[Federal Register: May 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 92)]
[Notices]
[Page 25563-25566]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13my03-41]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for
Rural Cooperative Development Grants
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the
availability of approximately $6.5 million in competing Rural
Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) funds for fiscal year (FY) 2003.
Of this amount, approximately $1.5 million will be reserved for
applications that focus on assistance to small, minority producers
through their cooperative businesses. This action will comply with
legislation which authorizes grants for establishing and operating
centers for rural cooperative development. The intended effect of this
notice is to solicit applications for FY 2003 and award grants before
September 1, 2003.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of an application is June 27, 2003.
Applications received after that date will not be considered.
Applications should be sent to the Rural Development State offices.
State offices will forward the applications to the National office by
July 14, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact
their USDA Rural Development State Office to receive further
information and copies of the application package. A list of state
offices is provided at the end of this Notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries are directed to the
applicable USDA Rural Development State Office. Information is also
available on the RBS Web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg.htm <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg.htm>.
You may also contact Marc Warman, Program Leader, Cooperative
Services, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Stop 3250, Room 4016, South Agriculture Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3250. Telephone (202)
690-1431.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements continued in this regulation were
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and
were assigned OMB control number 0570-0006.
General Information
Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) are authorized by
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1932). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F.
The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the economic
condition of rural areas through cooperative development. The program
is administered through USDA Rural Development State Offices acting on
behalf of RBS.
Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
was amended by Public Law 107-171 (Mar 13, 2002) to modify the matching
requirement required of RCDG grant applicants that are ``1994
Institutions'' (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Pub. L. 103-382).
1994 Institutions are not required to provide non-Federal financial
support (matching funds) greater than 5 percent of the grant awarded.
In the case of all applicants, preference points will be awarded where
applicants commit to providing greater than the minimum 25 percent
matching contribution. A current list of 1994 Institutions may be
obtained from RBS.
Grant Selection Criteria
Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit
corporations and institutions of higher education based on the
following selection criteria. The priorities described in this
paragraph will be used by RBS to rate applications. RBS review
[[Page 25564]]
of applications will include the complete application package submitted
to the Rural Development State Office. Points will be ranked as
compared with other applications on hand. Points will be awarded to
each factor on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis depending on the applicant's
ranking compared to other applicants. Each factor will receive equal
weight.
Preference will be given to applications that:
(1) Demonstrate a proven track record in administering a nationally
coordinated, regionally or State-wide operated project;
(2) Demonstrate previous expertise in providing technical
assistance to cooperatives in rural areas;
(3) Demonstrate the ability to assist in the retention of business,
facilitate the establishment of cooperatives and new cooperative
approaches, and generate employment opportunities that will improve the
economic conditions of rural areas;
(4) Demonstrate the ability to create horizontal linkages among
cooperative businesses within and among various sectors in rural areas
of the United States and vertical linkages to domestic and
international markets;
(5) Commit to providing technical assistance and other services to
underserved and economically distressed rural areas of the United
States;
(6) Commit to providing greater than a 25 percent matching
contribution (5 percent in the case of 1994 Institutions) with private
funds and in-kind contributions;
(7) Demonstrate transferability or demonstration value to assist
rural areas outside of project area; and
(8) Demonstrate that any cooperative development activity is
consistent with positive environmental stewardship.
Fiscal Year 2003 Application Submission
Applications must include a clear statement of the goals and
objectives of the project and a plan which describes the proposed
project as required by the statute and 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Each
application received in the State Office will be reviewed to determine
if the application is consistent with the eligible purposes outlined in
7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. Applications without supportive data to
address selection criteria will not be considered. All submissions must
conform to the required standard Times New Roman, 12 point font.
Since the primary objective of the cooperative center concept is to
provide technical assistance services, including feasibility analysis,
applications that do not propose development or continuation of the
cooperative center concept will not be considered. Also, applications
that focus on assistance to only one cooperative within the project
area will not be considered. To enhance the long-term viability of
cooperative development centers, strengthening of technical assistance
capacity within new and existing centers is strongly encouraged.
