[Federal Register: March 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 49)]
[Notices]
[Page 13203-13207]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr08-50]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Section 515 Rural
Rental Housing Program for New Construction in Fiscal Year 2008
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for
Section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) loan funds, including
applications for the nonprofit set-aside for eligible nonprofit
entities, the set-aside for the most Underserved Counties and Colonias
(Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act), and the set-aside
for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) and Rural
Economic Area Partnership (REAP) zones, and a designated reserve for
states with rental assistance programs. This document describes the
methodology that will be used to distribute funds, the application
process, submission requirements, and areas of special emphasis or
consideration.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this
NOFA is 5 p.m., local time for each USDA Rural Development State Office
on May 12, 2008. The application closing deadline is firm as to date
and hour. The Agency will not consider any application that is received
after the closing 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: Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must contact the
USDA Rural Development State Office serving the place in which they
desire to submit an application for rural rental housing to receive
further information and copies of the application package. USDA Rural
Development will date and time stamp incoming applications to evidence
timely receipt, and, upon request, will provide the applicant with a
written acknowledgment of receipt. A listing of USDA Rural Development
State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and person to
contact follows:
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.
Alabama State Office
Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL
36106-3683, (334) 279-3618, TDD (334) 279-3495, Van McCloud.
Alaska State Office
800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 761-7740,
TDD (907) 761-8905, Debbie Andrys.
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) 301-3063, Greg Kemper.
California State Office
430 G Street, 4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-
5821, TDD (530) 792-5848, Debra Moretton.
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-
3615, TDD (302) 857-3585, Pat Baker.
Florida & Virgin Islands State Office
4440 N.W. 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606-6563, (352) 338-
3465, TDD (352) 338-3499, Elizabeth M. Whitaker.
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) 933-8321, Thao Khamoui.
Idaho State Office
Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5630,
TDD (208) 378-5644, Miriam Haylett.
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. 423), TDD (317) 290-3343, Stephen Dye.
Iowa State Office
210 Walnut Street, Room 873, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-
4685, TDD (515) 284-4858, Julie Sleeper.
Kansas State Office
1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040,
(785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Virginia M. Hammersmith.
Kentucky State Office
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-
7325, TDD (859) 224-7422, Paul Higgins.
Louisiana State Office
[[Page 13204]]
3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7962,
TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson.
Maine State Office
967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, PO Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405,
(207) 990-9110, TDD (207) 942-7331, Bob Nadeau.
Maryland
Served by Delaware State Office.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office
451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4315, TDD (413)
253-4590, Paul Geoffroy.
Michigan State Office
3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517)
324-5192, TDD (517) 337-6795, Julie Putnam.
Minnesota State Office
375 Jackson Street Building, Suite 410, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853,
(651) 602-7820, TDD (651) 602-7830, Rodney Jackson.
Mississippi State Office
Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS
39269, (601) 965-4325, 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, Colleen James.
Montana State Office
900 Technology Blvd., Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 585-
2515, TDD (406) 585-2562, Deborah Chorlton.
Nebraska State Office
Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE
68508, (402) 437-5734, TDD (402) 437-5093, Linda Anders.
Nevada State Office
1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-5146, (775) 887-
1222 (ext. 25), TDD (775) 885-0633, Angilla Denton.
New Hampshire State Office
Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10 Ferry Street, Concord, NH
03301-5004, (603) 223-6050, 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) 787-7784, George Hyatt, Jr.
New Mexico State Office
6200 Jefferson St., NE, Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
761-4944, TDD (505) 761-4938, Carmen N. Lopez.
New York State Office
The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357, 5th
Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, (315) 477-6419, TDD (315) 477-6447,
George N. Von Pless.
North Carolina State Office
4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2066,
TDD (919) 873-2003, Beverly Casey.
North Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737,
Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 530-2049, TDD (701) 530-2113, Kathy Lake.
Ohio State Office
Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH
43215-2477, (614) 255-2418, TDD (614) 255-2554, Melodie Taylor-Ward.
