[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9273-9277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-690]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 34 / Wednesday, February 20, 2008 / 
Notices

[[Page 9273]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Notice of Funds Availability for the Section 533 Housing 
Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2008

    Announcement Type: Initial Notice inviting applications from 
qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2008.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA): 10.433.
SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within Rural 
Development, announces that it is soliciting competitive applications 
under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. The HPG program is 
a grant program which provides qualified public agencies, private 
nonprofit organizations, which may include, but not be limited to, 
faith-based and community organizations, and other eligible entities 
grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing 
and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the HPG 
program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing 
complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to 
make such units available to low- and very low-income persons. This 
action is taken to comply with Agency regulations found in 7 CFR part 
1944, subpart N, which require the Agency to announce the opening and 
closing dates for receipt of preapplications for HPG funds from 
eligible applicants. The intended effect of this Notice is to provide 
eligible organizations notice of these dates.

DATES: The closing deadline for receipt of all applications in response 
to this Notice is 5 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State 
Office on April 21, 2008. The application closing deadline is firm as 
to date and hour. RHS will not consider any application that is 
received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail 
applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or 
before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United 
States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. 
Facsimile (FAX) and postage due applications will not be accepted.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The reporting requirements contained in this Notice have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 
0575-0115.

Program Administration

I. Funding Opportunities Description

    The funding instrument for the HPG Program will be a grant 
agreement. The term of the grant can vary from 1 to 2 years, depending 
on available funds and demand. No maximum or minimum grant levels have 
been established at the National level. You should contact the Rural 
Development State Office to determine the allocation.

II. Award Information

    For Fiscal Year 2008, $9,593,704 is available for the HPG Program. 
The total includes $656,704 in carryover funds. A set-aside of $595,800 
has been established for grants located in Empowerment Zones, 
Enterprise Communities, and Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones and 
other funds will be distributed under a formula allocation to states 
pursuant to 7 CFR part 1940, subpart L, ``Methodology and Formulas for 
Allocation of Loan and Grant Program Funds.'' Decisions on funding will 
be based on pre-applications.

III. Eligibility Information

    7 CFR part 1944, subpart N provides details on what information 
must be contained in the preapplication package. Entities wishing to 
apply for assistance should contact the Rural Development State Office 
to receive further information, the State allocation of funds, and 
copies of the preapplication package. Eligible entities for these 
competitively awarded grants include state and local governments, 
nonprofit corporations, which may include, but not be limited to faith-
based and community organizations, Federally recognized Indian tribes, 
and consortia of eligible entities.
    Federally recognized Indian tribes, pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674, are 
exempt from the requirement to consult with local leaders including 
announcing the availability of its statement of activities for review 
in a newspaper.
    As part of the application, all applicants must also provide a Dun 
and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. As 
required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), all grant 
applicants must provide a DUNS number when applying for Federal grants, 
on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at 
no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 
1-866-705-5711. Additional information concerning this requirement is 
provided in a policy directive issued by OMB and published in the 
Federal Register on June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402-38405).
    To comply with the President's Management Agenda, the Department of 
Agriculture is participating as a partner in the new Government-wide 
Grants.gov site in FY 2008. Housing Preservation Grants [Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance No. 10.433] is one of the programs included 
at this Web site. You may access the electronic grant application for 
Housing Preservation Grants at: http://www.grants.gov. If you are an 
applicant under the Housing Preservation Grant Program, you may submit 
your application to the Agency in either electronic or paper format. 
Please be mindful that the application deadline for electronic format 
differs from the deadline for paper format. The electronic format 
deadline will be based on Eastern Standard Time. The paper format 
deadline is local time for each Rural Development State Office.
    Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the 
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit 
the application via the Grants.gov site. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to USDA Rural Development; 
however, the Agency encourages your participation in Grants.gov.
    The following are useful tips and instructions on how to use the 
Web site:
    <bullet> When you enter the Grants.gov 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