Copies of 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, will be provided to any
interested applicant by making a request to the Rural Development State
office or RBS National office.
Applications must be completed and submitted to the State Rural
Development Office as soon as possible, but no later than June 27,
2003. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Electronic submission of proposals as an email attachment is strongly
encouraged.
Each application must contain the information required under 7 CFR
4284.528(a) and (b)(1) (copies of which may be obtained from the
Agency) in addition to the following information which is required
under 7 CFR 4284.528(b)(2):
(1) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each
component of the application.
(2) A project summary of 250 words or less on a separate page. This
page must include the title of the project and the names of the primary
project contacts and the applicant organization, followed by the
summary. The summary should be self-contained and should describe the
overall goals, relevance of the project, and a listing of all
organizations involved in the project. The project summary should
immediately follow the Table of Contents.
(3) A separate one-page information sheet which lists each of the
eight evaluation criteria followed by the page numbers of all relevant
material and documentation contained in the application which supports
that criteria. This page should immediately follow the project summary.
(4) Description of the applicant's experience with similar
projects, pursuant to 7 CFR 4284.528(a)(2)(vii). Applicants who have
received funding under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program
in Fiscal Years 2001 or 2002 must provide a summation, not to exceed
three pages, of progress and results for all projects funded fully or
partially by the RCDG program in those years. This summary should
include the status of cooperative businesses organized and all eligible
grant purpose activities listed under 7 CFR 4284.515. The summary
should immediately follow the page described above in item (3)
documenting the location of evaluation criteria supporting material.
(5) A work plan that describes the specific tasks to be completed
using grant and matching funds, pursuant to 7 CFR 4284.528(b)(1). The
work plan should describe how customers will be identified (7 CFR
4284.528(a)(2)(vi)), key personnel to be involved (7 CFR
4284.528(a)(2)(vii) and the evaluation methods to be used to determine
the success of specific tasks and overall objectives of Center
operations (7 CFR 4284.528(a)(2)(xi)). A detailed budget must be
submitted as part of the work plan and is required pursuant to 7 CFR
4284.528(a)(2)(iv). The budget must present a breakdown of the
estimated costs associated with cooperative development activities as
well as the operation of the Center and allocate these costs to each of
the tasks to be performed in the work plan (7 CFR 4284.528(a)(2)(iii)).
Matching funds as well as grant funds must be accounted for in the
budget and estimate of total costs. The work plan, budget and estimate
of costs, should not exceed 10 pages.
(6) The eight grant selection criteria in 7 CFR
4284.528(a)(2)(xiii)(G) must be addressed individually and in specific
detail. This discussion should be in narrative form, should not exceed
40 pages, and should include all citations to supporting documentation.
Do not include the referenced supporting documentation in the
application package until and unless requested to do so by USDA.
Applications requesting Federal funds in excess of $350,000 will
not be considered.
The National Office will score applications based on the grant
selection criteria contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F, and will
select awardees subject to the availability of funds and the
applicant's satisfactory submission of a formal application and related
materials in accordance with subpart F. Entities submitting
applications that are selected for awards will be invited by the Rural
Development State office to submit all referenced supporting
documentation and other required materials prior to September 1. As
part of the award process, the State Office will review the referenced
supporting documentation. Monitoring officials from the State Office
must be satisfied as to the completeness and validity of any referenced
documentation before grant funds will be obligated. It is anticipated
[[Page 25565]]
that formal grant awards will be made by September 30, 2003.
In the event that the applicant is awarded a grant that is less
than the amount requested, the applicant will be required to modify its
application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the
grant agreement. The Agency reserves the right to reduce or de-obligate
the award, if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the
awardees within 15 working days from the date the application is
returned to the applicant. Any modifications must be within the scope
of the original application.
