Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 72 /Wednesday, April 15, 1998 / Notices 18379

boards of each Customs port or call

(202) 927–5850. For information on

embargoes and quota re-openings, call

(202) 482–3715.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural

Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854);

Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as

amended.

Upon a request from the Government

of the Dominican Republic, the U.S.

Government agreed to increase the

current guaranteed access level for

Category 433.

A description of the textile and

apparel categories in terms of HTS

numbers is available in the

CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel

Categories with the Harmonized Tariff

Schedule of the United States (see

Federal Register notice 62 FR 66057,

published on December 17, 1997). Also

see 62 FR 67622, published on

December 29, 1997.

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation

of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements

April 10, 1998.

Commissioner of Customs,

Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC

20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive

amends, but does not cancel, the directive

issued to you on December 19, 1997, by the

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation

of Textile Agreements. That directive

concerns imports of certain cotton, wool and

man-made fiber textile products, produced or

manufactured in the Dominican Republic

and exported during 1998.

Effective on April 15, 1998, you are

directed to increase the guaranteed access

level for Category 433 to 41,000 dozen.

The Committee for the Implementation of

Textile Agreements has determined that this

action falls within the foreign affairs

exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5

U.S.C. 553(a)(1).

Sincerely,

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation

of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 98–9980 Filed 4–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–F

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

AmeriCorps State Formula Program

Grants: North Dakota and South

Dakota

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds

for new and renewal grants; notice of

availability of 1998 application

guidelines.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (Corporation)

announces the availability of

approximately $450,000 to support new

national service programs in North

Dakota and approximately $450,000 to

support new and renewal national

service programs in South Dakota.

(CFDA #94.004).

DATES: To be considered, applications

must be received by 3:30 p.m., Eastern

Standard Time, June 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be

submitted to the Corporation for

National Service, 1201 New York

Avenue NW., Box SND, Washington, DC

20525. Facsimiles will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further

information contact James Cooper,

Corporation for National Service, 1201

New York Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC 20525, phone (202) 606–5000, ext.

149, TDD (202) 565–2799.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Application guidelines may be obtained

by calling Tanya Archie, Corporation for

National Service, (202) 606–5000, ext.

476.

These funds are authorized under the

National and Community Service Act of

1990, as amended, and represent the

statute’s population-based provision of

program assistance formula funds that,

in most cases, flow through approved

state commissions on national and

community service. Because neither

North Dakota nor South Dakota

currently maintains an approved state

commission or alternative

administrative entity, eligible entities

may apply directly to the Corporation

for formula funds. Local government

agencies, institutions of higher

education, public or private nonprofit

organizations, and Indian Tribes in

North Dakota and South Dakota are

eligible entities. 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 for

these funds.

Requirements relating to this

assistance are published at 45 CFR Parts

2510 et seq. and are further described in

the application guidelines. The

Corporation will also provide Principles

for High Quality National Service

Programs, which includes program

examples, upon request.

Organizations interested in applying

for these program funds may participate

in one of two conference calls to be held

on May 8, 1998 and June 5, 1998,

respectively, during which Corporation

staff will provide technical assistance to

potential applicants. The calls will

begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude at 3:00

p.m. (EST). To register for either call,

please contact Rosa Harrison, at (202)

606–5000, ext. 433. Upon registration,

you will be apprised of the applicable

800 number needed for participation.

The provision of these grants is

subject to the availability of

appropriated funds.

Dated: April 9, 1998.

Kenneth L. Klothen,

General Counsel, Corporation for National

and Community Service.

[FR Doc. 98–9887 Filed 4–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6050–28–P

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Availability of Funds for New Foster

Grandparent Projects—Nationwide

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (hereinafter the

‘‘Corporation’’) announces the

availability of up to $3,000,000 to

support 684 Foster Grandparents in new

geographic areas that do not fall within

approved geographic service areas of

current Foster Grandparent program

sponsors or urban areas or large

counties where the project serves only

part of the city or county.

Approximately $1,500,000 will be made

available to support each of two

national organizations and six of their

local affiliates. Each national

organization will be expected to provide

coordination, networking, and training

and technical assistance to its local

affiliates. The affiliates of each national

organization will support a total of

approximately 337 Foster Grandparents

for each national organization. Awards

will cover a twelve-month period and

can be renewed for up to twenty-four

additional months contingent upon the

continuing need for the projects,

performance and the availability of

appropriations. This allows the

Corporation to fund multi-state and

multi-site projects that are national in

scope and build on the existing

networks of the national organizations.

The Corporation is seeking national

organizations that are willing to actively

promote senior service within their own

networks and that view older volunteers

as an important resource in

accomplishing their own objectives.

The purpose of the Foster

Grandparent Program is to provide
18380 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 72 /Wednesday, April 15, 1998 / Notices

opportunities for income eligible

individuals 60 years of age and over to

serve children and youth with special or

exceptional needs on a person to person

basis. The primary focus of volunteer

activities for this twelve-month period

must be on helping children learn to

read and other literacy activities that

support the goals of the America Reads

Challenge.

