Source: https://www.global-regulation.com/law/united-states/28698/strategic-economic-and-community-development.html
Timestamp: 2018-05-23 01:09:38
Document Index: 253125775

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', 'art.\n2', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980', '§ 1980']

Strategic Economic and Community Development (United States)
Link to law: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/text/raw_text/201/512/163.txt
This interim rule implements Section 6025, Strategic Economic and Community Development, under the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). Unless the Agency provides otherwise, the Agency will reserve up to 10 percent of the funds appropriated to certain Rural Development (RD) programs each fiscal year to fund projects that support the implementation of strategic economic and community development plans across multi-jurisdictional areas. The programs from which funds will be reserved are community facility programs, water and waste disposal programs, and rural business and cooperative development programs. To be eligible for the reserved funds, projects must be first eligible for funding under the programs from which the funds are reserved. In addition, projects must be carried out solely in rural areas. Any reserved funding that is not obligated by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds were reserved will be returned to the programs' regular funding accounts.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Submit written comments via Federal Express Mail, or other courier service requiring a street address, to the Branch Chief, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 300 7th Street SW., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20024.
Aaron Morris, Rural Housing Service, Community Facilities, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0787, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3225; email: aaron.morris@wdc.usda.gov ; telephone (202) 720-1500.
• Community Facility Loans
• Fire and Rescue and Other Small Community Facilities Projects
• Community Facilities Grant Program
• Community Programs Guaranteed Loans
• Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans
• Water and Waste Loans and Grants
• Business and Industry Guaranteed Loanmaking and Servicing
• The underlying program's criteria.
• The proposed project's direct support of the objectives found in the strategic economic development or community development plan that it supports.
• Certain characteristics (as specified in the authorizing statute) of strategic economic development or community plan that the proposed project support.
This action has been reviewed under Executive Order (EO) 12866 and has been determined to be “economically significant” by the Office of Management and Budget. The EO defines a “economically significant regulatory action” as one that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect, in a material way, the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in this EO.
The number of applicants was determined by first estimating the most recent estimate of the number of applicants ( e.g., from Paperwork Reduction Act packages) for each of the individual programs included and then determining the percentage of those applicants that are in an area covered by an Economic Development Administration (EDA) approved plan. Next, the number of underlying program applicants was multiplied by the percentage of applicants in an EDA-approved plan area and this result was then multiplied by an estimate of how many such potential applicants would actually apply for Section 6025 reserved funds. For Rural Business Devlepment Grants (RBDG), the same steps were used with one additional adjustment factor taking into account difference in funding levels between the “old” Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) programs and the new RBDG program.
Benefits. The priority provided by Section 6025 is directed at only those eligible applications that are carried out solely in a rural area and that also support development plans on a multi-jurisdictional basis. As a result of this priority, the Agency expects that rural entities will access Rural Development programs in a manner that supports projects and initiatives that develop long-term community and economic growth strategies. The Agency will work with rural communities to consider how they might use Rural Development resources to address multi-jurisdictional needs, by leveraging federal, state, local or private funding, or otherwise capitalize upon the unique strengths of the rural area to support successful community and economic development. This priority will help to maximize the impact of resources available at all levels of government and ultimately help rural communities reach their full potential. Such projects will be more effective than “one-off” projects ( i.e., those that meet an immediate need) in contributing to the larger strategic vision because they will be based on a strategy that takes into account the region's strengths and weaknesses, leveraging the area's assets in the most effective way possible.
Underlying Programs. The proposed action will not change the underlying provisions of the included programs ( e.g., eligibility, applications, award decisions, scoring, and servicing provisions).
Present Values. Net present values were calculated using a 3 percent and a 7 percent discount rate for program levels covering Fiscal Years 2015 through 2019. The values were calculated for a baseline scenario ( i.e., without the Section 6025 priority) and for a “with Section 6025 priority” scenario. For the Section 6025 priority scenario, 10 percent of each of the underlying programs' program level funds is assumed to be used to fund Section 6025 applications and the remaining 90 percent of each of the underlying programs' program level funds is used to fund “regular program” applications.
All active CFDA programs can be found at www.cfda.gov .
• Economic conditions of the region;
• economic and community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the region;
• consideration of such aspects as the environmental and social conditions;
• strategies and implementation plan that build upon the region's strengths and opportunities ;=-and resolve the weaknesses and threats facing the region;
• performance measures to evaluate the successful implementation of the plan;
• support of key community stakeholders.
Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
The following paragraphs discuss each section of the interim rule and provide additional information on RD's intent in implementing each.
Purpose (§ 1980.1001)
Programs (§ 1980.1002)
• Rural Community Facilities—community facility grants, guaranteed loans, and direct loans;
• Rural Utilities—water and waste disposal grants, guaranteed loans, and direct loans; and
• Rural Business and Cooperative Development—business and industry direct and guaranteed loans; and rural business development grants.