All applicants and grants must be in compliance with the
requirements of 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019.
Dated: May 5, 2003.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Services.
List of Rural Development State Offices
Note:
Telephone numbers shown are not toll free.
Alabama
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Sterling Center, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400,
steve.pelham@al.usda.gov <mailto:
steve.pelham@al.usda.gov>.
Alaska
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite
201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 761-7705, nhayes@rdmail.rural.usda.gov <mailto:nhayes@rdmail.rural.usda.gov>.
Arizona
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3003 North Central Avenue,
Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012, (602) 280-8700,
eddie.browning@az.usda.gov
<mailto:
eddie.browning@az.usda.gov>
Arkansas
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue,
Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200,
john.allen@ar.usda.gov <mailto:
john.allen@ar.usda.gov>.
California
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, Agency 4169,
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792-5800, paul.venosdel@ca.usda.gov <mailto:paul.venosdel@ca.usda.gov>.
Colorado
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 655 Parfet Street, Lakewood,
CO 80215, (720) 544-2903, gigi.dennis@co.usda.gov <mailto:gigi.dennis@co.usda.gov>.
Delaware-Maryland
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 4607 South DuPont Highway,
Camden, DE 19934, (302) 697-4300, marlene.elliott@de.usda.gov <mailto:marlene.elliott@de.usda.gov>.
Florida/Virgin Islands
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place,
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338-3400, charles.clemons@fl.usda.gov <mailto:charles.clemons@fl.usda.gov>.
Georgia
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Stephens Federal Building,
355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601, (706) 546-2162,
stone.workman@ga.usda.gov <mailto:
stone.workman@ga.usda.gov>.
Hawaii
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 311,
154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8380,
lorraine.shin@hi.usda.gov <mailto:
lorraine.shin@hi.usda.gov>.
Idaho
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 9173 West Barnes Drive,
Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600, mike.field@id.usda.gov <mailto:mike.field@id.usda.gov>.
Illinois
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite
A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6200, Douglas.wilson@il.usda.gov <mailto:Douglas.wilson@il.usda.gov>.
Indiana
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100, Robert.white@in.usda.gov <mailto:Robert.white@in.usda.gov>.
Iowa
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 873,
210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663,
nancy.orth@ia.usda.gov <mailto:
nancy.orth@ia.usda.gov>.
Kansas
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 1303 S.W. First American
Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604, (785) 271-2700,
chuck.banks@ks.usda.gov <mailto:
chuck.banks@ks.usda.gov>.
Kentucky
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite
200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7300, ken.slone@ky.usda.gov <mailto:ken.slone@ky.usda.gov>.
Louisiana
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3727 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7920, Michael.taylor@la.usda.gov <mailto:Michael.taylor@la.usda.gov>.
Maine
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite
4, Bangor, ME 04402, (207) 990-9106, m.aube@me.usda.gov <mailto:m.aube@me.usda.gov>.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 451 West Street, Suite 2,
Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4300 david.tutle@ma.usda.gov <mailto:david.tutle@ma.usda.gov>.
Michigan
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite
200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5200,
Harry.brumer@mi.usda.gov <mailto:
Harry.brumer@mi.usda.gov>.
Minnesota
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 375 Jackson Street, Suite
410, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7800
steve.wenzel@mn.usda.gov <mailto:
steve.wenzel@mn.usda.gov>.
Mississippi
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 831,
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4316,
nick.walters@ms.usda.gov <mailto:
nick.walters@ms.usda.gov>.
Missouri
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West,
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976,
greg.branum@mo.usda.gov <mailto:
greg.branum@mo.usda.gov>.
Montana
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 900 Technology Blvd., Suite
B, Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 585-2580, tim.ryan@mt.usda.gov <mailto:tim.ryan@mt.usda.gov>.
Nebraska
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 152,
100 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551,
jim.barr@ne.usda.gov <mailto:
jim.barr@ne.usda.gov>.