DATES: Applications must be received

by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May

11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Application instructions

and kits are available from the

Corporation for National and

Community Service, National Senior

Service Corps, 1201 New York Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20525, (202) 606–

5000, ext. 261, TDD (202) 565–2799, or

TTY via the Federal Information Relay

Service at 1–(800) 877–8339.

Applications should be submitted to the

Corporation for National and

Community Service, 1201 New York

Avenue, NW., National Senior Service

Corps, Mailstop 9310, Attn: Barbara

Wilson, Washington, DC 20525. The

Corporation will not accept applications

that are submitted via facsimile or email transmission.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

The Corporation is a federal

government corporation that encourages

Americans of all ages and backgrounds

to engage in community-based service.

This service addresses the nation’s

educational, public safety,

environmental, and other human needs

to achieve direct and demonstrable

results. In supporting service programs,

the Corporation fosters civic

responsibility, strengthens the ties that

bind us together as a people, and

provides educational opportunity for

those who make a substantial

commitment to service.

The Foster Grandparent Program

(FACP.) is authorized by the Domestic

Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as

amended. See 42 U.S.C. 5011 et seq. The

FCP. is one of three programs that

comprise the National Senior Service

Corps. All three Senior Corps programs

are based on the premise that seniors are

valuable resources, can be mobilized to

help meet priority community needs,

and through their skills and talents can

have an impact on national problems of

local concern. The FCP provides

communities with valuable service by

empowering older adults to contribute

to their communities through volunteer

service and enhance the lives of the

volunteers and those they serve.

The program began in 1965 as a

national demonstration designed to

show that low-income persons 60 years

of age and over having the maturity and

experience to establish a personal

relationship with children having either

special or exceptional needs. Today

there are over 21,000 Foster

Grandparents providing care and

attention every day to more than 80,000

qualified children and youth. Foster

Grandparents volunteer in schools,

hospitals, drug treatment centers,

correctional institutions, and Head Start

and day care centers. They offer

emotional support to children who have

been abused and neglected, mentor

troubled teenagers and young mothers,

care for premature infants and children

with physical disabilities or severe

illnesses, including AIDS. This special

relationship and high level of personal

care provided by Foster Grandparents

helps young people grow, gain

confidence, and become more

productive members of society.

B. Purpose of This Announcement

The Corporation is soliciting

applications from national nonprofit

organizations in order to fund multistate and multi-site projects that are

national in scope and build on existing

networks of the national organizations.

The Corporation is interested in

expanding the FCP. to serve new

geographic locations currently unserved

by the program. It is expected that the

new projects, in the first year of

operation, will focus on activities that

support the goals of the America Reads

Challenge.

The goal of the America Reads

Challenge is to mobilize Americans

from all walks of life to ensure that all

children can read well and

independently by the end of third grade.

The America Reads Challenge is a

comprehensive, nationwide effort to

create in-school, after-school, weekend,

and summer tutoring programs in

reading. Working to support the efforts

of teachers and parents, this initiative

calls on all Americans, including

college students, business leaders, and

senior citizens, to work through schools,

libraries, religious organizations,

universities, community and national

groups, and cultural organizations to

ensure that every child can read

independently by the end of third grade.

Grantees will be encouraged to develop

strong partnerships with: (1) Entities

planning or operating city, county,

statewide, or multi-state America Reads

initiatives; (2) local governments

planning or operating area-wide

America Reads initiatives; (3) volunteer

centers engaged in recruiting trained

literacy tutors for the America Reads

Challenge and, (4) university servicelearning centers coordinating workstudy and other college students for the

America Reads Challenge.

C. Eligible Applicants

National nonprofit organizations that

operate in more than one state are

eligible to apply. The Corporation

defines a national nonprofit

organization as one whose mission,

membership and 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

volunteers, or act in any type of

supervisory role in the program. The

Corporation is seeking national

organizations that are willing to actively

promote senior service within their

networks and that have the potential to

view older volunteers as an important

resource in accomplishing their own

objectives. Foster Grandparent sponsors

that are already funded by the

Corporation are not eligible to receive a

grant to expand into new geographic

areas.

D. Award Process and Estimated

Number of Awards

The Corporation will issue a letter of

intent to provide funding to each

approved applicant. The letter will

instruct the national organization to

work with the Corporation to identify

the local affiliates that will serve as

local project sites. The official awards

will be made only after the Corporation

is satisfied that the local sites are

located in currently unserved

geographic areas and that the local

affiliates have the capacity to effectively

implement the program. The

Corporation anticipates making two

awards to national organizations and

approximately six awards to local

affiliates of each national organization.

E. Scope of Grants

The amount of the grants for the

national organizations will include

funds to cover national coordination,

networking and training and technical

assistance. The amounts of the grants to

the local affiliates will include funds to

support approximately 56 Foster

Grandparent Volunteer Service Years

(V.S.). The amount of each local grant

will include funds to cover: volunteer

cost reimbursements including stipends

of approximately $2,662 a year for each

Volunteer Service Year (VSY),

transportation, meals and insurance;

and volunteer support costs including
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 72 /Wednesday, April 15, 1998 / Notices 18381

project administration, staff and training

and technical assistance. The average

federal cost per Volunteer Service Year

(VSY) is approximately $4,000 for

standard volunteers and $4,600 for

volunteer leaders.

