Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 30503 

Animal & Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

Title: Animal Welfare. 

OMB Control Number: 0579–0036. 

Summary of Collection: The 

Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 

(Pub. L. 89–544) enacted August 24, 

1966, and as amended, required the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), to 

regulate the humane care and handling 

of dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, 

rabbits, and nonhuman primates. This 

legislation was the result of extensive 

demand by organized animal welfare 

groups and private citizens requesting a 

Federal law covering the transportation, 

care, and handling of laboratory 

animals. The Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS), Regulatory 

Enforcement and Animal Care (AC) has 

the responsibility to enforce the Animal 

Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131–2156) and 

the provisions of 9 CFR, Subchapter A, 

which implements the Animal Welfare 

Act. The purpose of the AWA is to 

ensure that animal use in research 

facilities or exhibition purposes are 

provided humane care and treatment, to 

ensure humane treatment of the animal 

during transportation in commerce, and 

to protect the owners of animals from 

the theft of their animals by preventing 

the sale or use of animals which have 

been stolen. APHIS will collect 

information using several forms. 

Need and Use of the Information: 

APHIS will collect health certificates, 

program of veterinary care, application 

for license and record of acquisition, 

disposition and transportation of 

animals. The information is used to 

ensure those dealers, exhibitors, 

research facilities, carriers, etc., are in 

compliance with the Animal Welfare 

Act and regulations and standards 

promulgated under this authority of the 

Act. 

Description of Respondents: Business 

or other for-profit; Individuals or 

households. 

Number of Respondents: 7,450. 

Frequency of Responses: 

Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 87,252. 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

Title: Lacey Act Declaration 

Requirements; Plants and Plant 

Products. 

OMB Control Number: 0579–0349. 

Summary of Collection: The Lacey 

Act, enacted in 1900 and significantly 

amended in 1988, is the United States’ 

oldest Wildlife Protection Statute. The 

Act combats trafficking in ‘‘illegal’’ 

wildlife, fish, or plants. The Food, 

Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, 

which took effect May 22, 2008, 

amended the Lacey Act by expanding its 

protection to a broader range of plants 

and plant products (Section 8204, 

Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices). 

Need and Use of the Information: 

Under the amended Lacey Act, 

importers are required to submit a 

declaration form (PPQ–505) for certain 

plants and plant products. The 

declaration must contain, among other 

things, the scientific name of the plant, 

value of the importation, quantity of the 

plant, and name of the country from 

which the plant was harvested. If 

species varies or is unknown, importers 

will have to declare the name of each 

species that may have been used to 

produce the product. Failure to collect 

this information would cause significant 

losses for importers of plants and plant 

products resulting in serious economic 

consequences to the U.S. industries. 

Description of Respondents: Business 

or other for-profit. 

Number of Respondents: 279,398. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 5,029,164. 

Ruth Brown, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–15138 Filed 6–25–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Housing Service 

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) 

for Loan Guarantees Under Section 

538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing 

Program (GRRHP) for Fiscal Year 2009 

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA. 

ACTION: NOFA. 

SUMMARY: This NOFA supersedes the 

notice published January 21, 2009 (74 

FR 3551–3558). Responses to the notice 

published January 21, 2009 (74 FR 

3551–3558) will no longer be accepted. 

This is a request for proposals for loan 

guarantees under the section 538 

Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing 

Program pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. The Omnibus 

Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law 

111–8 (the Act) signed on March 11, 

2009, states funds to be available from 

the rural housing fund for the section 

538 guaranteed multi-family loans up to 

$129,090,000. The Act goes on to state: 

‘‘Provided further, That, for applications 

received under the 2009 notice of 

funding availability, section 538 multifamily housing guaranteed loans funded 

pursuant to this paragraph shall not be 

subject to a guarantee fee and the 

interest on such loans may not be 

subsidized.’’ 

For FY 2009, there are also 

approximately $12,372,000 in 

additional funds for GRRHP properties 

that are located in a presidentially 

declared disaster area. Disaster funds 

may be used for new construction or 

repair and rehabilitation. Interest credit 

assistance will be available for 

responses that request and are eligible 

for disaster funds. To be eligible for 

these disaster funds, a property must be 

located in a county affected by 

hurricanes, floods, and other natural 

disasters occurring during 2008 for 

which the President declared a major 

disaster under Title IV of the Robert T. 

Stafford and Disaster and Emergency 

Assistance Act of 1974. Applicants must 

notify the Rural Development contact 

person for the respective State, as 

indicated in the ‘‘Submission Address’’ 

section of this NOFA, that their project 

is located in an eligible disaster zone 

and that they want the project 

considered for these funds. 

Applicants for both, general program 

funding or disaster funds will submit 

proposals in the form of ‘‘responses.’’ 

The commitment of program dollars 

will be made to applicants of selected 

responses that have fulfilled the 

necessary requirements for obligation. 

Expenses incurred in developing 

applications will be at the applicant’s 

risk. The following paragraphs outline 

the timeframes, eligibility requirements, 

lender responsibilities, and the overall 

response and application processes. 

The GRRHP operates under 7 CFR 

part 3565. The GRRHP Origination and 

Servicing Handbook (HB–1–3565) is 

available to provide lenders and the 

general public with guidance on 

program administration. HB–1–3565, 

which contains a copy of 7 CFR part 

3565 in Appendix 1, can be found at the 

Agency’s Instructions Web site address 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ 

hblist.html#hbw6. 

Eligible lenders are invited to submit 

responses for the new construction and 

the acquisition with rehabilitation of 

affordable rural rental housing. 