Nevada
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 1390 South Curry Street,
Carson City, NV 89703, (775) 887-1222 larry.smith@nv.usda.gov <mailto:larry.smith@nv.usda.gov>.
New Jersey
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 5th Floor North Tower, Suite
500, 8000 Midlantic Drive, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700,
Andrew.law@nj.usda.gov <mailto:
Andrew.law@nj.usda.gov>.
New Mexico
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE,
Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4950,
jeff.condrey@nm.usda.gov <mailto:
jeff.condrey@nm.usda.gov>.
New York
State Director, USDA Rural Development, The Galleries of Syracuse,
441 South Salina Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 477-
6400, Patrick.brennan@ny.usda.gov <mailto:Patrick.brennan@ny.usda.gov>.
North Carolina
State Director, USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland
Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000,
john.cooper@nc.usda.gov <mailto:
john.cooper@nc.usda.gov>.
North Dakota
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 208,
220 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-2037,
jane.grant@nd.usda.gov <mailto:
jane.grant@nd.usda.gov>.
Ohio
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 507,
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 255-2400,
randall.hunt@oh.usda.gov <mailto:
randall.hunt@oh.usda.gov>.
Oklahoma
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108,
Stillwater, OK 74074, (405) 742-1000, brent.kisling@ok.usda.gov <mailto:brent.kisling@ok.usda.gov>.
[[Page 25566]]
Oregon
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 101 SW Main Street, Suite
1410, Portland, OR 97204, (503) 414-3300,
lynn.schoessler@or.usda.gov <mailto:
lynn.schoessler@or.usda.gov>.
Pennsylvania
State Director, USDA Rural Development, One Credit Union Place,
Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2299,
byron.ross@pa.usda.gov <mailto:
byron.ross@pa.usda.gov>.
Puerto Rico
State Director, USDA Rural Development State Office, 654 Munoz
Rivera Avenue, IBM Plaza, Suite 601, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918,
(787) 766-5095, jose.otero@pr.usda.gov <mailto:jose.otero@pr.usda.gov>.
South Carolina
State Director, USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond
Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Suite 1007, Columbia, SC
29201, (803) 765-5163 charles.sparks@sc.usda.gov <mailto:charles.sparks@sc.usda.gov>.
South Dakota
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 210,
200 4th Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100,
lynn.jensen@sd.usda.gov <mailto:
lynn.jensen@sd.usda.gov>.
Tennessee
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite
300, Nashville, TN 37203, (615) 783-1300, peggy.rose@tn.usda.gov <mailto:peggy.rose@tn.usda.gov>.
Texas
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102,
101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700,
bryan.daniel@tx.usda.gov <mailto:
bryan.daniel@tx.usda.gov>.
Utah
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT
84138, (801) 524-4320, jack.cox@ut.usda.gov <mailto:jack.cox@ut.usda.gov>.
Vermont/New Hampshire
State Director, USDA Rural Development, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89
Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6000,
marie.ferris@vt.usda.gov <mailto:
marie.ferris@vt.usda.gov>.
Virginia
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Culpeper Building, Suite
238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1550,
joe.newbill@va.usda.gov <mailto:
joe.newbill@va.usda.gov>.
Washington
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW,
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7740,
misha.divens@wa.usda.gov <mailto:
misha.divens@wa.usda.gov>.
West Virginia
State Director, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, 75 High
Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 284-4860,
jenny.phillips@wv.usda.gov <mailto:
jenny.phillips@wv.usda.gov>.
Wisconsin
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court,
Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7600,
frank.frassetto@wi.usda.gov <mailto:
frank.frassetto@wi.usda.gov>.
Wyoming
State Director, USDA Rural Development, 100 East B Street, Room
1005, Casper, WY 82601, (307) 261-6300, john.cochran@wy.usda.gov <mailto:john.cochran@wy.usda.gov>.
[FR Doc. 03-11830 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 2003/05/13 EST