[[Page 9274]]

wait until the application deadline date to begin the application 
process through Grants.gov. To use Grants.gov, applicants must have a 
DUNS number.
    <bullet> You may submit all documents electronically through the 
Web site, including all information typically included on the 
Application for Rural Housing Preservation Grants, and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
    <bullet> Your application must comply with any page limit 
requirements described in this Notice.
    <bullet> After you electronically submit your application through 
the Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from 
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
    <bullet> RHS may request that you provide original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    <bullet> If you experience technical difficulties on the closing 
date and are unable to meet the 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) 
deadline, print out your application and submit it to your State 
Office; you must meet the closing date and local time deadline.
    <bullet> Please note that you must locate the downloadable 
application package for this program by the CFDA Number or FedGrants 
Funding Opportunity Number, which can be found at http://www.fedgrants.gov.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must make its statement 
of activities available to the public for comment. The applicant(s) 
must announce the availability of its statement of activities for 
review in a newspaper of general circulation in the project area and 
allow at least 15 days for public comment. The start of this 15-day 
period must occur no later than 16 days prior to the last day for 
acceptance of pre-applications by USDA Rural Development.
    Applicants must also contact the Rural Development State Office 
serving the place in which they desire to submit an application to 
receive further information and copies of the application package. 
Rural Development will date and time stamp incoming applications to 
evidence timely receipt, and, upon request, will provide the applicant 
with a written acknowledgment of receipt. A listing of Rural 
Development State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and 
person to contact follows:


    Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.

Alabama State Office
    Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 
36106-3683, (334) 279-3455, TDD (334) 279-3495, Judith Druckemiller.
Alaska State Office
    800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 761-7740, 
TDD (907) 761-8905, Debbie I. Davis.
Arizona State Office
    Phoenix Courthouse and Federal Building, 230 North First Ave., 
Suite 206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8768, TDD (602) 280-
8706, Carol Torres.
Arkansas State Office
    700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 
301-3258, TDD (501) 301-3063, Clinton King.
California State Office
    430 G Street, <greek-i>4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-
5821, TDD (530) 792-5848, Debra Moretton.
Colorado State Office
    655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-
2923, TDD (800) 659-2656, Mary Summerfield.
Connecticut
    Served by Massachusetts State Office.
Delaware and Maryland State Office
    1221 College Park Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-
3615, TDD (302) 857-3585, Pat Baker.
Florida & Virgin Islands State Office
    4440 NW. 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606-6563, (352) 338-3465, 
TDD (352) 338-3499, Elizabeth M. Whitaker.
Georgia State Office
    Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 
30601-2768, (706) 546-2164, TDD (706) 546-2034, Wayne Rogers.
Hawaii State Office
    (Services all Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and Western 
Pacific), Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, 
HI 96720, (808) 933-8300, TDD (808) 933-8321, Gayle Kuheana.
Idaho State Office
    Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5628, 
TDD (208) 378-5644, Joyce Weinzetl.
Illinois State Office
    2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821-2986, (217) 
403-6222, TDD (217) 403-6240, Barry L. Ramsey.
Indiana State Office
    5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100 
(ext. 423), TDD (317) 290-3343, Stephen Dye.
Iowa State Office
    210 Walnut Street, Room 873, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-
4666, TDD (515) 284-4858, Mary Beth Juergens.
Kansas State Office
    1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, 
(785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Virginia M. Hammersmith.
Kentucky State Office
    771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-
7325, TDD (859) 224-7422, Beth Moore.
Louisiana State Office
    3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7962, 
TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson.
Maine State Office
    967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, 
(207) 990-9110, TDD (207) 942-7331, Bob Nadeau.
Maryland
    Served by Delaware State Office.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office
    451 West Street, Suite 2, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4315, TDD 
(413) 253-4590, Paul Geoffroy.
Michigan State Office
    3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 
324-5192, TDD (517) 337-6795, Ghulam R. Simbal.
Minnesota State Office
    375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St. Paul, MN 55125, 
(651) 602-7804, TDD (651) 602-7830, Thomas Osborne.
Mississippi State Office
    Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 
39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965-5850, Darnella Smith-Murray.
Missouri State Office
    601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, 
MO 65203, (573) 876-9303, TDD (573) 876-9480, Becky Eftink.
Montana State Office
    900 Technology Blvd., Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-
2515, TDD (406) 585-2562, Deborah Chorlton.
Nebraska State Office
    Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE 
68508, (402) 437-5557, TDD (402) 437-5093, Lanae Brasch.
Nevada State Office
    1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-9910, (775) 887-
1222 (ext. 14), TDD (775) 885-0633, Mona Sargent.
New Hampshire State Office
    Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10 Ferry Street, Concord, NH 
03301-5004, (603) 223-6046, TDD (603) 229-0536, Sandra Hawkins.
New Jersey State Office
    5th Floor North, Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic Drive, Mt. Laurel, NJ 
08054, (856) 787-7740, TDD (856) 787-7784, George Hyatt, Jr.
New Mexico State Office
    6200 Jefferson St., NE., Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 
761-4944, TDD (505) 761-4938, Carmen N. Lopez.
New York State Office
    The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357, 5th 
Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 736-3316 (ext. 128), TDD (315) 477-
6447, Tia Shulkin.
North Carolina State Office
    4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2066, 
TDD (919) 873-2003, William A. Hobbs.
North Dakota State Office
    Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, 
Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 530-2046, TDD (701) 530-2113, Barry 
Borstad.
Ohio State Office
    Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 
43215-2477, (614) 255-2409, TDD (614) 255-2554, Cathy Simmons.
Oklahoma State Office