Oklahoma State Office
100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1070,
TDD (405) 742-1007, Ivan S. Graves.
Oregon State Office
1201 NE Lloyd Blv., Suite 801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-
3325, TDD (503) 414-3387, Sherryl Gleason.
Pennsylvania State Office
One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996,
(717) 237-2281, TDD (717) 237-2261, Martha Eberhart.
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, Julie Hayes.
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, Janice Kocher.
Vermont State Office
City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602,
(802) 828-6021, 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. David Cain.
Wisconsin State Office
4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7676,
TDD (715) 345-7614, Mike Daniels.
Wyoming State Office
P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 233-6715, TDD (307) 233-
6733, Alan Brooks.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants
may contact Barbara Chism, Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-Family Housing
Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of
Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250, telephone (202) 690-1436 (voice) (this is not a toll free
number), (800) 877-8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service), or via
e-mail, Barbara.Chism@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Programs Affected
The Rural Rental Housing program is listed in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 10.415, Rural Rental Housing
Loans. Rental Assistance is listed in the Catalog under Number 10.427,
Rural Rental Assistance Payments.
Discussion of Notice
I. Authority and Distribution Methodology
A. Authority
Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, (42 U.S.C.
1485) provides USDA Rural Development with the authority to make loans
to any individual, corporation, association, trust, Indian tribe,
public or private nonprofit organization, which may include a faith-
based organization, consumer cooperative, or partnership to provide
rental or cooperative housing and related facilities in rural areas for
very-low, low, or moderate income persons or families, including
elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Rental assistance (RA)
is a tenant subsidy for very-low and low-income families residing in
rural rental housing facilities with USDA Rural Development financing.
It is anticipated that RA will not be available for new construction in
Fiscal Year (FY) 2008.
B. Distribution Methodology
The total amount available for FY 2008 for section 515 is
$69,510,000, of which $14,529,124 is available for new construction as
follows:
Non-Restricted............................................. $2,341,200
Set-aside for nonprofits................................... $6,255,900
Set-aside for Underserved Counties and Colonias............ $3,475,500
Set-aside EZ, EC, and REAP Zones........................... $1,456,524
Designated Reserve for States with Rental Assistance $1,000,000
Programs..................................................
C. Section 515 New Construction Funds
The section 515 new construction funds will be distributed to
states based on a national competition, as follows:
[[Page 13205]]
1. States will accept, review, score, and rank requests in
accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56. The scoring factors are:
(a) The presence and extent of leveraged assistance for the units
that will serve USDA Rural Development income-eligible tenants at basic
rents as defined, comparable to those rents if USDA Rural Development
provided full financing, computed as a percentage of the USDA Rural
Development total development cost (TDC). Loan proposals that include
secondary funds which have been requested but have not yet been
committed will be processed as follows: The proposal will be scored
based on the requested funds, provided (1) the applicant includes
evidence of a filed application for the funds; and (2) the funding date
of the requested funds will permit processing of the loan request in
the current funding cycle, or, if the applicant does not receive the
requested funds, will permit processing of the next highest ranked
proposal in the current year. Points will be awarded in accordance with
the following table.
