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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31413-31418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13380]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for 
the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

AGENCY: Rural Business--Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Notice announces the availability of $45.1 million in 
program level to support rural mircoentrepreneurship in rural America 
and solicits applications for funds available under the Rural 
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program to provide direct loans, technical 
assistance grants, and technical assistance-only grants to 
microdevelopment organizations to support the development and ongoing 
success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. The Agency 
will make awards on a quarterly basis. In the event, as expected in the 
first quarter, all program funds are not awarded in a quarter, the 
remaining funds will be carried over to the subsequent quarter.

DATES: Applications for participating in this Program will be accepted 
on an on-going basis, but will be awarded on a quarterly basis. For 
Fiscal Year 2010, applications must be received by July 16, 2010 for 
consideration for award under Fiscal Year 2010 and September 30, 2010 
for consideration for award for funds available in Fiscal Year 2010, 
but not obligated.

ADDRESSES: Applications and forms may be obtained from any Rural 
Development State Office. Applicants must submit an original complete 
application to the USDA Rural Development National Office and provide a 
copy of the application package to the USDA Rural Development State 
Office in the state where the applicant's project is located. The 
National Office address and a list of the USDA Rural Development State 
Offices addresses and telephone numbers are listed below.
    Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.

[[Page 31414]]

National Office

Rural Microenterprise Assistance Program, Business Programs, 
Specialty Programs Lending Division, USDA Rural Development, Room 
6868, South Agricultural Building, Stop 3225, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3225, (202) 720-1400.

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) 761-7705/TDD (907) 761-8905.

Arizona

USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 N. 1st Ave., Suite 206, 
Phoenix, AZ 85003, (602) 280-8701/TDD (602) 280-8705.

Arkansas

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

Colorado

USDA Rural Development State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E-100, 
Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-2903/TDD (720) 544-2976.

Delaware-Maryland

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 
200, Dover, DE 19904, (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 
E. Hancock Avenue, 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, (808) 933-8380/TDD (808) 933-
8321.

Idaho

USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite A1, 
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600/TDD (208) 378-5644.

Illinois

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

Indiana

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

Iowa

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

Kansas

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 S.W. 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, (859) 224-7300/TDD (859) 224-7422.

Louisiana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 3727 Government Street, 
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7921/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, (517) 324-5190/TDD (517) 324-5169.

Minnesota

USDA Rural Development State Office, 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 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4316/TDD (601) 
965-5850.

Missouri

USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, 
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976/TDD 
(573) 876-9480.

Montana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 900 Technology Boulevard, Suite 
B, P.O. Box 850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2580/TDD (406) 585-
2562.

Nebraska

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 
Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551/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, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor 
North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700/TDD (856) 
787-7784.

New Mexico

USDA Rural Development State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE, Room 
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (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-
6400/TDD (315) 477-6447.

North Carolina

USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, 
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000/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 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 801, 
Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3300/TDD (503) 414-3387.

Pennsylvania

USDA Rural Development State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2299/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, (803) 
765-5163/TDD (803) 765-5697.

South Dakota

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

[[Page 31415]]

Tennessee

USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 
300, Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1300.

Texas

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 
101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (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) 524-4320/TDD (801) 524-3309.

Vermont/New Hampshire

USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main 
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6000/TDD (802) 223-6365.

Virginia

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 
238, Richmond, VA 23229-5014, (804) 287-1550/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, 75 High Street, Room 320, 
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836.

Wisconsin

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

Wyoming

USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, 
Room 1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 233-6700/TDD 
(307) 233-6733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this 
Notice, please contact the USDA Rural Development State Office for your 
respective State, as provided in the Addresses section of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork 
burden associated with this Notice has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0062.

Overview

    Federal Agency Name: Rural Business--Cooperative Service (an agency 
of the United States Department of Agriculture in the Rural Development 
mission area).
    Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 
Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number. The CFDA number for 
this Notice is 10.870.

DATES: Completed applications must be received in the USDA Rural 
Development National Office no later than the quarterly deadlines of 
July 16 and September 30, 2010 to be considered for funds available in 
FY 2010 and, assuming availability of funds, by December 31, 2010, for 
the first quarter in FY 2011.
    Availability of Notice and Rule. This Notice and the interim rule 
for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) are available 
on the USDA Rural Development Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP-LoanAndGrants.html and at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of RMAP is to support the 
development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and 
microenterprises (businesses generally with ten employees or fewer and 
in need of financing in the amount of $50,000 or less as defined in 7 
CFR 4280.302).
    Assistance provided to rural areas under this program may include 
the provision of loans and grants to rural Microenterprise Development 
Organizations (MDOs) for the provision of microloans to rural 
microenterprises and microentrepreneurs; provision of business-based 
training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential 
microborrowers; and other such activities as deemed appropriate by the 
Secretary to ensure the development and ongoing success of rural 
microenterprises.
    B. Statutory Authority. The RMAP is authorized by Section 379E of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 USC 2008s). 
Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D.
    C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice 
are published at 7 CFR 4280.302.