[[Page 9275]]

    100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1070, 
TDD (405) 742-1007, Ivan Graves.
Oregon State Office
    101 SW. Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222, (503) 414-
3340, TDD (503) 414-3387, Barb Brandon.
Pennsylvania State Office
    One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, 
(717) 237-2282, TDD (717) 237-2261, Martha E. Hanson.
Puerto Rico State Office
    IBM Building, Suite 601, Munoz Rivera Ave., <greek-i>654, San 
Juan, PR 00918, (787) 766-5095 (ext. 249), TDD (787) 766-5332, 
Lourdes Colon.
Rhode Island
    Served by Massachusetts State Office.
South Carolina State Office
    Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 
1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 253-3432, TDD (803) 765-5697, Larry 
D. Floyd.
South Dakota State Office
    Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street, SW., Huron, SD 
57350, (605) 352-1132, TDD (605) 352-1147, Roger Hazuka or Pam 
Reilly.
Tennessee State Office
    Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 
783-1375, TDD (615) 783-1397, Larry Kennedy.
Texas State Office
    Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, 
(254) 742-9767, TDD (254) 742-9712, Linda Sultenfuss.
Utah State Office
    Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 S. State Street, Room 
4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, (801) 524-4329, TDD (801) 524-3309, 
Kristine Dahlberg.
Vermont State Office
    City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, 
(802) 828-6021, TDD (802) 223-6365, Heidi Setien.
Virgin Islands
    Served by Florida State Office.
Virginia State Office
    Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 
23229, (804) 287-1596, TDD (804) 287-1753, CJ Michels.
Washington State Office
    1835 Black Lake Blvd., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-
7730, TDD (360) 704-7742, Robert L. Lund.
Western Pacific Territories
    Served by Hawaii State Office.
West Virginia
    Parkersburg West Virginia County Office, 91 Boyles Lane, 
Parkersburg, WV 26104, (304) 422-9070, TDD (304) 284-4836, Penny 
Thaxton.
Wisconsin State Office
    4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7608 
(ext. 111), TDD (715) 345-7614, Peter Kohnen.
Wyoming State Office
    P.O. Box 82601, Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 233-6716, TDD (307) 
233-6733, Alan Brooks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants 
may contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-
Family Housing Processing Division, USDA Rural Development, Stop 0781, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781, telephone 
(202) 690-0759 (voice) (this is not a toll free number) or (800) 877-
8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service) or via e-mail at, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#480a272626212d660d2c3f293a2c3b083f2c2b663d3b2c29662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="de9cb1b0b0b7bbf09bbaa9bfacbaad9ea9babdf0abadbabff0b9b1a8">[email protected]</span></a>.

