[Federal Register: August 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 158)]
[Notices]
[Page 47164-47165]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16au06-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Availability of Hurricane Disaster Assistance
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service programs are administered through
USDA Rural Development. This Notice is intended to announce the
availability of supplemental hurricane disaster assistance to be
administered through the Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan and
Grant program. USDA Rural Development will provide CF Grant funds in
the amount of $20,000,000 and CF Direct Loan funds in the amount of
$149,253,000 for essential community facilities in rural areas affected
by Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes of the 2005 season.
DATES: Effective Date: August 16, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information for the Community
Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program may be obtained by contacting
your USDA Rural Development State Office as outlined in Section I.D.
For questions regarding information contained in this Notice,
please contact Derek L. Jones, Loan Specialist, Community Programs, at
202-720-1504.
Background: The CF Direct Loan and Grant Program is designed to
finance and facilitate the development of many different types of
essential community facilities serving rural areas. These facilities
include, but are not limited to, hospitals, medical clinics, elderly
care facilities, police stations and vehicles, fire and rescue stations
and vehicles, vocational and medical rehabilitation centers, and
educational facilities. Funds under this Notice can be used to
construct, enlarge, repair, or improve community facilities. This can
include the purchase of equipment required for a facility's operation.
Chapter 1 of title I of Division B of the Department of Defense,
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf
of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (Pub. L. 109-148) (Act)
provides
[[Page 47165]]
USDA Rural Development with additional authorities to waive certain
program requirements and resources to address the damage caused by the
Gulf Coast hurricanes. Section 2103 of title II of the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror,
and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 extended the expiration date of these
waiver authorities under the Act for an additional 18 months and
provided a total amount of $169,253,000 in CF Direct Loan and Grant
funds for CF projects.
Accordingly, the matching funds requirement for the CF Grant
program will be waived for assistance provided under this Notice. In
addition, the median household income requirements and the grant limits
will also be waived for the purpose of this Notice.
I. General Provisions
A. Designated Disaster Area
For the purposes of this Notice, the designated disaster area shall
be those Presidentially-declared areas in the states of Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas in
accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.
B. Limitation of Grant Amounts
The Act enables the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants under
the CF Grant program without regard to any grant amount limitation.
Rural Development has determined that it will review and make awards
under this NOFA as applications are received. Applications will be
reviewed, approved, and obligated in the State Rural Development
Office.
C. Contacts for Additional Information
For questions about USDA Rural Development's programs and for
application assistance, please contact your USDA Rural Development
State Office. The contact information for your State Office can be
found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. You can also reach your State
Office by calling (202) 720-4323 and pressing ``1''.
D. Programs Referenced in This Notice Are Subject to Applicable Civil
Rights Laws
These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of
1968, as amended in 1988, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.
II. Assistance Available Through This Notice
Direct Loan and Grant Program
1. Description of Assistance
Section 105 of the Act enables USDA Rural Development to make
Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grants in designated disaster
areas. CF Grants can be made without regard to graduated funding or
matching fund requirements.
2. Eligibility Criteria
Public entities such as municipalities, counties, and special-
purpose districts, as well as non-profit corporations and tribal
governments in designated Rural disaster areas with a population of
20,000 or less are eligible to apply.
3. Priority
Administrator's points may be awarded for geographic distribution
of funds and for projects with pre-existing hurricane or tornado damage
which were subsequently affected by hurricanes of the 2005 season.
4. Applicable Statutory or Regulatory Authority
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Section 306 (7 U.S.C.
1926(a)(1) and (19)); and, to the extent not waived by this Notice, 7
CFR, Part 3570, Subpart B, Community Facilities Grant Program, and 7
CFR Part 1942, Subpart A, Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.
III. Emergency Declaration
Consistent with Proclamation 7925 issued by President Bush, the
USDA Rural Development Mission Area has determined that it would be
impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to public interest to delay
the effective date of this Notice for any reason. The USDA Rural
Development Agencies need to act promptly on hurricane related needs in
the designated disaster areas.
IV. Non-Discrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or
call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). ``USDA is an
equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender''.
Dated: August 2, 2006.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13432 Filed 8-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P