Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices 7757

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–4382 Filed 2–18–97; 3:56 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11:00 a.m., Friday,

March 14, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St., N.W., Washington,

D.C. 9th Fl. Conference Room.

STATUS: closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–4383 Filed 2–18–97; 3:56 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11:00 a.m., Friday,

March 21, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St., N.W., Washington,

D.C. 9th Fl. Conference Room.

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb,

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–4384 Filed 2–18–97; 3:56 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11:00 a.m., Friday,

March 28, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St., N.W., Washington,

D.C. 9th Fl. Conference Room.

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–4385 Filed 2–18–97; 3:56 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

AmeriCorps: State, National, Indian

Tribes, and U.S. Territories Programs

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds

for New and Renewal Grants, Notice of

Availability of 1997 Application

Guidelines, and Responses to Public

Comments.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (Corporation)

announces the availability of funds for

new and renewal AmeriCorps program

grants in the approximate amounts of:

(1) $162 million for AmeriCorps State

program grants (CFDA # 94.003); (2) $40

million for AmeriCorps National

program grants (CFDA # 94.004); and (3)

$5 million for AmeriCorps Indian Tribes

and U.S. Territories program grants

(CFDA # 94.004). The application forms

and guidelines for completing these

applications are contained in the (1)

‘‘1997 AmeriCorps Guidelines and

Instructions for State Commissions’’, (2)

the ‘‘AmeriCorps National 1997

Application Guidelines’’, and (3) the

‘‘1997 AmeriCorps Application

Guidelines for Indian Tribes and U.S.

Territories’’ respectively.

The second section of this notice

addresses comments submitted in

response to the Corporation notice

published in the Federal Register on

August 6, 1996, which described

proposed changes to Corporation grantmaking guidelines, policies, and

priorities for 1997, and invited

comments with regard to its AmeriCorps

State, National, Indian Tribes, and U.S.

Territories programs. The changes

proposed for the Fiscal Year 1997 grant

cycle were non-regulatory in nature. In

response to this notice, the Corporation

received comments from eleven

organizations.

DATES: All AmeriCorps State program

applications must be received by 3:30

p.m. (E.S.T.), April 15, 1997. Although

AmeriCorps State program applications

must be received at the Corporation by

that date, applicants seeking

AmeriCorps funds from State

Commissions should contact their

respective State Commissions since

individual State Commissions set their

own deadlines. Applicants for new

AmeriCorps National grants must be

received by 3:30 p.m. (E.S.T.), April 1,

1997. Notice regarding the renewal

application deadline for AmeriCorps

National grants will be provided to

existing grantees at a later date. All

AmeriCorps Indian Tribe and U.S.

Territory applications must be received

by 3:30 p.m. (E.S.T.), April 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: All applications should be

submitted to the Corporation for

National Service, 1201 New York

Avenue, NW, Box AS (for AmeriCorps

States), Box ACD (for AmeriCorps

National), Box ITT (for AmeriCorps

Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories),

Washington, D.C. 20525. Facsimiles will

not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions about the AmeriCorps State

application process should be directed

to the State Commission offices. Copies

of the ‘‘AmeriCorps National 1997

Application Guidelines’’ and ‘‘1997

AmeriCorps Application Guidelines for

Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories’’

should be requested by calling (202)

606–5000, extension 260. If potential

applicants have questions about the

AmeriCorps National and AmeriCorps

Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories

application guidelines or the

application process, they should contact

the Corporation for National Service,

AmeriCorps Direct, 1201 New York

Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20525.

Phone: (202) 606–5000, extension 125.

Organizations interested in applying for

the AmeriCorps National program funds

may participate in conference calls on

February 27, 1997, and March 7, 1997,

during which Corporation staff will

provide technical assistance to potential

applicants. Both calls will commence at

10 AM and end at 12 PM (E.S.T.). To

register for these calls, please contact

Baqiya Adam at (202) 606–5000,

extension 549. The Corporation staff

will also conduct conference calls to

provide technical assistance to potential

applicants seeking AmeriCorps Indian

Tribes and U.S. Territories program

funds on March 3, 1997, and March 10,

1997. All calls will commence at 2 pm

(E.S.T.). To register for these calls,

please contact Rosa Harrison at (202)–

606–5000, extension 433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Corporation’s requirements for

AmeriCorps programs are set forth in

the Corporation’s authorizing statute (42

U.S.C. section 12501 et seq.), its

implementing regulations (45 CFR Part

2500 et seq.), and grant application

guidelines. In addition to being

thoroughly familiar with the statute and

its implementing regulations,
7758 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices

prospective applicants should read the

application carefully because, in some

cases, more specific information is

provided there.