Also eligible is the revitalization, 

repair, and transfer (as stipulated in 7 

CFR 3560.406) of existing direct section 

515 housing (transfer costs are subject to 

Agency approval and must be an 

eligible use of loan proceeds as listed in 

7 CFR 3565.205), and properties 

involved in the Agency’s multi-family 

preservation and revitalization (MPR) 

program. Equity payments, as stipulated 

in 7 CFR 3560.406, in connection with 

the transfer of existing direct section 

515 housing, are an eligible use of 

30504 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 

guaranteed loan proceeds. In order to be 

considered, for a transfer, the direct 

section 515 housing and MPR projects 

must need repairs and undergo 

revitalization of a minimum of $6,500 

cost per unit. The Agency will review 

responses submitted by eligible lenders, 

on the lender’s letterhead, and signed by 

both the prospective borrower and 

lender. Although a complete application 

is not required in response to this NOFA 

of request for proposals, eligible lenders 

may submit a complete application 

concurrently with the response. 

Submitting a complete application will 

not have any effect on the respondent’s 

NOFA response score. 

DATES: Eligible responses to this NOFA 

will be accepted per this guidance until 

December 31, 2009 12 p.m. Eastern 

Time. FY 2009 funding will cease to be 

available after September 30, 2009. 

Funding of applications received after 

September 30, 2009 will be subject to 

appropriation of and availability of 

Fiscal Year 2010 funds. 

Selected responses that develop into 

complete applications and meet all 

Federal environmental requirements 

will receive commitments until all 

funds are expended. A notice will be 

placed in the Federal Register if all FY 

2009 funds are committed prior to 

September 30, 2009. 

The Agency will select the responses 

that meet eligibility criteria and invite 

lenders to submit complete applications 

to the Agency. Those responses that are 

selected that subsequently submit 

complete applications that meet all 

program requirements and are received 

prior to or on July 20, 2009, but score 

less than 25 points, or score 25 points 

or more, but have a development cost 

ratio equal to or greater than 70 percent, 

may be selected for obligation after July 

20, 2009, with the highest scoring 

responses receiving priority subject to 

availability of funds. After July 20, 2009, 

responses that develop into complete 

applications that meet all program 

requirements will be selected for further 

processing regardless of score, subject to 

the availability of funding. 

The USDA Rural Development will 

prioritize the obligation requests 

received after July 20, 2009, using the 

highest score and the procedures 

outlined as follows. Once a complete 

application is received and approved by 

the State Office, an obligation request 

for 2009 funds will be submitted [via 

fax] by the State Office to the National 

Office. Obligation requests submitted to 

the National Office will be accumulated, 

but not obligated, throughout the week 

until the weekly obligation request 

submission deadline of midnight 

Eastern Time every Thursday. To the 

extent that funds remain available, the 

National Office will obligate the 

requests accumulated through the 

weekly request submission deadline of 

the previous week by the following 

Tuesday (i.e., requests received from 

Friday, August 7, 2009, to Thursday, 

August 13, 2009, will be obligated by 

Tuesday, August 18, 2009). However, 

requests received prior to July 20, 2009, 

that are not eligible for obligation until 

after July 20, 2009, will be obligated no 

earlier than Tuesday, July 28, 2009. 

Funds will be allocated in scoring order, 

with the highest scoring requests being 

obligated first, until all funds are 

exhausted. In the event of a tie, priority 

will be given to the request for the 

project that: 1st—has the highest 

percentage of leveraging (lowest Loan to 

Cost); 2nd—is in the smaller rural 

community. 

Eligible lenders mailing a response or 

application must provide sufficient time 

to permit delivery to the submission 

address on or before the closing 

deadline date and time. Acceptance by 

a U.S. Post Office or private mailer does 

not constitute delivery. Postage due 

responses and applications will not be 

accepted. 

Submission Address: Eligible lenders 

will send responses to the contact 

person in the State Office where the 

project will be located. The lender will 

also send a copy of its response (copies 

of ‘‘Lender Certification’’ letter and 

‘‘Project Specific Data’’ sheets only; do 

not include any application supporting 

documentation, i.e., market studies, 

plans/specs, etc.) to: Tammy S. Daniels, 

Financial and Loan Analyst, USDA 

Rural Development Guaranteed Rural 

Rental Housing Program, Multi-Family 

Housing Guaranteed Loan Division, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, South 

Agriculture Building, Room 1263, STOP 

0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–0781. 

USDA Rural Development State 

Offices, their addresses, telephone 

numbers, and person to contact follows: 

[this information may also be found at 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ 

recd_map.html] 

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, 

Vann L. McCloud. 

Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen, 

Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 

761–7740, TDD (907) 761–8905, 

Deborah 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., Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 

72201–3225, (501) 301–3250, TDD 

(501) 301–3279, Gregory Kemper. 

California State Office, 430 G Street, 

#4169, Davis, CA 95616–4169, (530) 

792–5830, TDD (530) 792–5848, 

Stephen Nnodim. 

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) 857–3600, 

TDD (302) 857–3585, Patricia M. 

Baker. 

Florida & Virgin Islands State Office, 

4440 N.W. 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 

32606–6563, (352) 338–3465, TDD 

(352) 338–3499, Tresca Clemmons. 

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) 933–8305, TDD 

(808) 541–2600, Don E ́te ́s. 

Idaho State Office, Suite A1, 9173 West 

Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, (208) 

378–5630, TDD (208) 378–5644, Roni 

Atkins. 

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. 413), TDD (317) 

290–3343, Paul Neumann. 

Iowa State Office, 210 Walnut Street 

Room 873, Des Moines, IA 50309, 

(515) 284–4666, TDD (515) 284–4858, 

Heather Honkomp. 

Kansas State Office, 1303 SW First 

American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, 

KS 66604–4040, (785) 271–2718, TDD 

(785) 271–2767, Tim Rogers. 

Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate 

Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 

40503, (859) 224–7325, TDD (859) 

224–7422, Paul Higgins. 

Louisiana State Office, 3727 

Government Street, Alexandria, LA 

71302, (318) 473–7962, TDD (318) 

473–7655, Yvonne R. Emerson. 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 30505 

Maine State Office, 967 Illinois Ave., 

Suite 4, PO Box 405, Bangor, ME 

04402–0405, (207) 990–9110, TDD 

(207) 942–7331, Dale D. Holmes. 

Maryland 

Served by Delaware State Office. 

Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode 

Island State Office, 451 West Street, 

Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253–4333, 

TDD (413) 253–4590, Arlene Nunes. 

Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge 

Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 

48823, (517) 324–5154, TDD (517) 

337–6795, Ghulam R. Sumbal. 

Minnesota State Office, 375 Jackson 

Street Building, Suite 410, St. Paul, 

MN 55101–1853, (651) 602–7804, 

TDD (651) 602–7830, Tom Osborne. 

Mississippi State Office, Federal 

Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol 

Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965– 

4326, TDD (601) 965–5850, Darnella 

Smith-Murray. 

Missouri State Office, 601 Business 

Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 

235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876– 

0990, TDD (573) 876–9480, Anita J. 

Dunning. 

Montana State Office, 900 Technology 

Blvd., Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59715, 

(406) 585–2565, TDD (406) 585–2562, 

Deborah Chorlton. 

Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, 

Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N, 

Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437–5594, 

TDD (402) 437–5093, Mike Buethe. 

Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry 

Street, Carson City, NV 89703–9910, 

(775) 887–1222 (ext. 25), TDD (775) 

885–0633, William Brewer. 

New Hampshire State Office, Concord 

Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10 Ferry 

Street, Concord, NH 03301–5004, 

(603) 223–6046, TDD (603) 229–0536, 

Robert McCarthy. 

New Jersey State Office, 5th Floor North 

Suite 500, 8000 Midlantic Dr., Mt. 

Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787–7740, 

TDD (856) 787–7730, George Hyatt, Jr. 

New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson 

St., NE., Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 

87109, (505) 761–4944, TDD (505) 

761–4938, Art Garcia. 

New York State Office, The Galleries of 

Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 

357 5th Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, 

(585) 394–0525 ext. 4, TDD (315) 477– 

6447, Celeste Frohm. 

North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland 

Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, 

(919) 873–2063, TDD (919) 873–2003, 

William Hobbs. 

North Dakota State Office, Federal 

Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, 

PO Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, 

(701) 530–2049, TDD (701) 530–2113, 

Mark Wax. 

Ohio State Office, Federal Building, 

Room 507, 200 North High Street, 

Columbus, OH 43215–2477, (614) 

255–2418, TDD (614) 255–2554, 

Gerald Arnott. 

Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 

108, Stillwater, OK 74074–2654, (405) 

742–1070, TDD (405) 742–1007, 

Tommy Earls. 

Oregon State Office, 101 SW., Main, 

Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204–3222, 

(503) 414–3353, TDD (503) 414–3387, 

Rod Hansen. 

Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit 

Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, 

PA 17110–2996, (717) 237–2281, TDD 

(717) 237–2261, Frank Wetherhold. 

Puerto Rico State Office, 654 Munoz 

Rivera Avenue, IBM Plaza, Suite 601, 

Hato Rey, 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, Don Harris. 

Texas State Office, Federal Building, 

Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, 

TX 76501, (254) 742–9758, TDD (254) 

742–9712, Leon Carey or Michael 

Canales. 

Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett 

Federal Building, 125 S. State Street, 

Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 

84147–0350, (801) 524–4325, TDD 

(801) 524–3309, David E. Brown. 

Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd 

Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 

05602, (802) 828–6026, 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) 

704–7760, Robert Lund, 

Western Pacific 

Territories Served by Hawaii State 

Office. 

West Virginia State Office, Federal 

Building, 75 High Street, Room 320, 

Morgantown, WV 26505–7500, (304) 

284–4872, TDD (304) 284–4836, 

Dianne Crysler. 

Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschling 

Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 

345–7600, TDD (715) 345–7614, Dave 

Schwobe. 

Wyoming State Office, P.O. Box 11005, 

Casper, WY 82602, (307) 233–6715, 

TDD (307) 233–6733, Alan Brooks. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Tammy S. Daniels, Financial and Loan 

Analyst, USDA Rural Development 

Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing 

Program, Multi-Family Housing 

Guaranteed Loan Division, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, South 

Agriculture Building, Room 1263, STOP 

0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–0781. E-mail: 

tammy.daniels@wdc.usda.gov. 

Telephone: (202) 720–0021. This 

number is not toll-free. Hearing or 

speech-impaired persons may access 

that number by calling the Federal 

Information Relay Service toll-free at 

(800) 877–8339. 

Eligibility of Prior Year Selected Notice 

of Funding Availability 

Responses: FY 2008 NOFA response 

selections that did not develop into 

complete applications within the time 

constraints stipulated by the 

corresponding State Office have been 

cancelled. A new response for the 

project may be submitted subject to the 

conditions of this NOFA. 

FY 2008 NOFA responses that were 

selected by the Agency, with a complete 

application (including all Federal 

environmental documents required by 7 

CFR part 1940, subpart G, a Form RD 

3565–1, ‘‘Application for Loan and 

Guarantee’’ and the $2,500 application 

fee) submitted by the lender within 90 

days from the date of notification of 

response selection (unless an extension 

was granted by the State office), will be 

eligible for FY 2009 program dollars and 

will compete for available FY 2009 

funds without having to complete a FY 

2009 response. 