V. Application Review Information

    All applications for Section 533 funds must be filed with the 
appropriate Rural Development State Office and must meet the 
requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. Pre-
applications determined not eligible and/or not meeting the selection 
criteria will be notified by the Rural Development State Office.
    All applicants will file an original and two copies of Standard 
Form (SF) 424, ``Application For Federal Assistance,'' and supporting 
information with the appropriate Rural Development State Office. A pre-
application package, including SF-424, is available in any Rural 
Development State Office. All pre-applications shall be accompanied by 
the following information, which Rural Development will use to 
determine the applicant's eligibility to undertake the HPG program and 
to evaluate the pre-application under the project selection criteria of 
Sec.  1944.679 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
    (a) A statement of activities proposed by the applicant for its HPG 
program as appropriate to the type of assistance the applicant is 
proposing, including:
    (1) A complete discussion of the type of and conditions for 
financial assistance for housing preservation, including whether the 
request for assistance is for a homeowner assistance program, a rental 
property assistance program, or a cooperative assistance program;
    (2) The process for selecting recipients for HPG assistance, 
determining housing preservation needs of the dwelling, performing the 
necessary work, and monitoring/inspecting work performed;
    (3) A description of the process for identifying potential 
environmental impacts in accordance with Sec.  1944.672 of 7 CFR part 
1944, subpart N, and the provisions for compliance with Stipulation I, 
A-G of the Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement, also known as PMOA, 
(RD Instruction 2000-FF, available in any Rural Development State 
Office) in accordance with Sec.  1944.673(b) of 7 CFR part 1944, 
subpart N;
    (4) The development standard(s) the applicant will use for the 
housing preservation work; and, if not the Rural Development standards 
for existing dwellings, the evidence of its acceptance by the 
jurisdiction where the grant will be implemented;
    (5) The time schedule for completing the program;
    (6) The staffing required to complete the program;
    (7) The estimated number of very low- and low-income minority and 
nonminority persons the grantee will assist with HPG funds; and, if a 
rental property or cooperative assistance program, the number of units 
and the term of restrictive covenants on their use for very low- and 
low-income;
    (8) The geographical area(s) to be served by the HPG program;
    (9) The annual estimated budget for the program period based on the 
financial needs to accomplish the objectives outlined in the proposal. 
The budget should include proposed direct and indirect administrative 
costs, such as personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, 
contracts, and other cost categories, detailing those costs for which 
the grantee proposes to use the HPG grant separately from non-HPG 
resources, if any. The applicant budget should also include a schedule 
(with amounts) of how the applicant proposes to draw HPG grant funds, 
i.e., monthly, quarterly, lump sum for program activities, etc.;
    (10) A copy of a indirect cost proposal as required in 7 CFR parts 
3015, 3016, and 3019, when the applicant has another source of federal 
funding in addition to the Rural Development HPG program;
    (11) A brief description of the accounting system to be used;
    (12) The method of evaluation to be used by the applicant to 
determine the effectiveness of its program which encompasses the 
requirements for quarterly reports to Rural Development in accordance 
with Sec.  1944.683(b) of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N and the monitoring 
plan for rental properties and cooperatives (when applicable) according 
to Sec.  1944.689 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N;
    (13) The source and estimated amount of other financial resources 
to be obtained and used by the applicant for both HPG activities and 
housing development and/or supporting activities;
    (14) The use of program income, if any, and the tracking system 
used for monitoring same;
    (15) The applicant's plan for disposition of any security 
instruments held by them as a result of its HPG