I. AmeriCorps Program Fund

Availability

AmeriCorps engages thousands of

Americans on a full and part-time basis

to help communities address their

toughest challenges while earning

support for college, graduate school, or

job training.

A. AmeriCorps State

Approximately $74.5 million in

program funds are available for new and

renewal grants to States under State

allotments, and approximately $87.5

million in program funds are available

to States for new and renewal grants on

a competitive basis.

The Corporation is committed to

supporting only high-quality

AmeriCorps programs, and State

allotments are not entitlements.

(1) Eligible applicants.

States, the District of Columbia, and

Puerto Rico, through a Corporationapproved State Commission or

Alternative Administrative Entity

(AAE), are eligible to submit a State

application to the Corporation for funds

available through the AmeriCorps State

program.

(2) Estimated amount and quantity of

awards.

The following chart details the

amount of funding for which each State

may apply. The chart also lists the

number of new program applications

that each State may submit for funding

on a competitive basis.

State Formula allotment

Number of

allowable

competitive

submissions

Alabama ............ $1,142,224 8

Alaska ............... 450,000 5

Arizona .............. 1,132,813 8

Arkansas ........... 667,066 7

California ........... 8,483,903 29

Colorado ............ 1,006,221 8

Connecticut ....... 879,476 7

Delaware ........... 450,000 6

District of Columbia ............ 450,000 5

Florida ............... 3,804,449 16

Georgia ............. 1,933,942 10

Hawaii ............... 450,000 6

Idaho ................. 450,000 6

Illinois ................ 3,177,168 14

Indiana .............. 1,558,639 9

Iowa ................... 763,213 7

Kansas .............. 688,970 7

Kentucky ........... 1,036,739 8

Louisiana ........... 1,166,221 8

Maine ................ 450,000 6

Maryland ........... 1,354,248 9

Massachusetts .. 1,631,174 9

State Formula allotment

Number of

allowable

competitive

submissions

Michigan ............ 2,564,671 12

Minnesota .......... 1,237,987 8

Mississippi ......... 724,399 7

Missouri ............. 1,429,739 9

Montana ............ 450,000 6

Nebraska ........... 450,000 6

Nevada .............. 450,000 6

New Hampshire 450,000 6

New Jersey ....... 2,133,870 11

New Mexico ...... 452,648 6

New York .......... 4,870,809 19

North Carolina ... 1,932,399 11

North Dakota ..... 450,000 0

Ohio ................... 2,994,693 13

Oklahoma .......... 880,289 7

Oregon .............. 843,467 7

Pennsylvania ..... 3,242,136 14

Puerto Rico

(1995) ............ 1,008,515 8

Rhode Island ..... 450,000 6

South Carolina .. 986,535 8

South Dakota .... 450,000 0

Tennessee ........ 1,411,618 9

Texas ................ 5,028,705 19

Utah ................... 524,090 6

Vermont ............. 450,000 5

Virginia .............. 1,777,493 10

Washington ....... 1,458,588 9

West Virginia ..... 490,984 6

Wisconsin .......... 1,375,850 9

Wyoming ........... 450,000 5

Total ........... 74,545,951 446

B. AmeriCorps National

Approximately $40 million is

available for new and renewal grants

through the AmeriCorps National

program competition.

(1) Eligible applicants.

National nonprofit organizations,

Indian Tribes, public or private

nonprofit organizations (including labor

organizations), subdivisions of states,

and institutions of higher education are

eligible to apply for AmeriCorps

National program funds. For the

purpose of this grant process, a national

nonprofit organization is any nonprofit

organization whose mission,

membership, activities, or

constituencies are national in scope.

However, an organization described in

Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.

501(c)(4), that engages in lobbying

activities is not eligible to apply, serve

as a host site for Member placements, or

act in any type of supervisory role in the

program.