Applicability of Programs (§ 1980.1003)
Funding (§ 1980.1004)
• RD will reserve 10 percent of the funds appropriated each year to each underlying program, unless RD announces otherwise; and
• Any reserved funding not obligated by June 30 (or earlier if specified by RD) will be returned to the underlying program's regular funding account.
Which programs will participate each year ? Unless RD decides otherwise, RD will reserve funds from each of the programs identified in Section 6025 each year. Section 6025 provides RD the flexibility to not reserve funds from a specific program in a given year. RD may decide not to reserve funding from a particular program for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the amount of funds appropriated to an individual program in a given year. If RD makes such a decision, RD will announce in a notice which program(s) will not be included for that fiscal year.
Section 6025, however, does not prohibit RD from establishing a date earlier than June 30th after which unobligated reserved funds are returned to the underlying program's account. RD may decide that an earlier date for a program is appropriate, for example, in order to coordinate the award of reserved funds with awards made for the underlying program. If RD elects to establish an earlier date, RD will announce in a notice the earlier date(s) and for which programs. This provision may result in programs having different dates for when unobligated reserved funds are returned to their respective underlying program's regular funding account. For example, the date for one program may be June 30th while the date for another program is March 31st.
Definitions (§ 1980.1005)
• The entire project is physically located in a rural area or
• The beneficiaries of the service(s) provided through the project must either reside in a rural area (in the case of individuals) or be located in a rural area (in the case of entities).
• The economic conditions of the region;
• the economic and community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the region, to include consideration of such aspects as the environmental and social conditions;
• strategies and implementation plan that build upon the region's strengths and opportunities and resolve the weaknesses and threats facing the region;
• performance measures to evaluate the successful implementation of the plan; and
Project. One of the eligibility criteria under this statute for projects seeking reserved funding under this subpart is that the project meets the eligibility requirements of the underlying program. While the programs identify such eligibility requirements, they do not all contain a definition of a “project.” For this subpart, RD is providing a definition of project in broad terms to be “the eligible proposed use(s) for which funds are requested as described in the application material submitted to the Agency for funding under the underlying program.” “Eligible proposed uses(s)” refers to those proposed uses that are eligible for funding under the underlying program. The intent of this definition is to cover the various types of projects eligible under the underlying programs.
Project Eligibility (§ 1980.1010)
• The project must meet the project eligibility criteria of the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002;
• The project must be carried out solely in a rural area; and
• The project must support the implementation of a strategic economic development or community development plan on a multi-jurisdictional basis.
Applications (§ 1980.1015)
The applicant (§ 1980.1015(a)). In addition to basic information on the applicant ( i.e., name, telephone, number, email address), this section also requires identification of whether the applicant includes a State, county, municipal, or tribal government. It is necessary to obtain this identification because there is a statutory requirement that applications involving such governmental entities must include an indication of consistency with an adopted regional economic or community development plan.
The plan (§ 1980.1015(b)). An applicant is required to identify by name the plan being supported by the project, the date the plan became effective, and the dates the plan is to remain in effect. The applicant is also required to provide contact information for the appropriate entity(ies) who prepared the plan.
The project (§ 1980.1015(c)). With regard to the project itself, the applicant is required to provide sufficient information on the project to enable RD to determine whether the project is “carried out solely in a rural area” as defined in this subpart. If the application material for the underlying program is sufficient to allow RD to make this determination, the applicant does not need to submit additional information. However, if it is not sufficient, the applicant must provide the necessary information showing that either the project will be physically located in a rural area or that the beneficiaries of the project's services either reside in (if an individual) or are located in (if an entity) a rural area.
Agency Coordination (§ 1980.1015(d)). Applicants are required to submit certain information that will assist RD to coordinate the programs that provide funding to this subpart.
2. Multiple applications. An applicant may submit more than one application in a fiscal year for funding under this subpart. For example, an applicant may submit three applications, one for each of the three program areas. In this case, the applicant would identify in each application information on the other two applications. The information to be submitted is: The name(s) of the project(s), the program area(s) for which funds are being sought, and the dates that each application was submitted.
• The date the previous application was submitted;
• The specific program area(s) from which funds were sought;
• Whether or not the project was selected for funding; and
• If the applicant received an award under this subpart, the specific program(s) that provided the funding; the date and amount of the award; and whether any of the funding came from funds reserved under this subpart.
Scoring (§ 1980.1020)
• If the project directly supports implementation of three or more of the plan's objectives, the application will receive 10 points.
• If the project directly supports implementation of two of the plan's objectives, the application will receive 5 points.