General Program Information 

Program Purpose: The purpose of the 

GRRHP is to increase the supply of 

affordable rural rental housing through 

the use of loan guarantees that 

encourage partnerships between the 

Agency, private lenders, and public 

agencies. 

30506 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 

Responses Must Be Submitted By: The 

Agency will only accept responses from 

GRRHP eligible or approved lenders as 

described in 7 CFR 3565.102 and 

3565.103, respectively. 

Qualifying Properties: Qualifying 

properties include new construction for 

multi-family housing units and the 

acquisition of existing structures with a 

minimum per unit rehabilitation 

expenditure requirement in accordance 

with 7 CFR 3565.252. 

Also eligible is the revitalization, 

repair and transfer (as stipulated in 7 

CFR 3560.406) of existing direct section 

515 housing (transfer costs are subject to 

Agency approval and must be an 

eligible use of loan proceeds as listed in 

7 CFR 3565.205) and properties 

involved in the Agency’s MPR program. 

Equity payment, as stipulated in 7 CFR 

3560.406, in the transfer of existing 

direct section 515 housing, is an eligible 

use of guaranteed loan proceeds. In 

order to be considered, the transfer of 

direct section 515 housing and MPR 

projects must need repairs and undergo 

revitalization of a minimum of $6,500 

per unit. 

Eligible Financing Sources: Any form 

of Federal, State, and conventional 

sources of financing can be used in 

conjunction with the loan guarantee, 

including Home Investment Partnership 

Program (HOME) grant funds, tax 

exempt bonds, and low income housing 

tax credits. 

Maximum Guarantee: The Agency 

can guarantee the ‘‘permanent’’ loan. 

The Agency can only guarantee 

construction advances for the 

construction of the property if a 

guarantee for the permanent loan is 

requested for the same property. The 

Agency cannot, however, guarantee only 

the ‘‘construction’’ advances for the 

construction of a property. 

The maximum guarantee for a 

permanent loan will be 90 percent of the 

unpaid principal and interest up to 

default and accrued interest 90 calendar 

days from the date the liquidation plan 

is approved by the Agency, as defined 

in 7 CFR 3565.452. Penalties incurred as 

a result of default are not covered by the 

guarantee. The Agency may provide a 

lesser guarantee based upon its 

evaluation of the credit quality of the 

loan. The Agency’s liability under any 

guarantee will decrease or increase, in 

proportion to any decrease or increase 

in the amount of the unpaid portion of 

the loan, up to the maximum amount 

specified in the Loan Note Guarantee. 

The maximum guarantee of 

construction advances will not at any 

time exceed the lesser of 90 percent of 

the amount of principal and interest up 

to default advanced for eligible uses of 

loan proceeds or 90 percent of the 

original principal amount and interest 

up to default of the loan. Penalties 

incurred as a result of default are not 

covered by the guarantee. The Agency 

may provide a lesser guarantee based 

upon its evaluation of the credit quality 

of the loan. 

Reimbursement of Losses: Any losses 

will be split on a pro-rata basis between 

the lender and the Agency from the first 

dollar lost. 

Interest Credit: The FY 2009 

appropriation act does not permit 

interest credit. 

Surcharges for Guarantee of 

Construction Advances: There is no 

surcharge for the guarantee of 

construction advances for FY 2009. 

Program Fees for FY 2009: As a 

condition of receiving a loan guarantee, 

the Agency will charge the following 

fees to the lender. 

(1) There is a flat fee of $500 when a 

lender requests USDA Rural 

Development to extend the term of a 

guarantee commitment. 

(2) There is a flat fee of $500 when a 

lender requests USDA Rural 

Development to reopen an application 

when a commitment has expired. 

(3) There is a flat fee of $1,250 when 

a lender requests USDA Rural 

Development to approve the transfer of 

property and assumption of the loan to 

an eligible prospective borrower. 

(4) There is no lender application fee 

for lender approval in FY 2009. 

Eligible Lenders: An eligible lender 

for the section 538 GRRHP as required 

by 7 CFR 3565.102 must be a licensed 

business entity or Housing Finance 

Agency (HFA) in good standing in the 

State or States where it conducts 

business. Lender eligibility 

requirements are contained in 7 CFR 

3565.102. Please review 7 CFR 3565.102 

for a complete list of all of the criteria. 

Below is a list of some of the eligible 

lender criteria under 7 CFR 3565.102: 

(1) Licensed business entity that 

meets the qualifications and has the 

approval of the Secretary of Housing 

and Urban Development (HUD) to make 

multi-family housing loans that are 

insured under the National Housing 

Act. A complete list of HUD approved 

lenders can be found on the HUD Web 

site at http://www.hud.gov. 

(2) A licensed business entity that 

meets the qualifications and has the 

approval of the Ginnie Mae or Freddie 

Mac or Fannie Mae corporations to 

make multi-family housing loans that 

are sold to the same corporations. A 

complete list of Freddie Mac approved 

lenders can be found in Freddie Mac’s 

Web site at http://www.freddiemac.com. 

Fannie Mae approved lenders are found 

at http://www.fanniemae.com. For a list 

of Ginnie Mae issuers, contact Ginnie 

Mae at http://www.ginniemae.gov. 

(3) A State or local HFA with a toptier rating from Moody’s or Standard & 

Poors, or member of the Federal Home 

Loan Bank system, and the 

demonstrated ability to underwrite, 

originate, process, close, service, 

manage, and dispose of multi-family 

housing loans in a prudent manner. 

(4) Be a GRRHP approved lender, 

defined as an entity with a current 

executed multi-family housing Lender’s 

Agreement with USDA Rural 

Development. 