Eligible applicants that propose

programs in more than one State are

encouraged to seek funding directly

from the Corporation. These applicants

may operate programs directly or

provide subgrants to local chapters or

affiliates. The Corporation strongly

encourages applicants that propose

programs in a single State to apply to

that State’s Commission on National

and Community Service.

(2) Estimated amount and quantity of

awards.

The Corporation expects to make

fewer than forty (40) awards for new

AmeriCorps National operating

programs in Fiscal Year 1997 grant

cycle. The grant size will vary by

circumstance, need, and program

model. The Corporation anticipates that

it will not be able to fund AmeriCorps

National programs at the same level as

it has in the past because of a

congressionally-imposed cap and a lack

of available carryover funds. For this

reason, grantees that have previously

received AmeriCorps funding should

consider significantly reducing the

amount of requested support.

C. AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and U.S.

Territories

Approximately $2.5 million is

available for new and renewal

AmeriCorps Indian Tribe program

grants, and approximately $2.5 million

is available for new and renewal

AmeriCorps U.S. Territories program

grants under a population-based

formula.

(1) Eligible applicants.

Eligible applicants include Indian

Tribes and U.S. Territories. For the

purposes of this grant program an

Indian Tribe is an: (a) Indian Tribe,

band, nation, or other organized group

or community, including any Native

village, as defined in 43 U.S.C. section

1602(c), whether organized traditionally

or pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934

(commonly known as the ‘‘Indian

Reorganization Act,’’ 26 U.S.C. section

l461 et seq.); (b) any Regional

Corporation or Village Corporation, as

defined in 43 U.S.C. section 1602 (g) or

(j), respectively, that is recognized as

eligible for the special programs and

services provided by the United States

under Federal law to Indians because of

their status as Indians; and (c) any tribal

organization controlled, sanctioned, or

chartered by an entity described in (a)

or (b) of this paragraph. For the

purposes of this grant program, U.S.

Territories are (a) American Samoa, (b)

the Commonwealth of the Northern

Mariana Islands, (c) Guam, and (d) the

U.S. Virgin Islands.

(2) Estimated amount and quantity of

awards.

Eligible applicants may apply for

operating funds to establish AmeriCorps

programs. The Corporation expects to

make fewer than ten (10) AmeriCorps

Indian Tribe program grants, and fewer

than ten (10) AmeriCorps U.S.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices 7759

Territories program grants. The average

award under each program will be

under $300,000.

II. Education Awards

On September 4, 1996, the

Corporation published a Notice of

availability of education awards that

describes the AmeriCorps Education

Award program. Applicants for

AmeriCorps State, National, and Tribes

and U.S. Territories program grants are

advised that instead of applying through

the AmeriCorps Education Award

program, they may include in their

AmeriCorps State, National, or Tribes

and U.S. Territories applications a

request for positions for participants

who receive only education awards

from the Corporation. AmeriCorps State,

National, or Indian Tribes and U.S.

Territories programs that include these

positions are subject to all of the

requirements that apply to AmeriCorps

State, National, or Indian Tribes and

U.S. Territories programs.

III. Professional Corps

The Corporation particularly invites

applications for professional corps

programs. A professional corps program

is defined in 42 U.S.C. section

12572(a)(8). These programs must be

sponsored by public or private nonprofit

employers who agree to pay 100 percent

of AmeriCorps Members’ salaries and

benefits (excluding the national service

education award which is provided by

the Corporation). Members’ salaries may

exceed the maximum living allowance

in other national service programs.

IV. 16-Year-Old AmeriCorps

Participants

In general, an individual must be at

least 17 years of age at the time he or

she begins the term of service in order

to be eligible for receipt of an education

award. However, certain 16-year-olds

may enroll as AmeriCorps participants.

Applicants who have an interest in

enrolling 16-year-olds are advised that

the participant must be an ‘‘out of

school youth’’ as defined in 42 U.S.C.

section 12511(16) and serve in one of

two types of youth corps programs

described in the authorizing statute.

(See 42 U.S.C. section 12572(a)(2) and

(a)(9)).

V. Responses to Public Comments on

Proposed Changes to Corporation Grant

Making Guidelines

A. Renewals, Re-competition and New

Applications 1997 Issue Area Priorities

The Corporation received one

comment requesting that specific

language be added to permit existing or

former operating sites of AmeriCorps

National grantees to apply for new grant

funds through State Commissions while

continuing their contractual

relationship for training and technical

assistance with the AmeriCorps

National grantee organization. The

Corporation decided not to add the

language because any grantee or

subgrantee can currently contract with

any other national, State or local

organization for technical assistance.