II. Award Information

    A. Type of Award: Loan and/or Grant.
    B. Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2010.
    C. Funding Availability: The total amount of available program 
level in Fiscal Year 2010 is $45.1 million. Of this total, $36.2 
million will be initially available for loans, $7.6 million will be 
initially available for Microlender technical assistance grants, and 
$1.3 million will be initially available for Technical assistance-only 
grants. Exact funding is dependent on the quality of applicants for 
each funding type.
    Any funds not awarded under this notice will be carried over into 
Fiscal Year 2011. Applications received after July 16, 2010, will be 
reviewed and evaluated for funding beginning October 1st. Applications 
for the first quarter are due September 30th. In the event some of the 
program funds allocated for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 are 
not awarded, the remaining funds will be carried over to the second 
quarter.
    D. Approximate Number of Awards: 82.
    E. Awards: The minimum loan amount an MDO may borrow under this 
program is $50,000. The maximum loan any MDO may borrow in any given 
year is $500,000.
    The maximum amount of a technical assistance-only grant under this 
program will not exceed an estimated $130,000.
    Microlender Technical Assistance grants will be limited to an 
amount equal to not more than 25 percent of the total outstanding 
balance of microloans made under this program and active by the 
microlender as of the date the grant is awarded for the first $400,000 
plus an additional 5 percent of the loan amount owed by the 
microborrowers to the lender under this program over $400,000 up to and 
including $2.5 million. Funds cannot be used to pay off the loans. 
During the first year of a microlender's operation under this program, 
the percentage will be determined based on the amount of the loan to 
the microlender, but will be disbursed on a quarterly basis based on 
the amount of microloans made. Any grant dollars obligated, but not 
spent, from the initial grant, will be subtracted from the subsequent 
year grant to ensure that obligations cover only microloans made and 
active.
    F. Anticipated Award Dates:
    * August 31, 2010 for applications received by July 16, 2010.
    * November 15, 2010 for applications received by September 30, 
2010.
    * February 15, 2011 for applications received by December 31, 2010.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Applicants. To be eligible for this program, the 
applicant must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.310.
    B. Cost share requirements. The Federal share of the eligible 
project cost of a microborrower's project funded under this Notice 
shall not exceed 75 percent. The cost share requirement shall be met by 
the microlender in

[[Page 31416]]

accordance with the requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.311(d).
    C. Matching fund requirements. The MDO is required to provide a 
match of not less than 15 percent of the total amount of the grant in 
the form of matching funds, indirect costs, or in-kind goods or 
services.
    D. Other Eligibility Requirements. Applications will only be 
accepted from eligible MDOs. Eligible MDOs must score a minimum of 70 
points out of 100 points to be considered to receive an award. Awards 
will be based on ranking with the highest ranking applications being 
funded first, subject to available funding.
    E. Completeness Eligibility. All applications must be submitted as 
a complete application, in one package. Applications will not be 
considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to 
determine eligibility or are unbound, falling apart, or otherwise not 
suitable for evaluation. Such applications will be returned.

IV. Fiscal Year 2010 Application and Submission Information

    A. Application Submittal. Applications may be submitted in either 
paper or electronic format. If applications are submitted in paper 
format, they must be bound in a 3-ring binder and must be organized in 
the same order set forth in 7 CFR 4280.315. To ensure timely delivery, 
applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications using 
an overnight, express, or parcel delivery service.
    Applicants are encouraged to submit grant only applications through 
the Grants.gov Web site at: http://www.grants.gov. 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. USDA Rural Development strongly encourages applicants not to 
wait until the application deadline date to begin the application 
process through Grants.gov. Applications may not be submitted by 
electronic mail.
    When applicants enter the Grants.gov Web site, they will find 
information about submitting a grant application electronically through 
the site as well as the hours of operation. Applicants may submit all 
documents electronically through the Web site, including all 
information required for a complete application and all necessary 
assurances and certifications under 7 CFR 4280.315. 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. USDA Rural Development may 
request that the applicant provide original signatures on forms at a 
later date.
    All applicants, whether filing applications through www.Grants.gov 
or by paper, 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.
    Please note that applicants can locate the downloadable application 
package for this program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
Number, which is 10.870, 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 outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315. Each application 
must address the applicable scoring criteria presented in 7 CFR 
4280.316 for the type of funding being requested.
    C. Submission Dates and Times.
    The original complete application must be received by the USDA 
Rural Development National Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time by 
the application deadline dates listed above, regardless of the postmark 
date.
    Applications received at the USDA Rural Development National 
Office, unless withdrawn by the applicant, will be retained by the 
Agency for consideration in subsequent reviews through a total of four 
quarterly reviews. Applications unsuccessful after four quarters will 
not be considered further for an award.

V. Application Review Information

    Awards under this Notice will be made on a competitive basis each 
quarter. Each application received in the USDA Rural Development 
National Office will be reviewed, scored, and ranked to determine if it 
is consistent with the program requirements. Applications will be 
scored based on the applicable scoring criteria contained in 7 CFR 
4280.316. Failure to address any of the applicable scoring criteria 
will result in a zero-point score for that section. Applications must 
receive at least 70 points to be considered for funding in the quarter 
in which it is scored. Figure 1 illustrates the scoring associated with 
7 CFR 4280.316.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03JN10.007

VI. Award Administration Information

    Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from 
the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with 
all applicable statutes and regulations before the award will be 
approved. Unsuccessful applications will receive notification by mail.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this Notice, please contact your USDA 
Rural Development State Office as provided in the Addresses section of 
this Notice.

[[Page 31418]]

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

    Dated: May 28, 2010.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs, 
[OMB1]Section.
[FR Doc. 2010-13380 Filed 6-2-10; 8:45 am]
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