(5) Lenders that can demonstrate the 

capacity to underwrite, originate, 

process, close, service, manage, and 

dispose of multi-family housing loans in 

a prudent manner. In order to be 

approved the lender will have to have 

an acceptable level of financial 

soundness as determined by a lender 

rating service. The submission of 

materials demonstrating capacity will be 

required if the lender’s response is 

selected. Lenders who are otherwise 

ineligible may become eligible if they 

maintain a correspondent relationship 

with an eligible lender that does have 

the capacity to underwrite, originate, 

process, close, service, manage, and 

dispose of multi-family housing loans in 

a prudent manner. In this case, the 

eligible lender must submit the response 

and application on company letterhead. 

All contractual and legal documentation 

will be signed between USDA Rural 

Development and the lender that 

submitted the response and application. 

GRRHP Lender Approval Application: 

Lenders whose responses are selected 

will be notified by the USDA Rural 

Development to submit a request for 

GRRHP lender approval application 

within 30 days of notification. Lenders 

who request GRRHP approval must 

meet the standards in 7 CFR 3565. 

Lenders that have received GRRHP 

lender approval in the past and are in 

good standing do not need to reapply for 

GRRHP lender approval. Requirements 

for retaining approved lender status are 

defined in 7 CFR 3565. 

Submission of Documentation for 

GRRHP Lender Approval: All lenders 

that have not yet received GRRHP 

lender approval must submit a complete 

lender application to: Director, MultiFamily Housing Guaranteed Loan 

Division, Rural Development, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Room 1263, 

STOP 0781, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250– 

0781. Lender applications must be 

identified as ‘‘Section 538 Guaranteed 

Rural Rental Housing Program’’ on the 

envelope. 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 30507 

As the Section 538 program does not 

have a formal application form, a 

complete application consists of a cover 

letter requesting GRRHP lender 

approval and the following 

documentation: 

(1) Request for GRRHP lender 

approval on the lender’s letterhead; 

(2) Lenders who are HUD, Ginnie 

Mae, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae multifamily approved lenders are required to 

show evidence of this status, such as a 

copy of a letter designating the 

distinction; 

(3) The lender’s Loan Origination, 

Loan Servicing, and Portfolio 

Management Handbooks. These 

handbooks should detail the lender’s 

policies and procedures on loan 

origination through termination for 

multi-family loans; 

(4) Portfolio performance data; 

(5) Copies of standard documents that 

will be used in processing GRRHP 

loans; 

(6) Resumes and qualifications of key 

personnel that will be involved in the 

GRRHP; 

(7) Identification of standards and 

processes that deviate from those 

outlined in the GRRHP Origination and 

Servicing Handbook (HB–1–3565) found 

at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ 

hblist.html#hbw6. 

(8) A copy of the most recent audited 

financial statements; 

(9) Lender specific information 

including: (a) Legal name and address, 

(b) list of principal officers and their 

responsibilities, (c) certification that the 

officers and principals of the lender 

have not been debarred or suspended 

from Federal programs, (d) Form AD 

1047, ‘‘Certification Regarding 

Debarment, Suspension, and Other 

Responsibility Matters—Primary 

Covered Transaction’’, (e) certification 

that the lender is not in default or 

delinquent on any Federal debt or loan, 

or possesses an outstanding finding of 

deficiency in a Federal housing 

program, and (f) certification of the 

lender’s credit rating; and 

(10) Documentation on bonding and 

insurance. 

Additional Construction Lender 

Requirements 

The Agency can guarantee the 

‘‘permanent’’ loan. The Agency can only 

guarantee construction advances for the 

construction of the property if a 

guarantee for the permanent loan is 

requested for the same property. The 

Agency cannot, however, guarantee only 

the ‘‘construction’’ advances for the 

construction of a property. 

A lender making a construction loan 

must demonstrate an ability to originate 

and service construction loans, in 

addition to meeting the other 

requirements of 7 CFR part 3565, 

subpart C. A lender who originates and 

services construction/permanent loans 

must agree to manage the construction 

and draw activities in the manner 

described in the Chapter 5 of HB–1– 

3565. Lenders must meet either the 

basic or the demonstrated eligibility test 

in Chapter 2, paragraphs 2.4 and 2.5 of 

HB–1–3565 and the lender approval 

requirements set forth in Chapter 2 

paragraph 2.6 of HB–1–3565. Lenders 

must clearly identify policies and 

processes for multi-family construction 

lending. Lenders must also provide a 

summary of their multi-family 

construction lending activity in the 

same form as specified in Chapter 2, 

paragraph 2.5 of HB–1–3565. The 

Agency may, at its discretion, consider 

other types of construction loans—such 

as those for commercial development— 

as a substitute for multi-family 

construction experience. 

Lender Responsibilities: Lenders will 

be responsible for the full range of loan 

origination, underwriting, management, 

servicing, compliance issues, and 

property disposition activities 

associated with their projects. The 

lender will be expected to provide 

guidance to the prospective borrower on 

the Agency requirements during the 

application phase. Once the guarantee is 

issued, the lender is expected to service 

each loan it underwrites or contract 

these services to another capable entity. 

Discussion of NOFA Responses 

Content of NOFA Responses: All 

responses require lender information 

and project specific data. Incomplete 

responses will not be considered for 

funding. Lenders will be notified of 

incomplete responses. Complete 

responses are to include a signed cover 

letter from the lender on the lender’s 

letterhead and the following 

information: 

(1) Lender certification—The lender 

must certify that the lender will make a 

loan to the prospective borrower for the 

proposed project, under specified terms 

and conditions subject to the issuance of 

the GRRHP guarantee. Lender 

certification must be on the lender’s 

letterhead and signed by both the lender 

and the prospective borrower. 

(2) Project specific data—The lender 

must submit the project specific data 

below on the lender’s letterhead, signed 

by both the lender and the prospective 

borrower. 

