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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85207-85208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26802]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket No. RBS-23-BUSINESS-0027]

Business and Industry (B&I) Priority Scoring Notice for Fiscal 
Year 2024

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing 
Service (RHS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), agencies of the 
Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter collectively referred to as the Agency, 
offer loan guarantees through four programs: Community Facilities (CF) 
administered by the RHS; Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) administered by 
the RUS; and Business and Industry (B&I) and Rural Energy for America 
Program (REAP) administered by the RBCS. This notice is establishing a 
minimum priority score of 20 points, not including administrative 
points, for B&I loan guarantees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, to be used 
when applying for guaranteed loans. This notice is being published 
prior to the passage of an FY 2024 appropriation.

DATES: The minimum priority score in this notice is effective October 
1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information specific to this 
notice contact Brenda Griffin, Chief, Underwriting Branch, Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Development, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 
720-6802. Email: [email protected]. For information regarding 
implementation, contact your respective Rural Development State Office 
listed here: http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 7 CFR 5001.315(c)(2), for 
FY 2024 the Agency is establishing a minimum priority score of 20 
points, not including administrative points, for B&I loan guarantees 
due to strong demand for program funds. Priority points for B&I loan 
guarantee applications will be awarded in accordance with the 
priorities outlined in 7 CFR 5001.318, B&I Priority Point System. At 
the time of application, lenders must provide necessary information 
related to determining the priority score. To the greatest extent 
possible, lenders should consider the established priorities of the 
Agency

[[Page 85208]]

when submitting projects for a loan guarantee. All applications that 
meet the minimum priority score will be processed on an ongoing basis 
and funds will be awarded continuously through August 30, 2024, subject 
to the availability of funding.
    Beginning on September 3, 2024, all remaining unfunded B&I 
applications will compete for funds remaining after all state 
allocations are pooled into the National Office. Applications that do 
not meet the minimum applicable score will be allowed to compete in 
this funding competition if funding remains available. Any applications 
that remain unfunded after the funding competition will be handled as 
described in 7 CFR 5001.315(e).

Administrative Points

    In the event there are not enough funds available to fund all 
applications during the funding competition beginning on September 3, 
2024, projects that have a tie score can be awarded administrative 
points as outlined in 7 CFR 5001.318(e). These Administrative points 
will be awarded to applications that help meet the FY2024 Rural 
Development Priorities to;
    1. Assist rural communities to recover economically through more 
and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
    2. Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs 
and benefits from RD funded projects.
    3. Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts 
of climate change through economic support for rural communities.
    The Agency will verify that the project is located in an area that 
addresses these three priorities using the maps at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points/rural-development-priorities-fy-2024. 
If a tie remains, the Agency will give priority to the project that 
will create and/or save the most jobs.

Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
agencies, offices, and 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.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA through the 711 Relay Service. Program information may 
be made available in languages other than English.
    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: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-26802 Filed 12-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
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