Percentages will be rounded to the next higher whole number. (0 to
20 points)
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Percentage of leveraging Points
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75 or more..................................................... 20
70-74.......................................................... 19
65-69.......................................................... 18
60-64.......................................................... 17
55-59.......................................................... 16
50-54.......................................................... 15
45-49.......................................................... 14
40-44.......................................................... 13
35-39.......................................................... 12
30-34.......................................................... 11
25-29.......................................................... 10
20-24.......................................................... 9
15-19.......................................................... 8
10-14.......................................................... 7
5-9............................................................ 6
0-4............................................................ 0
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(b) The units to be developed are in a colonia, tribal land, EZ,
EC, or Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) community, or in a place
identified in the State Consolidated Plan or State Needs Assessment as
a high need community for multifamily housing. (20 points)
(c) Pursuant to 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(1)(iii), this year there will be a
National Office initiative whereby preference points will be awarded to
loan requests that meet the selection criteria as follows: In states
where USDA Rural Development has an on-going formal working
relationship, agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
state to provide state resources (state funds, state RA, HOME funds,
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, or Low-Income Housing
Tax Credits (LIHTC)) for USDA Rural Development proposals; or where the
state provides preference or points to USDA Rural Development proposals
in awarding such state resources, 20 points will be provided to loan
requests that include such state resources in an amount equal to at
least 5 percent of the TDC. Native American Housing and Self-
Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds may be considered a state resource if
the tribal plan for NAHASDA funds contains provisions for partnering
with USDA Rural Development for multi-family housing. (National Office
initiative)
(d) The loan request includes donated land meeting the provisions
of 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(1)(iv). (5 points)
(e) In an effort to implement USDA's nationwide initiative to
promote renewable energy and energy conservation, USDA Rural
Development has adopted incentives for energy generation and energy
conservation. Participation in these nationwide initiatives is
voluntary, but is strongly encouraged.
Energy Generation. Applicants will be awarded points if the
proposal includes the installation of energy generation systems to be
funded by a third party. The proposal must include an overview of the
energy generation system being proposed. Evidence that an energy
generation system has been funded by a third party and that it has a
quantifiable positive impact on energy consumption will be required. (5
points)
Energy Conservation. Applicants will be awarded points to construct
(or substantially rehabilitate) housing that earns the ENERGY STAR
label for new residential construction. Units earning the ENERGY STAR
label must be independently verified to meet guidelines for energy
efficiency as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All
procedures used in verifying a unit for the ENERGY STAR label must
comply with national Home Energy Ratings System (HERS) guidelines.
ENERGY STAR guidelines for residential construction apply to homes that
are three stories or less and single or low-rise multi-family
residential buildings.
The Applicant will include in the summary an explanation of how
they plan to incorporate ENERGY STAR. Construction plans pertaining to
energy efficiency must be developed with, reviewed, and accepted by a
HERS certified rater, the contractor, and the owner. Progress
inspections must be made at appropriate times by a HERS certified rater
to ensure that the housing is being constructed or rehabilitated
according to ENERGY STAR specifications. In order to receive final
payment, applicants will be required to submit the appropriate rating
reports from the HERS rater to USDA Rural Development as evidence that
the housing has been constructed to meet the standards of ENERGY STAR.
In the event that housing does not meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for new
residential construction, USDA Rural Development shall, at its
discretion, deduct 5 points from future funding proposals. For further
information about ENERGY STAR, see http://www.energystar.gov or call
the following toll-free numbers: (888) 782-7939 or (888) 588-9920
(TTY). (5 points)
2. The National Office will rank all requests nationwide and
distribute funds to states in rank order, within funding limits. If
insufficient funds remain for the next ranked proposal, USDA Rural
Development will select the next ranked proposal that falls within the
remaining levels. Point score ties will be handled in accordance with 7
CFR 3560.56(c)(2).
D. Applications That Do Not Require New Construction RA
It is anticipated that new construction RA will not be available
for FY 2008. Therefore, USDA Rural Development is inviting applications
to develop units in markets that do not require RA. The market study
for proposals must clearly demonstrate a need and demand for the units
by prospective tenants at income levels that can support the proposed
rents without tenant subsidies. The proposed units must offer amenities
that are typical for the market area at rents that are comparable to
conventional rents in the market for similar units.