Grant applicants should demonstrate

their commitment to cost-sharing by

offsetting part of the costs. This support

can be achieved through cash or in-kind

contributions.

Publication of this announcement

does not obligate the Corporation to

award any specific number of grants or

to obligate the entire amount of funds

available, or any part thereof, for grants

under the FGP.

F. Period of Awards

Grants cover twelve months and may

be renewed for up to twenty-four

additional months contingent upon the

continuing need for the projects,

performance and the availability of

appropriations.

G. Submission Requirements

To be considered for funding

applicants must submit five copies of

the following (with original signatures

on items 1 and 2):

(1) An Application for Federal

Assistance, Corporation Form 424–

NSSC (OMB 3045–0035), Parts I through

III;

(2) Signed Assurances (Corporation

Form 424-B) and Certifications

(Corporation Form 424E-G);

(3) Verification of status as a nonprofit organization as described in

Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal

Revenue Code;

(4) Most recent audit report.

H. General Selection Criteria

The Corporation will initially

determine whether the organization is

eligible and whether the application

contains the information required in the

application materials. All activities

within a proposal should be coordinated

through a well-developed national

strategy and unified programmatically

by a common theme and program

elements, including training and

technical assistance.

To ensure fairness to all applicants,

the Corporation reserves the right to

take action up to and including

disqualification, in the event that a

proposal fails to comply with any

requirements specified in the

application instructions. After this

initial screening, the Corporation will

assess applications based on the

following criteria that will be further

specified in the application instructions:

(1) The capacity of the applicant to

effectively implement the FGP

according to law, regulations and

current Corporation policy, procedures,

and priorities;

(2) The cost-effectiveness of the

proposal; the applicant’s ability to

leverage significant additional resources

from non-federal sources to support and

sustain the project; and the extent to

which the national organization can

demonstrate the capacity of the local

affiliates to continue the projects at the

local level in subsequent years.

The Corporation will take into

consideration the following factors after

the proposals are assessed:

Geographic Location: The Corporation

will assure that local projects include a

mix of urban and rural sites.

Diversity: The Corporation will select

organizations whose local projects have

the capacity to recruit ethnic and racial

minorities, males, and persons with

disabilities.

I. Applicable Regulations

Regulations governing the Foster

Grandparent Program are located in 45

CFR part 1208 (1997).

J. Program Authority

The Corporation’s authority to make

these grants is codified in 42 U.S.C.

5011.

Dated: April 10, 1998.

Thomas L. Bryant,

Associate General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98–10020 Filed 4–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6050–28–P

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Availability of Funds for New Retired

and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

Projects—Nationwide

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (hereinafter the

‘‘Corporation’’) announces the

availability of up to $625,000 to support

approximately 1,200 RSVP volunteers in

new RSVP projects in geographic areas

that do not fall within approved service

areas of current RSVP program

sponsors. Approximately $300,000 will

be made available to support each of

two national organizations and three of

their local affiliates. Each national

organization will be expected to provide

coordination, networking and training

and technical assistance to its three

local affiliates. The local affiliates will

be expected to support a total of

approximately 600 RSVP volunteers for

each national organization. Awards will

cover a twelve-month period and can be

renewed for up to twenty-four

additional months contingent upon the

continuing need for the projects,

performance and the availability of

appropriations. This allows the

Corporation to fund multi-state and

multi-site projects that are national in

scope and build on existing networks.

The Corporation is seeking national

organizations that are willing to actively

promote senior service within their

networks and that view older volunteers

as an important resource in

accomplishing their own objectives.

The RSVP provides service

opportunities to adults age 55 and older,

matching their skills, life experiences,

and interests to priority needs in

communities across the nation. Through

this service, RSVP provides

communities with valuable resources to

meet their needs, enhances the lives of

the volunteers and those whom they

serve. The primary focus of volunteer

activities for this twelve-month period

must be on helping children learn to

read and other literacy activities that

support the goals of the America Reads

Challenge.

DATES: Applications must be received

by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May

11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Application instructions

and kits are available from the

Corporation for National and

Community Service, National Senior

Service Corps, 1201 New York Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20525, (202) 606–

5000, ext. 261, TDD (202) 565–2799, or

TTY via the Federal Information Relay

Service at 1–(800) 877–8339.

Applications should be submitted to

the Corporation for National and

Community Service, 1201 New York

Avenue, NW., National Senior Service

Corps, Mailstop 9310, Attn: Barbara

Wilson, Washington, DC 20525. The

Corporation will not accept applications

that are submitted via facsimile or email transmission.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

The Corporation is a federal

government corporation that encourages

Americans of all ages and backgrounds

to engage in community-based service.

This service addresses the nation’s

educational, public safety,

environmental, and other human needs

to achieve direct and demonstrable

results. In supporting service programs,

the Corporation fosters civic

responsibility, strengthens the ties that

bind us together as a people, and

provides educational opportunity for