[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12792-12795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5043]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and 
Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2012

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice is to invite applications for loans and grants 
under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program 
pursuant to 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. 
Funding to support $33 million in loans and $10 million in grants is 
currently available. The commitment of program dollars will be made to 
applicants of selected responses that have fulfilled the necessary 
requirements for obligation. Expenses incurred in developing 
applications will be at the applicant's risk.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of applications in the USDA Rural 
Development State Office is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on the 
last business day of each month in FY 2012.

[[Page 12793]]


ADDRESSES: Submit applications in paper format to the USDA Rural 
Development State Office in the state where your project is located. A 
list of the USDA Rural Development State Offices addresses and 
telephone numbers are as follows:

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) 761-7707/TDD (907) 761-8905

Arizona

USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 North First Avenue, Suite 
206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8702/TDD (602) 280-8705

Arkansas

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, 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, Agency 4169, 
Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5800/TDD (530) 792-5848

Colorado

USDA Rural Development State Office, Denver Federal Center, Building 
56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 544-
2903/TDD (800) 659-3656

Delaware-Maryland

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 
200, Dover, DE 19904-8724, (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 
East Hancock Avenue, Stop 300, 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 96720-2486, (808) 933-8302/TDD (808) 
933-8321

Idaho

USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Suite 
A1, Boise, ID 83709-1574, (208) 378-5601/TDD (208) 378-5644

Illinois

USDA Rural Development State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, 
Champaign, IL 61821-2986, (217) 403-6200/TDD (217) 403-6240

Indiana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, IN 46278-1996, (317) 290-3100 ext. 4/TDD (317) 290-
3343

Iowa

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 873, 210 
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2117, (515) 284-4663/TDD (515) 
284-4858

Kansas

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 SW. 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 40503-5439, (859) 224-7300/TDD (859) 224-7422

Louisiana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 3727 Government Street, 
Alexandria, LA 71302-3327, (318) 473-7920/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 48823-6350, (517) 324-5190/TDD (517) 324-5169

Minnesota

USDA Rural Development State Office, 410 Agri-Bank Building, 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 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269-1608, (601) 965-4211/TDD 
(601) 965-5850

Missouri

USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, 
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203-2579, (573) 876-0987/
TDD (573) 876-9480

Montana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box 
850, Bozeman, MT 59718-4011, (406) 585-2580/TDD (406) 585-2562

Nebraska

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 
Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508-3803, (308) 632-2195/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, 5th Floor North, Suite 500, 
8000 Midlantic Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054-1522, (856) 787-7700/TDD 
(856) 787-7784

New Mexico

USDA Rural Development State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, Room 
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109-3434, (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-
6435/TDD (315) 477-6447

North Carolina

USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, 
Raleigh, NC 27609-6293, (919) 873-2015/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 Northeast Lloyd Blvd., 
Suite 801, Portland, OR 97232-1274, (503) 414-3305/TDD (503) 414-
3387

Pennsylvania

USDA Rural Development State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2262/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 29201-2449, 
(803) 765-5163/TDD (803) 765-5697

[[Page 12794]]

South Dakota

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 
Fourth Street SW., Huron, SD 57350-2461, (605) 352-1100/TDD (605) 
352-1147

Tennessee

USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 
300, Nashville, TN 37203-1071, (615) 783-1300

Texas

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 
101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501-7651, (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) 524-4321/TDD (801) 524-3309

Vermont/New Hampshire

USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main 
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602-4449, (802) 828-6080/TDD (802) 223-6365

Virginia

USDA Rural Development State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229-5014, (804) 287-1552/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, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101, 
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836

Wisconsin

USDA Rural Development State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens 
Point, WI 54481-7044, (715) 345-7600/TDD (715) 345-7614

Wyoming

USDA Rural Development State Office, P.O. Box 11005, 100 East B 
Street, Room 1005, Casper, WY 82601-5006, (307) 233-6703/TDD (307) 
233-6733

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Rural Development State Office 
identified in this Notice where the project will be located.

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 by 4:30 p.m. (local time) on the last 
business day of each month in FY 2012.

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 part 4280, subpart A. Information required to be in the application 
includes 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;'' Form RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement;'' Form RD 
400-4, ``Assurance Agreement;'' Seismic Certification (if 
construction); Form 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 Awards: Loans and Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2012.
    Maximum Anticipated Award: Loans--$1,000,000; Grant--$300,000.
    Anticipated Award Dates: The last day of the month following the 
month in which application was received.

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 programs 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 
establish a Revolving Loan Fund and contribute an amount equal to at 
least 20 percent of the Grant. The supplemental contribution must come 
from Intermediary's funds which may not be from other Federal Grants, 
unless permitted by law.

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 2012 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 
Notice to obtain copies of the application package.
    Applicants are encouraged to submit applications through the 
Grants.gov Web site at: 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.
    <bullet> 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 or at http://www.dnb.com.
    <bullet> You may submit all documents electronically through the 
Web site,

[[Page 12795]]

including all information typically included on the application for 
REDLGs and all necessary assurances and certifications.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> USDA Rural Development may request that the applicant 
provide original signatures on forms at a later date.
    <bullet> 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.

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 Dates: 4:30 p.m. (local time) on the last 
business day of each month.
    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 7 CFR 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 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A. Applicable 
provisions of 7 CFR parts 3015, 3019, and 3052 also apply.

VII. Agency Contacts

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

VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    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.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
    All grant applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a 
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number, which 
can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at 1-866-705-
5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webor. Similarly, in accordance 
with 2 CFR part 25, all applicants must be registered in the Central 
Contractor Registration (CCR) prior to submitting an application. 
Applicants may register for the CCR at http://www.ccr.gov, or by 
calling 1-866-606-8220 and press ``1'' for CCR. All recipients of 
Federal financial grant assistance are required to report information 
about first-tier sub-awards and executive total compensation in 
accordance with 2 CFR Part 170.
    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, Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-
9410 or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 
(TTD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 
(Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 
employer.

    February 23, 2012.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5043 Filed 3-1-12; 8:45 am]
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