[[Page 9276]]

activities in the event of its loss of legal status;
    (16) Any other information necessary to explain the proposed HPG 
program; and
    (17) The outreach efforts outlined in Sec.  1944.671(b) of 7 CFR 
part 1944, subpart N.
    (b) Complete information about the applicant's experience and 
capacity to carry out the objectives of the proposed HPG program.
    (c) Evidence of the applicant's legal existence, including, in the 
case of a private nonprofit organization, which may include, but not be 
limited to, faith-based and community organizations, a copy of, or an 
accurate reference to, the specific provisions of State law under which 
the applicant is organized; a certified copy of the applicant's 
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or other evidence of corporate 
existence; certificate of incorporation for other than public bodies; 
evidence of good standing from the State when the corporation has been 
in existence 1 year or more; and the names and addresses of the 
applicant's members, directors and officers. If other organizations are 
members of the applicant-organization, or the applicant is a 
consortium, pre-applications should be accompanied by the names, 
addresses, and principal purpose of the other organizations. If the 
applicant is a consortium, documentation showing compliance with 
paragraph (4)(ii) under the definition of ``organization'' in Sec.  
1944.656 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N must also be included.
    (d) For a private nonprofit entity, which may include, but not be 
limited to faith-based organizations, the most recent audited statement 
and a current financial statement dated and signed by an authorized 
officer of the entity showing the amounts and specific nature of assets 
and liabilities together with information on the repayment schedule and 
status of any debt(s) owed by the applicant.
    (e) A brief narrative statement which includes information about 
the area to be served and the need for improved housing (including both 
percentage and the actual number of both low-income and low-income 
minority households and substandard housing), the need for the type of 
housing preservation assistance being proposed, the anticipated use of 
HPG resources for historic properties, the method of evaluation to be 
used by the applicant in determining the effectiveness of its efforts.
    (f) Applicant must submit an original and one copy of Form RD 1940-
20, ``Request for Environmental Information,'' prepared in accordance 
with Exhibit F-1 of RD Instruction 1944-N (available in any Rural 
Development State Office).
    (g) Applicant must also submit a description of its process for:
    (1) Identifying and rehabilitating properties listed on or eligible 
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places;
    (2) Identifying properties that are located in a floodplain or 
wetland;
    (3) Identifying properties located within the Coastal Barrier 
Resources System; and
    (4) Coordinating with other public and private organizations and 
programs that provide assistance in the rehabilitation of historic 
properties (Stipulation I, D, of the PMOA, RD Instruction 2000-FF, 
available in any Rural Development State Office).
    (h) The applicant must also submit evidence of the State Historic 
Preservation Office's, also known as SHPO, concurrence in the proposal, 
or in the event of nonconcurrence, a copy of SHPO's comments together 
with evidence that the applicant has received the Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation's advice as to how the disagreement might be 
resolved, and a copy of any advice provided by the Council.
    (i) The applicant must submit written statements and related 
correspondence reflecting compliance with Sec.  1944.674(a) and (c) of 
7 CFR part 1944, subpart N regarding consultation with local government 
leaders in the preparation of its program and the consultation with 
local and state government pursuant to the provisions of Executive 
Order 12372.
    (j) The applicant is to make its statement of activities available 
to the public for comment prior to submission to Rural Development 
pursuant to Sec.  1944.674(b) of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. The 
application must contain a description of how the comments (if any were 
received) were addressed.
    (k) The applicant must submit an original and one copy of Form RD 
400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement,'' and Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance 
Agreement,'' in accordance with Sec.  1944.676 of 7 CFR part 1944, 
subpart N.
    Applicants should review 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N for a 
comprehensive list of all application requirements.

