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###### Department of Agriculture

###### Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

# AGENCY:

Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA. 

# ACTION:

Notice. 

# SUMMARY:

This Notice announces the availability of approximately $33.077 million of loan funds under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2008. This notice is being issued to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, submit applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within the current fiscal year. The Agency will publish a subsequent notice identifying the amount of funding received for grants, if any, and the final maximum dollar amount for grant awards. The awards made as a result of this notice are effective for loans made during the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007, and ending September 30, 2008. REDLG loans and grants are to assist in economically developing rural areas. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Melvin Padgett, Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development, STOP 3225, Room 6866, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3225. Telephone: (202) 720-1495, FAX: (202) 720-2213. 

# ADDRESSES:

For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact a Rural Development State Office to receive further information and copies of the application package. A list of Rural Development State Offices follows: 

## District of Columbia 

USDA Rural Development, Specialty Lenders Division, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 3225, Room 6867, 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 First 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 E100, 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 W. 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                           ( print page 6697)                        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. 

## 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, Federal Building, 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. 

# 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 as follows: For First and Second Quarters, January 31, 2008, Third Quarter, March 31, 2008, and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2008.                           ( print page 6698)    

## 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 4280, subpart A. Information required to be in the application include 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;” Seismic certification (if construction); 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 Award:*                     Loan.                 

*Fiscal Year Funds:*                     FY 2008.                 

*Maximum Anticipated Award:*                     $740,000.                 

*Anticipated Award Date:*                     First and Second Quarters, March 14, 2008, Third Quarter, May 14, 2008, and Fourth Quarter, August 15, 2008.                 

## 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 program 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 provide supplemental funds for the project equal to at least 20 percent of the grant to the Intermediary. 

### 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 2008 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 NOFA 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.                 
    - 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.
    - You may submit all documents electronically through the Web site, including all information typically included on the application for REDLGs and all necessary assurances and certifications.
    - 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.
    - If applicants experience technical difficulties on the closing date and are unable to meet the deadline, they 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*.                 

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. 

### 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 Date:*                     First and Second Quarters, January 31, 2008, Third Quarter, March 31, 2008, and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2008.                 

*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                           ( print page 6699)                        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 the 7 CFR 4280, subpart A. 

## VII. Agency Contacts 

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

*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 Civil Rights, 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: January 29, 2008. 

Ben Anderson, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

[FR Doc. E8-2001 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P