Data element Information that must be included 

Lender Name ............................................................................................ Insert the lender’s name. 

Lender Tax ID # ....................................................................................... Insert lender’s tax ID #.

Lender Contact Name .............................................................................. Name of the lender contact for loan. 

Mailing Address ........................................................................................ Lender’s complete mailing address. 

Phone # .................................................................................................... Phone # for lender contact. 

Fax # ......................................................................................................... Insert lender’s fax #. 

E-mail Address ......................................................................................... Insert lender contact e-mail address. 

Borrower Name and Organization Type .................................................. State whether borrower is a Limited Partnership, Corporation, Indian 

Tribe, etc. 

Equal Opportunity Survey ........................................................................ Optional Completion 

Tax Classification Type ............................................................................ State whether borrower is for profit, not for profit, etc. 

Borrower Tax ID # .................................................................................... Insert borrower’s tax ID #. 

Borrower DUNS # ..................................................................................... Insert DUNS number. 

Borrower Address, including County ........................................................ Insert borrower’s address and county.

Borrower Phone # .................................................................................... Insert borrower’s phone #. 

Principal or Key Member for the Borrower .............................................. Insert name and title. 

Borrower Information and Statement of Housing Development Experience.Attach relevant information. 

New Construction, Acquisition with Rehabilitation, or the Revitalization, 

Repair, and Transfer (as stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of Existing 

Direct Section 515 Housing or MPR.

State whether the project is new construction or acquisition with rehabilitation. Transfer costs, including equity payments, are subject to 

Agency approval and must be an eligible use of loan proceeds in 7 

CFR 3565.205. 

Project Location Town or City .................................................................. Town or city in which the project is located. 

30508 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 

Data element Information that must be included 

Project County .......................................................................................... County in which the project is located. 

Project State ............................................................................................. State in which the project is located. 

Project Zip Code ....................................................................................... Insert zip code. 

Project Congressional District .................................................................. Congressional District for project location. 

Project Name ............................................................................................ Insert project name. 

Project Type ............................................................................................. Family, senior (all residents 55 years or older), or mixed. 

Property Description and Proposed Development Schedule ................... Provide as an attachment. 

Total Project Development Cost .............................................................. Enter amount for total project. 

# of Units .................................................................................................. Insert the # of units in the project. 

Ratio of 3–5 bedroom units to total units ................................................. Insert percentage of 3–5 bedroom units to total units. 

Cost Per Unit ............................................................................................ Total development cost divided by # of units. 

Rent .......................................................................................................... Proposed rent structure. 

Median Income for Community ................................................................ Provide median income for the community. 

Evidence of Site Control ........................................................................... Attach relevant information.

Description of Any Environmental Issues ................................................ Attach relevant information. 

Loan Amount ............................................................................................ Insert the loan amount. 

Borrower’s Proposed Equity.

Tax Credits ............................................................................................... Have tax credits been awarded? 

If tax credits were awarded, submit a copy of the award NOFA/evidence of award with your response. 

If not, when do you anticipate an award will be made (announced)? 

What is the [estimated] value of the tax credits? 

Other Sources of Funds ........................................................................... List all funding sources other than tax credits and amounts for each 

source. 

Loan to Total Development Cost ............................................................. Guaranteed loan divided by the total development costs of project. 

Debt Coverage Ratio ................................................................................ Net Operating Income divided by debt service payments. 

Percentage of Guarantee ......................................................................... Percentage guarantee requested.

Collateral ................................................................................................... Attach relevant information. 

Empowerment Zone (EZ) or Enterprise Community (EC), Colonia, Tribal Lands, or State’s Consolidated Plan or State Needs Assessment.Yes or No. Is the project in a recognized EZ or EC, Colonia, on an Indian Reservation, or in a place identified in the State’s Consolidated 

Plan or State Needs Assessment as a high need community for 

multi-family housing. 

Is the Property Located in a Federally Declared Disaster Area .............. If yes, please provide documentation (i.e., Presidential Declaration document). 

Population ................................................................................................. Provide the population of the county, city, or town where the project is 

or will be located. 

Is a Guarantee for Construction Being Requested? State yes or no. The Agency can guarantee the construction advances 

of the property if the guarantee for the permanent loan is requested 

for the same property. 

Loan Term ................................................................................................ Minimum 25-year term. 

Maximum 40-year term (includes construction period). 

May amortize up to 40 years. 

Balloon mortgages permitted after the 25th year. 

Scoring of Priority Criteria for 

Selection of Projects: All 2009 responses 

will be scored based on the criteria set 

forth below to establish their priority for 

obligation of funds. Per 7 CFR 3565.5(b), 

priority will be given to projects: In 

smaller rural communities, in the most 

needy communities having the highest 

percentage of leveraging, having the 

lowest interest rate, having the highest 

ratio of 3–5 bedroom units to total units, 

or located in Empowerment Zones/ 

Enterprise Communities or on tribal 

lands. In addition, the Agency may, at 

its sole discretion, set aside assistance 

for or rank projects that meet important 

program goals. 

Prior to July 20, 2009, projects with an 

overall score of 25 points or more and 

a loan to development cost ratio less 

than 70 percent will be processed and, 

when ready, obligated on a first-comefirst-serve basis, provided funds are 

available. Projects that score less than 

25 points, and projects that score 25 

points or more and do not have a loan 

to development cost ratio less than 70 

percent, may be processed up to the 

point of obligation, but will not be 

obligated until after July 20, 2009. After 

July 20, 2009, the Agency will select the 

highest scoring proposals using the 

procedure outlined in the DATES section 

of this NOFA. 

The six priority criteria for projects 

are listed below. 

Priority 1—Projects located in eligible 

rural communities with the lowest 

populations will receive the highest 

points. 

