG. 

Assistance Listing Number: 10.854. 

Dates: The deadlines for complete 

applications to be received in the RD 

State Office for quarterly funding 

competitions are no later than 4:30 p.m. 

(local time) on: First Quarter, September 

30, 2023; Second Quarter, December 31, 

2023; Third Quarter, March 31, 2024, 

and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2024. 

Rural Development Key Priorities: The 

Agency encourages applicants to 

consider projects that will advance the 

following key priorities (more details 

available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points): 

• Assisting rural communities recover 

economically through more and better 

market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure; 

• Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to Rural Development 

(RD) programs and benefits from RD 

funded projects; and 

• Reducing climate pollution and 

increasing resilience to the impacts of 

climate change through economic 

support to rural communities. 


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