Therefore, we do not need to

specifically state this for operating sites

or subgrantees of AmeriCorps National

grantees only.

B. 1997 Priorities

The Corporation received several

comments on the Corporation’s new

FY97 focus on children and youth

within the four issue areas of

educational, public safety,

environmental and other human needs.

The comments were divided equally

between those favoring the new

priorities and those suggesting that the

priorities needed some clarification and

should not be focused so narrowly. The

Corporation has decided to maintain its

focus on children and youth for the

1997 priorities. However, clarifying

language was added to recognize that

some high quality programs have

different expertise and would dilute

their effectiveness if they redesign their

programs to focus on children and

youth. Those programs are encouraged

to apply if they are high quality

programs and can demonstrate

compelling needs. Applicants who

received funding from the Corporation

for the first time in 1995 or 1996 are

considered renewals and therefore, may

continue to address areas covered by the

1995 or 1996 priorities and need not

change their focus to meet the

Corporation’s new priority focus on

children and youth.

C. Summer Programs

The Corporation received several

comments requesting some clarification

on summer programs and a

recommendation that the applicants be

encouraged to apply for summer

programs that are operated as

components of AmeriCorps programs,

rather than as free-standing programs.

The Corporation added clarifying

language to this section of the grant

application guidelines indicating that

the Corporation encourages, but does

not require, applicants to operate

summer programs as a component of

their year-round AmeriCorps programs

and to ensure that a summer component

is consistent with the overall mission of

the applying organization and its

AmeriCorps programs.

D. State Coordination with AmeriCorps

National Applicants

The Corporation received four

comments about the grant application

guideline language related to

coordination between State

Commissions and AmeriCorps National

applicants. The comments were equally

divided between concurrence with the

language and requests for changes.

Based on the comments received, the

Corporation decided not to change the

requirements for coordination and to

continue such requirements. Additional

language was added to the grant

application guidelines describing the

Corporation’s expectations of

AmeriCorps National applicants and of

State Commissions with regard to better

coordination between the two.

E. Issue Area Specialization

The Corporation received three

comments suggesting that limiting

programs to one issue area may restrict

their ability to raise match funds and

fulfill program objectives. The

Corporation’s experience is that when

programs try to meet many needs at

once, it is more difficult to demonstrate

impact and fulfill program objectives.

Therefore, the Corporation will continue

to encourage programs to focus their

efforts on one issue area. The grant

application guidelines do recognize that

certain types of programs (e.g.,

volunteer generator models or programs

operating in rural areas) may not be able

to focus on singles issues. Programmatic

needs or designs that lead an applicant

to focus on multi-issues will be taken

into consideration during the grant

application review and selection

processes.

F. Program Focus and Service Ethic

Several responders suggested that

language in the grant application

guidelines which indicates that the

Corporation will not fund programs

whose primary focus is job training

should be softened. However, given the

requirements in the National and

Community Service Act of 1990, as

amended, and its implementing

regulations, the emphasis on imparting

the service ethic and providing service

to communities is appropriate. The

Corporation did change the word

‘‘primary’’ to ‘‘major’’ to clarify the

Corporation’s intent to continue to

support programs that do assist

participants in job development

activities, so long as it is not the major

focus of the program.

G. Living Allowance

Four responders recommended that

the Corporation continue its current
7760 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices

flexibility concerning the amount of

living allowances provided to

AmeriCorps members. This

recommendation suggests a

misunderstanding of the Corporation’s

intent. The current language does not

require programs to pay the lowest

living allowance. It only encourages it.

The Corporation has emphasized this in

the final grant application guidelines,

but continues to encourage programs to

offer the minimum statutorily permitted

living allowances—not more than the

average annual subsistence allowance

provided to VISTAs.

H. Corporation Cost per Member

All responders addressed this issue in

their recommendations. Some indicated

that lowering the allowable cost per

Member would have a negative impact

on program quality and the Corporation

should take varying local conditions

and program designs into account and

allow for some flexibility. Others felt the

reduction in Member costs is within

reason, but wanted some clarification

concerning what was included in the

calculation.