Population size Points 

0–10,000 people ........................... 15 

10,001–15,000 people .................. 10 

15,001–20,000 people .................. 5 

Priority 2—The most needy 

communities as determined by the 

median income from the most recent 

census data will receive points. The 

Agency will allocate points to projects 

located in communities having the 

lowest median income. Points for 

median income will be awarded as 

follows: 

Median income 

(dollars) Points 

Less than $45,000 ........................ 20 

$45,000–less than $55,000 .......... 15 

$55,000–less than $65,000 .......... 10 

$65,000–less than $75,000 .......... 5 

$75,000 or more ........................... 0 

Priority 3—Projects that demonstrate 

partnering and leveraging in order to 

develop the maximum number of units 

and promote partnerships with state and 

local communities will also receive 

points. Points will be awarded as 

follows: 

Loan to total development cost 

ratio (percentage %) Points 

90–100 .......................................... 0 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 30509 

Loan to total development cost 

ratio (percentage %) Points 

Less than 90–70 ........................... 15 

Less than 70–50 ........................... 20 

Less than 50 ................................. 30 

Priority 4—The development of 

projects on Tribal Lands, or in an 

Empowerment Zone or Enterprise 

Community will receive points. The 

USDA Rural Development will attribute 

20 points to projects that are developed 

in any of the locations described in this 

priority. The development of projects in 

a Colonia or in a place identified in the 

State’s Consolidated Plan or State Needs 

Assessment as a high need community 

for multi-family housing will receive 

points. The USDA Rural Development 

will attribute 20 points to projects that 

are developed in any of the locations 

described in this priority. 

Priority 5—The USDA Rural 

Development will award points to 

projects with the highest ratio of 3–5 

bedroom units to total units as follows: 

Ratio of 3–5 bedroom units to 

total units Points 

More than 50% ............................. 10 

21%–50% ..................................... 5 

Less than 21%–more than 0% ..... 1 

Priority 6—NOFA responses for the 

revitalization, repair, and transfer (as 

stipulated in 7 CFR 3560.406) of 

existing direct section 515 housing and 

properties involved in the Agency’s 

MPR program (transfer costs, including 

equity payments, are subject to Agency 

approval and must be an eligible use of 

loan proceeds listed in 7 CFR 3565.205) 

will receive an additional 30 points. 

Notifications: Responses will be 

reviewed for completeness and 

eligibility. The USDA Rural 

Development will notify those lenders 

whose responses are selected via letter. 

The USDA Rural Development will 

request lenders without GRRHP lender 

approval to apply for GRRHP lender 

approval within 30 days upon receipt of 

notification of selection. For 

information regarding GRRHP lender 

approval, please refer to the section 

entitled ‘‘Submission of Documentation 

for GRRHP Lender Approval’’ in this 

NOFA. 

Lenders will also be invited to submit 

a complete application to the USDA 

Rural Development State Office where 

the project is located. 

Submission of GRRHP Applications: 

Notification letters will instruct lenders 

to contact the USDA Rural Development 

State Office immediately following 

notification of selection to schedule 

required agency reviews. 

USDA Rural Development State Office 

staff will work with lenders in the 

development of an application package. 

In response to the NOFA, lenders must 

submit a response to the office address 

identified in the NOFA for the scoring 

and ranking of a proposed GRRHP 

project. The lender must provide the 

requested information concerning the 

project, to establish the purpose of the 

proposed project, its location, and how 

it meets the established priorities for 

funding. The Agency will determine the 

highest ranked responses based on 

priority criteria and a threshold score. 

NOFA responses will at least include 

the following [but the Agency, at its sole 

discretion, may request additional 

information]: 

(1) The Project 

(a) A brief description of the proposed 

location of the project, including town, 

county, state, and congressional district. 

(b) A description of the property and 

improvements, including lot size, 

number of units, building type, type of 

construction, etc., including preliminary 

drawings, if available. 

(c) The proposed development 

schedule. 

(d) Total project development cost. 

(e) The proposed rent structure and 

area median income (HUD published 

area median incomes can be found 

online at http://www.huduser.org). 

(f) Evidence of site control by the 

proposed borrower or a purchase 

option. 

(g) Description of any environmental 

issues that may affect the project. 

(h) Amount of loan to be guaranteed. 

(i) Type of project (e.g., elderly or 

family). 

(2) The Proposed Financing 

(a) Proposed loan amount and the 

proposed borrower’s equity. 

(b) Estimated development budget 

(total and cost/unit) and the proposed 

sources and uses of funds. This 

information should include all proposed 

financing sources—the amount, type, 

rates and terms of loans, tax credits, or 

grant funds. Letters of application and 

commitment letters should be included, 

if available. 

(c) Estimated loan-to-development 

cost ratio for the guaranteed loan. 

(d) Proposed Agency guarantee 

percentage for guaranteed loan (under 

no condition can the percentage exceed 

90 percent of the loan amount). 

(e) Collateral—all security, in addition 

to the real property, proposed to secure 

the loan. 

(3) The Proposed Borrower 

(a) The name of the borrower and the 

type of ownership entity. List the 

general partners if a limited partnership, 

officers if a corporation or members of 

a Limited Liability Corporation. 

(b) Borrower’s contact name, mailing 

address, phone and fax numbers, and email address. 

(c) Certification that the borrower or 

principals of the ownership are not 

barred from participating in Federal 

housing programs and are not 

delinquent on any Federal debt. 

(d) Borrower’s unaudited or audited 

financial statements. 

(e) Statement of borrower’s housing 

development experience. 