VI. Selection Criteria

    The Rural Development State Offices will utilize the following 
project selection criteria for applicants in accordance with Sec.  
1944.679 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N:
    (a) Providing a financially feasible program of housing 
preservation assistance. ``Financially feasible'' is defined as 
proposed assistance which will be affordable to the intended recipient 
or result in affordable housing for very low- and low-income persons.
    (b) Serving eligible rural areas with a concentration of 
substandard housing for households with very low- and low-income.
    (c) Being an eligible applicant as defined in Sec.  1944.658 of 7 
CFR part 1944, subpart N.
    (d) Meeting the requirements of consultation and public comment in 
accordance with Sec.  1944.674 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
    (e) Submitting a complete preapplication as outlined in Sec.  
1944.676 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N.
    For applicants meeting all of the requirements listed above, the 
Rural Development State Offices will use weighted criteria in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N as selection for the grant 
recipients. Each preapplication and its accompanying statement of 
activities will be evaluated and, based solely on the information 
contained in the preapplication, the applicant's proposal will be 
numerically rated on each criteria within the range provided. The 
highest-ranking applicant(s) will be selected based on allocation of 
funds available to the state.
    (a) Points are awarded based on the percentage of very low-income 
persons that the applicant proposes to assist, using the following 
scale:
(1) More than 80%: 20 points.

(2) 61% to 80%: 15 points.

(3) 41% to 60%: 10 points.

(4) 20% to 40%: 5 points.

(5) Less than 20%: 0 points.

    (b) The applicant's proposal may be expected to result in the 
following percentage of HPG fund use (excluding administrative costs) 
to total cost of unit preservation. This percentage reflects maximum 
repair or rehabilitation with the least possible HPG funds due to 
leveraging, innovative financial assistance, owner's contribution or 
other specified approaches. Points are awarded based on the following 
percentage of HPG funds (excluding administrative costs) to total 
funds:
(1) 50% or less: 20 points.
(2) 51% to 65%: 15 points.
(3) 66% to 80%: 10 points.
(4) 81% to 95%: 5 points.
(5) 96% to 100%: 0 points.

    (c) The applicant has demonstrated its administrative capacity in 
assisting very low- and low-income persons to obtain adequate housing 
based on the following:

[[Page 9277]]

    (1) The organization or a member of its staff has 2 or more years 
experience successfully managing and operating a rehabilitation or 
weatherization type program: 10 points.
    (2) The organization or a member of its staff has 2 or more years 
experience successfully managing and operating a program assisting very 
low- and low-income persons obtain housing assistance: 10 points.
    (3) If the organization has administered grant programs, there are 
no outstanding or unresolved audit or investigative findings which 
might impair carrying out the proposal: 10 points.
    (d) The proposed program will be undertaken entirely in rural areas 
outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas, also known as MSAs, identified 
by Rural Development as having populations below 10,000 or in remote 
parts of other rural areas (i.e., rural areas contained in MSAs with 
less than 5,000 population) as defined in Sec.  1944.656 of 7 CFR part 
1944, subpart N: 10 points.
    (e) The program will use less than 20 percent of HPG funds for 
administration purposes:
(1) More than 20%: Not eligible.
(2) 20%: 0 points.
(3) 19%: 1 point.
(4) 18%: 2 points.
(5) 17%: 3 points.
(6) 16%: 4 points.
(7) 15% or less: 5 points.

    (f) The proposed program contains a component for alleviating 
overcrowding as defined in Sec.  1944.656 of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart 
N: 5 points.
    In the event more than one preapplication receives the same amount 
of points, those preapplications will then be ranked based on the 
actual percentage figure used for determining the points. Further, in 
the event that preapplications are still tied, then those 
preapplications still tied will be ranked based on the percentage for 
HPG fund use (low to high). Further, for applications where assistance 
to rental properties or cooperatives is proposed, those still tied will 
be further ranked based on the number of years the units are available 
for occupancy under the program (a minimum of 5 years is required). For 
this part, ranking will be based from most to least number of years.
    Finally, if there is still a tie, then a lottery system will be 
used.

VII. Non-Discrimination Statement

    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, 
Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), (202) 720-
6382 (TDD). ``USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and 
lender.''

    Dated: February 8, 2008.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 08-690 Filed 2-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P


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