E. Set-Asides
Loan requests will be accepted for the following set-asides:
1. Nonprofit set-aside. An amount of $6,255,900 has been set aside
for nonprofit applicants as defined in 7 CFR 3560.11. All loan
proposals must be in designated places in accordance with 7 CFR
3560.57. A state or jurisdiction may receive one proposal from this
set-aside, which cannot exceed $1 million. A state could get additional
funds from this set-aside if any funds remain after funding one
proposal from each participating state. If there are insufficient funds
to fund one loan request from each participating state, selection will
be made by point score. If there are any funds remaining, they will be
handled in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1485(w)(3). Funds from this set-
aside will be available only to nonprofit
[[Page 13206]]
entities, which may include a partnership that has as its general
partner a nonprofit entity or the nonprofit entity's for-profit
subsidiary which will be receiving low-income housing tax credits
authorized under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. To be
eligible for this set-aside, the nonprofit entity must be an
organization that:
(a) Will own an interest in the project to be financed and will
materially participate in the development and the operations of the
project;
(b) Is a private organization that has nonprofit, tax exempt status
under section 501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986;
(c) Has among its purposes the planning, development, or management
of low-income housing or community development projects; and
(d) Is not affiliated with or controlled by a for-profit
organization.
2. Underserved counties and colonias set-aside. An amount of
$3,475,500 has been set aside for loan requests to develop units in the
100 most needy underserved counties or colonias as defined in section
509(f) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended.
3. EZ, EC, and REAP set-aside. An amount of $1,456,524 has been
set-aside to develop units in an EZ, EC, or REAP zone. Loan requests
that are eligible for this set aside are also eligible for regular
Section 515 funds. If requests for this set-aside exceed available
funds, selection will be made in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56(c).
II. Funding Limits
A. Individual loan requests may not exceed $1 million. This applies
to regular section 515 funds and set-aside funds. The Administrator may
make an exception to this limit in cases where a State's average total
development costs exceed the National average by 50 percent or more.
B. No state may receive more than 20 percent of the total available
for new construction, including set-aside funds.
III. Rental Assistance (RA)
New construction RA will not be available for FY 2008. Unused RA
may be allocated from within the state jurisdiction to approved new
construction projects. New construction RA may not be used in
conjunction with a transfer or subsequent loan for repairs or
rehabilitation, preservation purposes or for inventory property sales.
IV. Application Process
All applications for section 515 new construction funds must be
filed with the appropriate Rural Development State Office and must meet
the requirements of 7 CFR 3560.56, as well as comply with the
provisions of Section V. of this NOFA. Incomplete applications will not
be reviewed and will be returned to the applicant. No application will
be accepted after 5:00 p.m., local time, on the application deadline
previously mentioned unless that date and time is extended by a Notice
published in the Federal Register.
V. Application Submission Requirements
A. Each application shall include the information, documentation,
forms and exhibits required by 7 CFR 3560.56, as well as comply with
the provisions of this NOFA.
Forms to be included in initial application package:
1. Form SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance, which can be
found online at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424-
V2.0.pdf;
2. Form RD 1940-20, Request for Environmental Information, which
can be found online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/
eFileServices/Forms/RD1940-0020--060400V01.pdf;
3. Form RD 3560-7, Multiple Family Housing Project Budget/Utility
Allowance, which can be found online at http://
formsadmin.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/Forms/RD3560-0007--
060500V01.pdf;
4. Form HUD 2530, Previous Participation Certification, which can
be found online at http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/forms/files/
2530.pdf
5. Form RD 1924-13, Estimate and Certificate of Actual Costs, which
can be found online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/
eFileServices/Forms/RD1924-0013.pdf;
6. Form RD 400-4, Assurance Agreement, which can be found online at
http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/Forms/RD0400-
0004--970300V01.pdf;
7. Form RD 410-9, Statement Required by the Privacy Act (for
individuals only), which can be found online at http://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/forms/0410-09.pdf;
Information requested in initial application package:
I. To establish applicant eligibility:
A. Current (within 6 months) financial statements with the
following paragraph certified by someone with the legal authority to do
so:
``I/we certify the above is a true and accurate reflection of my/
our financial condition as of the date stated herein. This statement is
given for the purpose of inducing the United States of America to make
a loan or to enable the United States of America to make a
determination of continued eligibility of the applicant for a loan as
requested in the loan application of which this statement is a part.''