(4) Lender Eligibility and Approval 

Status 

Evidence that the lender is either an 

approved lender for the purposes of the 

GRRHP or that the lender is eligible to 

apply for approved lender status. The 

lender’s application for approved lender 

status can be submitted with the 

response but must be submitted to the 

National Office within 30 calendar days 

of the lender’s receipt of the ‘‘NOFA to 

Proceed with Application Processing’’ 

letter. 

(5) Competitive Criteria 

Information that shows how the 

proposal is responsive to the selection 

criteria specified in the NOFA. 

(6) Lender Certification 

A commitment letter signed by the 

lender, on the lender’s letterhead, 

indicating that the lender will make a 

loan to the borrower for the proposed 

project, under specified terms and 

conditions subject only to the issuance 

of a guarantee by the Agency. The 

deadline for the submission of a 

complete application and is 90 days 

from the date of notification of response 

selection. If the application is not 

received by the appropriate State Office 

within 90 days from the date of 

notification, the selection is subject to 

cancellation, thereby allowing another 

response that is ready to proceed with 

processing to be selected. The State 

Office has the ability to extend this 90- 

day deadline for receipt of an 

application only for good cause. 

Obligation of Program Funds: The 

Agency will only obligate funds to 

projects that meet the requirements for 

obligation, including having undergone 

a satisfactory environmental review in 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) 

and completed Form RD 3565–1 for the 

selected project. 

Conditional Commitment: Once the 

required documents for obligation are 

received and all NEPA requirements 

have been met, the USDA Rural 

30510 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 122 / Friday, June 26, 2009 / Notices 

Development State Office will issue a 

conditional commitment, which 

stipulates the conditions that must be 

fulfilled before the issuance of a 

guarantee, in accordance with 7 CFR 

3565.303. 

Issuance of Guarantee: The USDA 

Rural Development Office will issue a 

guarantee to the lender for a project in 

accordance with 7 CFR 3565.303. No 

guarantee can be issued without a 

complete application, review of 

appropriate certifications, satisfactory 

assessment of the appropriate level of 

environmental review, and the 

completion of any conditional 

requirements. 

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, 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: June 18, 2009. 

Tammye H. Trevin ̃ o, 

Administrator, Rural Housing Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–14940 Filed 6–25–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Housing Service 

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) 

Inviting Applications for the Rural 

Community Development Initiative 

(RCDI) for Fiscal Year 2009 

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of 

applications. 

SUMMARY: This Notice announces the 

availability of $6,256,000 of competitive 

grant funds for the RCDI program 

through the Rural Housing Service 

(RHS), an agency within the USDA 

Rural Development mission area herein 

referred to as the Agency. Applicants 

must provide matching funds in an 

amount at least equal to the Federal 

grant. These grants will be made to 

qualified intermediary organizations 

that will provide financial and technical 

assistance to recipients to develop their 

capacity and ability to undertake 

projects related to housing, community 

facilities, or community and economic 

development. This Notice lists the 

information needed to submit an 

application for these funds. 

DATES: The deadline for receipt of an 

application is 4 p.m. local time, 

September 24, 2009. The application 

date and time are firm. The Agency will 

not consider any application received 

after the 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. 

ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for 

assistance may download the 

application documents and 

requirements delineated in this Notice 

from the RCDI Web site: http:// 

www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/ 

index.htm. Application information for 

electronic submissions may be found at 

http://www.grants.gov. Applicants may 

also request paper application packages 

from the Rural Development office in 

their state. A list of Rural Development 

offices is included in this Notice. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The 

Rural Development office for the state 

the applicant is located in. A list of 

Rural Development State Office contacts 

is included in this Notice. 

Programs Affected 

This program is listed in the Catalog 

of Federal Domestic Assistance under 

Number 10.446. This program is not 

subject to the provisions of Executive 

Order 12372, which requires 

intergovernmental consultation with 

State and local officials because it is not 

listed by the Secretary of Agriculture, 

pursuant to 7 CFR 3015.302, as a 

covered program. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

The paperwork burden has been 

cleared by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control 

Number 0575–0180. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

This document has been reviewed in 

accordance with 7 CFR part 1940–G, 

‘‘Environmental Program.’’ Rural 

Development has determined that this 

NOFA does not constitute a major 

federal action significantly affecting the 

quality of the human environment, and 

an Environmental Impact Statement is 

not required. Furthermore, individual 

awards under this NOFA are hereby 

classified as Categorial Exclusions 

which do not require any additional 

documentation. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Housing 

Service. 

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural 

Community Development Initiative. 

Announcement Type: Initial 

Announcement. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.446. 

Part I—Funding Opportunity 

Description 

Congress initially created the RCDI in 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 to develop the 

capacity and ability of nonprofit 

organizations, low-income rural 

communities, or federally recognized 

tribes to undertake projects related to 

housing, community facilities, or 

community and economic development 

in rural areas. 

Part II—Award Information 

Congress appropriated $6,256,000 in 

FY 2009 for the RCDI. Qualified private, 

nonprofit and public (including tribal) 

intermediary organizations proposing to 

carry out financial and technical 

assistance programs will be eligible to 

receive the funding. The intermediary 

will be required to provide matching 

funds in an amount at least equal to the 

RCDI grant. The respective minimum 

and maximum grant amount per 

intermediary is $50,000 and $300,000. 

The intermediary must provide a 

program of financial and technical 

assistance to a private nonprofit, 

community-based housing and 

development organization, a lowincome rural community or a federally 

recognized tribe. 

Part III—Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

1. Qualified private, nonprofit, 

including faith-based, and community 

organizations in accordance with 7 CFR 

Part 16, and public (including tribal) 

intermediary organizations. Definitions 

that describe eligible organizations and 

other key terms are listed below. 

2. RCDI grantees that have an 

outstanding grant over 3 years old, as of 

the application due date in this Notice,