• If the project directly supports implementation of less than two of the plan's objectives, the application will receive no points.
• Collaboration. If the plan was developed through the collaboration of multiple stakeholders in the service area of the plan, including the participation of combinations of stakeholders, such as State, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit institutions, institutions of higher education, and private entities, RD will award two points.
• Regional resources. If the plan demonstrates an understanding of the region's assets (including natural resources, human resources, infrastructure, and financial resources) that could support the plan, RD will award two points.
• Investment—other Federal agencies. If the development of the plan or the activities and actions taken to implement the plan include monetary or non-monetary contributions from Federal agencies other than USDA, RD will award two points.
• Investment—philanthropic organizations. If the plan includes monetary or non-monetary contributions from philanthropic organizations, RD will award two points.
• Objectives, measures, tracking. If the plan contains clear objectives, the ability to establish measurable performance measures, and the ability to track progress towards meeting the plan's objectives, RD will award two points.
Award Process (§ 1980.1025)
In years where funding is made available under this subpart, if a project is not awarded funds under this subpart, it is still eligible to compete for funds through the underlying program. Such projects will be scored only according to the criteria in the underlying program including any discretionary points. Any points awarded through the Section 6025 scoring criteria will not be included when competing with other projects in the underlying program. However, in years where funding is not made available under this subpart, projects are still eligible to compete for funding under the applicable underlying program. The scores for such projects when competing for underlying program funding will include the score assigned to the application under § 1980.1020(b) as described in a notice published in the Federal Register . The Agency intends to prioritize such applications in this manner even if it chooses not to reserve funds in a particular year as permitted by statute.
Evaluation of Project Information (§ 1980.1026)
RD encourages interested persons and organizations to submit written comments, which may include data, suggestions, or opinions. Commenters should include their name, address, and other appropriate contact information. If persons with disabilities ( e.g., deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulties) require an alternative means of receiving this notice ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape) in order to submit comments, please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Agriculture, Business and industry, Community facilities, Credit, Disaster assistance, Livestock, Loan programs—agriculture, Loan programs—business, Loan programs—housing and community development, Low and moderate income housing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas.
5 U.S.C. 301, 7 U.S.C. 1989
§ 1980.1001
The purpose of this subpart is to give priority to Projects that support implementation of strategic economic development and community development plans on a Multi-jurisdictional basis for applications submitted for the programs identified in § 1980.1002.
§ 1980.1002
§ 1980.1003
Except as supplemented by this subpart, the provisions of the programs identified in § 1980.1002 are incorporated into this subpart.
§ 1980.1004
Unless the Agency publishes a notice that indicates otherwise, the Agency will reserve funds according to the procedures specified in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section for each of the programs identified in § 1980.1002 each fiscal year.
(b) Percentage of funds. The Agency will reserve 10 percent of the funds made available in a fiscal year to each program identified in § 1980.1002 unless the Agency specifies a different percentage. If the Agency specifies a different percentage, the Agency will publish a notice indicating the percentage. The Agency may reserve the same or different percentages for each program in a single fiscal year.
§ 1980.1005
In addition to the definitions found in the regulations for the programs identified in § 1980.1002, the following definitions apply to this subpart. If the same term is defined in any of the regulations for the programs identified in § 1980.1002, for purposes of this subpart, that term will have the meaning identified in this subpart.
§§ 1980.1006-1980.1009
§ 1980.1010
(a) The Project must meet the Project eligibility criteria of the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002;
§§ 1980.1011-1980.1014
§ 1980.1015
In addition to the application material specific to the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002, each applicant seeking funding under this subpart must provide the information specified in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section.
(2) Sufficient detail to allow the Agency to determine that the Project has been Carried Out Solely in a rural area as defined in § 1980.1005;
(1) Program areas. Identify the program area(s) ( i.e., Community Facilities, Water and Waste, Rural Business and Cooperative Development) from which funds are being sought.
§§ 1980.1016-1980.1019
§ 1980.1020
(a) Underlying program scoring. The Agency will score each application using the criteria for the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002. The maximum number of points an application can receive under this paragraph is based on the scoring criteria for the applicable underlying program, including any discretionary points that may be awarded.
§§ 1980.1021-1980.1024
§ 1980.1025
(b) In years when funding is made available under this subpart, Projects not receiving funding under this subpart are eligible to compete for funding under the applicable underlying program. The scores for such Projects when competing for underlying program funding will not include the score assigned to the application under § 1980.1020(b).
(c) In years when funding is not made available under this subpart, Projects are eligible to compete for funding for the applicable underlying program. The scores for such Projects when competing for underlying program funding will include the score assigned the application § 1980.1020(b) as described in a notice published in the Federal Register .
§ 1980.1026
§§ 1980.1027-1980.1100