B. Check for $28 from individual applicants and $40 from
organizational applicants made out to United States Department of
Agriculture. This will be used to pay for credit reports obtained by
the USDA Rural Development.
C. Statement signed by applicants that they will pay any cost
overruns.
D. Proposed limited partnership agreement and certificates of
limited partners, if applicable. (USDA Rural Development requirements
should be contained in one section of the agreement and their location
identified by the applicants or their attorney in a cover sheet.)
E. If a nonprofit organization:
1. Tax-exempt ruling from the IRS designating them as a 501(c)(3)
or 501(c)(4) organization. If the designation is pending, a copy of the
designation request must be submitted.
2. Purpose statement, including the provision of low income
housing.
3. Evidence of organization under State and local law, or copies of
pending applications.
4. List of Board of Directors.
F. If a limited liability company, proposed operating agreement and
the authorized agent who has the authority to complete the loan
application and loan closing documents.
G. If a trust, organizational documents and attorney opinion letter
that the trust is validly formed and identifying the authorized
representative to act on the trust's behalf.
II. To establish project feasibility:
A. Market feasibility documentation: Either a market study or a
market survey, as appropriate.
B. Type of project and structures proposed (total number of units
by bedroom size, size of each unit type, size and type of other
facilities).
C. Schematic drawings:
1. Site plan, including contour lines;
2. Floor plan of each living unit type and other spaces, such as
laundry facilities, community rooms, stairwells, etc.;
3. Building exterior elevations;
4. Typical building exterior wall section; and
5. Plot plan.
D. Description and justification of related facilities, schedule of
separate charges for related facilities.
E. Type and method of construction (owner builder, negotiated bid,
or contractor method).
[[Page 13207]]
F. Estimated costs (Form RD 1924-13).
G. Statement of proposed management.
H. Congregate services package/plan (if applicable).
I. Statement of support from other Government services providers to
the project (congregate only).
J. Response to the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act (if
applicable).
III. To establish project financing:
A. Statement of budget and cash flow (applicant completes Form RD
3560-7), including type of utilities and utility allowance, if
applicable and contribution to reserves.
B. Congregate services charges (if applicable).
C. Status of efforts to obtain leveraged funds.
D. Proposed construction financing (interim or multiple advance; if
interim financing, letter of interest from intended lender).
IV. Environmental and site information:
A. Environmental information (applicant completes Form RD 1940-20).
B. Evidence of compliance with Executive Order 12372 (A-95) (if
applicable) Form SF 424 is sent to a clearinghouse for
intergovernmental review.
C. Provide an ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessment to cover
environmental due diligence. Refer to Chapter 3 of the section 515
Rural Rental Housing Loan Origination Handbook.
D. Map showing location of community services such as schools,
hospitals, fire and police departments, shopping malls and employment
centers.
E. Evidence of submission of project description to State Housing
Preservation Office with request for comments.
F. The applicant's comments regarding relevant offsite conditions.
G. The applicant's explanation of any proposed energy efficiency
components.
Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include a checklist
and to have their applications indexed and tabbed to facilitate the
review process. The Rural Development state office will base its
determination of completeness of the application and the eligibility of
each applicant on the information provided in the application.
B. Applicants are advised to contact the Rural Development state
office serving the place in which they desire to submit an application
for the following:
1. Questions pertaining to the application process; and
2. List of designated places for which applications for new section
515 facilities may be submitted.
VI. Areas of Special Emphasis or Consideration
A. Pursuant to 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(1)(iii), USDA Rural Development
encourages the use of funding from other sources in conjunction with
Agency loans through its national office initiative, outlined in
Section I.C.1(c) of this NOFA.
B. $1,000,000 is available nationwide in a reserve for States with
viable State RA programs. In order to participate, States are to submit
specific written information about the State RA program, i.e., a
memorandum of understanding, documentation from the provider, etc., to
the National Office prior to the application deadline.
VII. 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: March 5, 2008.
Peter D. Morgan,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-4949 Filed 3-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P