The Corporation cannot increase the

limit on the Corporation share of the

cost per Member, but it does provide

flexibility to applicants by allowing

them to meet the target as an average

across all programs within the

application rather than as an absolute

number for each program. For example,

a single State must meet the

Corporation’s required maximum cost

per member as its average cost per

member in that State. In addition, the

Corporation only limits the cost per

member of the Corporation share.

Programs are free to have a higher cost

per member so long as it comes from a

funding source other than the

Corporation. The Corporation also

delineated in the grant application

guidelines all items included in the

calculation of cost per Member.

I. Timelines

Only one responder requested that the

deadlines for grant applications be

extended. Other responders expressed

appreciation that the Corporation is

providing more time between grant

application deadlines and actual

program start-up. One responder asked

that the grant application deadlines

remain the same, but that the

Corporation make final decisions at

least two months before programs are

expected to begin.

The Corporation cannot change the

grant application deadlines and still

meet a reasonable timeline for final

decisions. Therefore, the grant

application deadlines will remain as

published in the Federal Register and

reflected in this notice. Currently, the

Corporation does notify potential

grantees of decisions at least two

months before programs are expected to

begin. However, the actual grant award

letters may not reach the grantee two

months ahead of start dates.

J. Application Evaluation and Selection

of New Programs

The Corporation received several

comments concerning the ‘‘ability to

monitor’’ section of the review criteria.

Several felt that the Corporation needed

to reexamine its assessment that

individual placements are ‘‘hard to

monitor’’ and suggested that the ‘‘ability

to monitor’’ criterion be dropped from

the application review criteria. In

addition, one responder recommended

that the Corporation base its peer review

criteria on results rather than systems.

The Corporation considered these

comments and their bases and decided

not to eliminate the ‘‘ability to monitor’’

criterion, and to add language in the

grant application guidelines asking

applicants with individual placements

to describe what they will do to ensure

that they would be able to monitor their

sites effectively despite their

geographically-dispersed locations.

The Corporation has not changed its

overall review criteria because those

criteria do place a heavy emphasis on

results. Currently, the Corporation’s

review criteria base 65 percent of the

evaluation on results related to getting

things done, strengthening communities

and developing Members, and the

ability of the program to evaluate those

results.

K. Miscellaneous

The Corporation also received other

comments requesting some clarification

on how the selection criteria will be

applied and whether or not

organizations that have already received

funding will be eligible to apply.

Additional language was added to

indicate that organizations that have

already received three years of funding

from the Corporation are eligible to

apply but will be competed as new

applicants rather than renewal

applicants. The Corporation also added

language that distinguishes the

Corporation’s request for individual

programs to focus on fewer priority

areas from the Corporation’s need to

ensure that we select programs that

meet priorities in all four issue areas

within the overall group of selected

programs. The language states that,

while we encourage individual

programs to focus on an issue area, the

Corporation will ensure that it has

diversity among priorities across the

programs that it funds.

Dated: February 14, 1997.

Barry W. Stevens,

Acting General Counsel, Corporation for

National and Community Service.

[FR Doc. 97–4192 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6050–28–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Army Education Advisory Committee

AGENCY: U.S. Army War College.

ACTION: Notice of Meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act (P.L. 92–463),

announcement is made of the following

committee meeting:

Name of Committee: U.S. Army War

College Subcommittee of the Army

Education Advisory Committee.

Date of Meeting: April 7, 8, and 9,

1997.

Place: Root Hall, U.S. Army War

College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Time: 8:30 A.M.–5:00 P.M.

Proposed Agenda: Receive

information briefings, view facilities,

observe classes, conduct discussions

with faculty and students, and provide

guidance concerning accreditation and

areas for improvement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colonel Terry J. Young, Box 118, U.S.

Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA

17013 or phone (717) 245–3907.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

meeting is open to the public. Any

interested person may attend, appear

before, or file statements with the

committee after receiving advance

approval for participation. To request

advance approval or obtain further

information, contact Colonel Terry J.

Young at the above address or phone

number.

Gregory D. Showalter,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–4171 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M

CGSC Advisory Committee

AGENCY: U.S. Army Command and

General Staff College.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act (P.L. 92–463),

announcement is made of the following

committee meeting: