82_FR_2256 82 FR 2251 - Announcement Type: Notice and Request for Information

82 FR 2251 - Announcement Type: Notice and Request for Information

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 5 (January 9, 2017)

Page Range2251-2254
FR Document2017-00013

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), Department of the Treasury, requests comments from the public regarding the current policies and procedures to certify an organization as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Capitalized terms found in this notice are defined in the regulations that govern the CDFI Program, in our regulations.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2251-2254]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00013]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 2251]]



DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

12 CFR Part 1805


Announcement Type: Notice and Request for Information

SUMMARY: The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI 
Fund), Department of the Treasury, requests comments from the public 
regarding the current policies and procedures to certify an 
organization as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). 
Capitalized terms found in this notice are defined in the regulations 
that govern the CDFI Program, in our regulations.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 10, 2017 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments via email to David Meyer, 
Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (CCME) Manager, 
CDFI Fund, at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Meyer, CCME Manager, CDFI Fund, 
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20220 or email to 
[email protected]. Information on CDFI Certification may be 
obtained on the CDFI Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/certification/Pages/default.aspx.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the CDFI Fund's authorizing 
statute (the Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
1994, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) (the Act) and the regulations that govern 
the CDFI Program (12 CFR part 1805), a community development financial 
institution (CDFI) is a legal entity that: (i) Has a primary mission of 
promoting community development; (ii) serves an investment area or 
targeted population; (iii) provides development services in conjunction 
with equity investments or loans, directly or through a subsidiary or 
affiliate; (iv) maintains, through representation on its governing 
board or otherwise, accountability to residents of its investment area 
or targeted population; and (v) is not an agency or instrumentality of 
the United States, or of any State or political subdivision of a State.
    In accordance with the statutory definition, the CDFI Fund has 
established seven tests, described below, to certify an Applicant 
financial entity as a CDFI. Applicants provide legal documentation, 
narratives and financial data to demonstrate their ability to meet the 
certification criteria. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis 
and may be submitted more than once, if declined. Certified CDFIs must 
complete an annual recertification process to update the financial and 
organization data contained in the original certification application. 
CDFI certification application and supplemental information can be 
found on the CDFI Fund Web site.
    With this Request for Information (RFI), the CDFI Fund is embarking 
on a review of its CDFI certification tests to ensure that they 
continue to meet the statutory and regulatory requirements and the 
evolving nature of an industry that has changed significantly since the 
CDFI Fund's establishment in 1994. Since the first CDFIs were 
certified, the universe of certified CDFIs has grown from 196 in 1997 
to over a 1,000 in number today, with over $100 billion in total assets 
and headquarters in all fifty states and several territories. It is a 
goal of the CDFI Fund to foster a diversity of CDFI types, activities, 
and geographies, and to enable market-driven solutions to emerge in a 
constantly changing economic environment.
    In addition, the significance of CDFI certification has increased 
over the years. While CDFI certification continues to make an entity 
eligible for various programs at the CDFI Fund (CDFI Program, Native 
American CDFI Assistance Program, Capital Magnet Fund, and the CDFI 
Bond Guarantee Program), because it is seen as indicating a strong 
community development mission, it also has come to serve as a qualifier 
for other Federal government programs and benefits. These include, 
among others, the Small Business Administration's Community Advantage 
program and Federal Home Loan Bank membership, as well as consideration 
for certain investments under the Community Reinvestment Act and, 
pursuant to 12 CFR 1026.43(a)(3)(v)(A), an exemption from the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau's ``Ability to Repay'' rule. The CDFI Fund 
believes that it is important that certification remain a mark of 
confidence in an organization's commitment to a community development 
mission.
    It also is imperative that CDFI certification criteria continue to 
support, rather than inhibit, the growth and reach of CDFIs, especially 
as it relates to their ability to take advantage of new technologies. 
These new technologies create the potential for mission-driven 
organizations like CDFIs to extend their reach and impact in order to 
improve access to financial products and services for underserved 
communities and populations wherever they are. This raises questions, 
however, of whether CDFI certification--particularly in terms of a 
CDFI's ability to define a Target Market and demonstrate accountability 
to that Target Market--is currently designed to enable such scope, 
which was neither possible nor envisioned when the criteria were first 
established.
    Through this RFI, the CDFI Fund seeks feedback from the public on 
certain aspects of the certification criteria and process, as listed in 
Sections I and II. We also seek any additional information beyond these 
questions that members of the public believe would assist in updating 
the CDFI Fund's certification policies. The CDFI Fund intends to 
consider the feedback received through this RFI as it reexamines its 
current criteria and proposes any revisions to its CDFI certification 
policies. In making any changes to the existing criteria, the CDFI Fund 
will seek to ensure that certification continues to foster a diversity 
of CDFI types, activities, and geographies; allows for innovation that 
supports the growth and reach of CDFIs; and signifies confidence in a 
strong community development mission.

I. Certification Criteria

    A. Legal Entity: To satisfy the legal entity test, the CDFI Fund 
requires evidence of an Applicant's incorporation/organization/
establishment, such as IRS documentation, establishing documents filed 
with appropriate authorities, or

[[Page 2252]]

charter numbers for Insured Depository Institutions and Credit Unions 
at the time of certification application.
    1. The statute does not indicate how long an organization must be 
in existence to be considered a ``person (other than an individual).'' 
Should there be a minimum period of time an organization should be in 
existence before applying for CDFI certification? If so, how long? If 
not, why not?
    2. Is there additional documentation, beyond an organization's 
establishing documents filed with State jurisdictions, that should be 
accepted to demonstrate that an organization is a legal entity?
    B. Primary Mission: The statute states that a CDFI must have ``a 
primary mission of promoting community development,'' but specifies few 
criteria for meeting that test. The CDFI Fund currently allows 
Applicants for certification to meet this test by providing board-
approved organizational documents that demonstrate that the Applicant 
has a primary mission of promoting community development along with a 
narrative statement describing how the Applicant's mission is 
consistent with the CDFI Fund's and a brief description of Financial 
Products offered. Insured Credit Unions that have received a Low Income 
Designation from the National Credit Union Administration are deemed to 
have met this criterion by virtue of their designation.
    1. Should the currently required board-approved documentation and 
narrative statement be sufficient to demonstrate an Applicant's primary 
mission, or should the CDFI Fund apply a more prescriptive primary 
mission test? For example, should the CDFI Fund provide a more 
explicit, possibly quantitative, definition of what it means to 
``promote community development'' that Applicants would be required to 
meet? If so, what should be the definition and what test should be 
applied? Are there criteria that the CDFI Fund should not consider and 
why?
    2. Should there be different standards for meeting the primary 
mission test for nonprofit versus for-profit organizations, 
particularly for-profits that are not Insured Depository Institutions? 
If so, what different standards should be applied?
    3. What evidence can the CDFI Fund use to confirm an Applicant's 
adherence to a stated community development mission? For example, how 
can the CDFI Fund distinguish between an organization that is fully 
committed to a community development mission and one that targets the 
same communities or populations as a CDFI and claims a community 
development mission, but whose actions do not demonstrate intent to 
create community development and/or are predatory in nature?
    4. To what extent should the CDFI Fund evaluate the Financial 
Products and/or Financial Services offered by an Applicant to determine 
its ability to meet the primary mission test? What test would the CDFI 
Fund apply in any such evaluation of Financial Products and/or 
Financial Services?
    5. Currently, by statute, Depository Institution Holding Companies 
wishing to be certified as CDFIs must provide documentation that their 
parent, Subsidiaries, and Affiliate organizations collectively meet the 
primary mission test. Should the CDFI Fund also make this a requirement 
for Non-Regulated CDFIs, for example, a Non-Regulated for-profit 
financial institution? Why or why not?
    C. Financing Entity: Insured Depository Institutions and Credit 
Unions are deemed to automatically meet this criterion. Non-Regulated 
CDFIs must demonstrate that they engage in direct financial activity 
(e.g., the provision of Financial Products, Financial Services, and 
Development Services) as reflected on financial statements and executed 
notes, and must dedicate a predominance of their assets to Financial 
Products, Development Services, and/or similar financing.
    1. The CDFI Fund does not currently define the term 
``predominance,'' but in practice accepts a plurality of assets as 
meeting this criterion. Should the term ``predominance'' be defined 
more specifically, and if so, how?
    2. Should entities that provide less than a plurality of financing 
activity ever be considered Financing Entities? If so, under what 
circumstances and is there a minimum level of activity that should be 
required?
    3. Currently, the amount of assets and staff time dedicated to 
financing activities are used to measure the level of a CDFI's 
financing activity. How else could a CDFI's level of financing activity 
be measured?
    4. For Non-Regulated CDFIs, is the current ``predominance of 
assets'' test appropriate, or should alternatives or additional 
considerations be permitted?
    5. Should Non-Regulated CDFIs be permitted to include the financing 
or Financial Services activity of a mission-driven Subsidiary as part 
of the assessment of the parent CDFI's financing activities?
    6. Should Non-Regulated CDFIs be permitted to rely upon the 
financing or Financial Services activity of a parent CDFI as part of 
the assessment of the Subsidiary's or Affiliate's financing activities?
    7. Should an organization applying for CDFI certification be 
required to transact a minimum number or dollar amount of loan or 
equity investments to be considered a financing entity? Should the 
Applicant be required to have at least one or more years of loan or 
equity investment origination? If so, what should those rules be?
    8. Should an organization that only services loans or Equity 
Investments or has very few transactions be considered a financing 
entity?
    9. Should certified CDFIs be required to offer loans or Equity 
Investments each year, in order to maintain certification status?
    10. Currently, non-arms-length transactions do not contribute to 
meeting the financing entity criteria. For example, transactions made 
with Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates are not considered to be arms-
length transactions. Should some transactions with Affiliates be 
permissible as evidence of an organization being a financing entity? If 
so, which ones? How should an ``arms-length transaction'' be defined?
    11. Should Applicants be required to disclose the expected amount 
and types of lending that may be made to Affiliates and Insiders in 
their certification applications? Should such transactions be limited 
as a condition of certification? Why or why not?
    12. Current CDFI Program regulations use the term ``similar 
financing activities'' in its definition of the term ``Financial 
Products.'' How should the CDFI Fund determine what is included in 
``similar financing activities?''
    D. Serves an Investment Area or Targeted Population: Applicants for 
certification must identify the Investment Area(s) and/or Targeted 
Population(s) they intend to serve as their Target Market.
    1. Threshold Target Market Test: Although no threshold level of 
service is indicated in the statute or regulation, current CDFI Fund 
policy requires that an organization must serve at least one eligible 
Target Market and must direct at least 60 percent of all of its 
Financial Product activities to one or more eligible Target Market to 
qualify for certification. In general, both the number and dollar 
amount of the organization's Financial Product activities should be at 
least 60 percent of all of its Financial Product activities in the most 
recent fiscal year. If an organization does not meet the 60 percent 
threshold in terms of either number or dollar amount of transactions 
(but not both), the organization can

[[Page 2253]]

provide an argument as to why the figure is less than 60 percent and 
the CDFI Fund reserves the right to accept or reject the explanation.
    a. Is the current standard that 60 percent of a CDFI's Financial 
Product activities must be in qualified Target Markets the right 
standard? If not, what percentage of transactions should be in and/or 
to a qualified Target Market to demonstrate that an organization serves 
that Target Market and why?
    b. Should there be different thresholds for different institution 
types (i.e., Insured Depository Institutions and Credit Unions, 
nonprofit loan funds, and venture capital funds)?
    c. The CDFI Fund currently relies on self-reported summary data 
submitted by Applicants to demonstrate that they meet the Target Market 
threshold test. Should statistical sampling of transactions be required 
to establish a current baseline of activity and document the Target 
Markets that they are serving?
    d. The August 31, 2015 Interim CDFI Program Regulations added the 
provision of Financial Services as a means of demonstrating that an 
applicant serves a Target Market. However, the CDFI Fund does not 
currently have a method of recognizing or applying the provision of 
Financial Services toward the current 60 percent threshold test for 
certification. In addition to the level of Financial Products provided 
by an Applicant, how should an Applicant receive credit for the 
provision of Financial Services toward meeting any threshold test? How 
should this be measured? If an Applicant requests credit for providing 
Financial Services, should there be a separate minimum level of 
Financial Products that must be provided by the Applicant?
    e. The CDFI Fund currently first considers an Applicant's financial 
activity during its most recent fiscal year in determining whether it 
meets the threshold test. Is this the appropriate time period to 
consider, or should a longer period of time be considered? If so, 
should the applicant be required to meet the threshold in each year of 
the test, for a time period, or should an average be considered? Should 
the CDFI Fund consider an Applicant's portfolio of loans outstanding?
    2. Investment Areas: The statute requires that an Investment Area 
must meet at least one of the economic distress criteria (poverty rate 
greater than 20 percent; Median Family Income (MFI) at 80 percent or 
below specific MFI benchmarks; unemployment rate 1.5 times the national 
average) and has significant unmet needs for Financial Products and 
Services, or is wholly located within an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise 
Community.
    a. The CDFI Fund's current practice is to define Investment Areas 
that are composed of one or more units of geography that meet certain 
distress criteria. Units include but are not limited to counties, 
census tracts, and Indian Reservations. Should the CDFI Fund change 
this practice? If so, how?
    b. Currently the CDFI Fund allows Investment Areas to be composed 
of a set of contiguous geographic units that may include a small 
portion of units that individually do not qualify as Investment Areas. 
Should the CDFI Fund continue this practice, or should all units within 
the Investment Area meet the Investment Area qualifications?
    3. Targeted Populations: Targeted Populations include Low Income 
Targeted Populations (LITP) and Other Targeted Populations (OTP) for a 
specific geographic unit. LITP, for a specified geographic unit, by 
statute includes individuals whose family income (adjusted for family 
size) is 80 percent of the area MFI (for metropolitan areas). LITP in 
non-Metropolitan Areas is the greater of 80 percent of the area MFI; or 
80 percent of the statewide non-Metropolitan Area MFI. The CDFI Fund 
currently includes, for a specific geographic unit(s), African-
Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Native 
Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders among the groups automatically 
considered eligible for an OTP Target Market. Applicants are permitted 
to seek OTP recognition for other populations by demonstrating that the 
group lacks access to capital.
    a. Should the Targeted Populations be expanded to automatically 
accept more specifically defined Other Targeted Populations that are 
eligible for other Federal programs that support economic development 
in Low-Income communities? If so, which ones and why?
    b. CDFIs currently are approved to serve Targeted Populations 
within a defined geographic unit at below and up to a national level. 
Should all Applicants proposing to serve Targeted Populations be 
approved to serve such Target Markets nationally?
    4. National Target Markets: Currently, in order to be certified 
with a Target Market national in geographic scope, CDFIs need to show 
that they have conducted their financing activities broadly across the 
variously defined regions of the country, (e.g. Northeast, West, 
Midwest, South, Southeast, etc.)
    a. Given that it is unlikely that most CDFIs that work broadly 
across the nation will complete transactions in every State every year, 
how can organizations demonstrate that they serve a national Target 
Market, whether for an Investment Area or for a Targeted Population? 
Should there be a certain minimum geographic dispersion of actual 
investments?
    b. Some CDFIs serve multiple markets that are part of a multi-State 
region or are comprised of geographically unconnected markets. When 
should the CDFI Fund recognize these practices as constituting a 
national Target Market?
    E. Development Services: A CDFI directly, through an Affiliate, or 
through a contract with another provider, must have a track record of 
providing Development Services in conjunction with its Financial 
Products and/or Financial Services. Development Services means 
activities undertaken by a CDFI, its Affiliate or contractor that 
promote community development and shall prepare or assist current or 
potential borrowers or investees to use the CDFI's Financial Products 
or Financial Services. For example, such activities include, but are 
not limited to, financial or credit counseling; homeownership 
counseling; and business planning and management assistance.
    1. Should the CDFI Fund more explicitly define Development 
Services? If so, how should it be defined?
    2. Should the CDFI Fund require CDFIs to provide a corresponding 
Development Service for each Financial Product and Financial Service?
    3. Should a certified CDFI be required to offer each Development 
Service each year to maintain certification status?
    F. Accountability: The CDFI Fund currently requires that a CDFI 
maintain accountability to its Target Market through representation on 
its governing board and/or advisory boards. Prior to recent changes in 
the regulation, a CDFI could demonstrate accountability through other 
mechanisms such as focus groups, community meeting, and/or customer 
surveys.
    1. What percentage of a CDFI's board members should satisfy 
accountability rules? Should different percentages apply to different 
types of boards, i.e. governing vs. advisory boards?
    2. Is representation on an advisory board sufficient to demonstrate 
accountability?
    3. Should CDFIs be able to demonstrate accountability through means 
other than board membership? If so, how?
    4. Is a business plan and a stratified, statistically significant 
random sample

[[Page 2254]]

of lending by asset class and location sufficient to document 
accountability? Under what circumstances?
    5. Should accountability requirements differ based on a CDFI's type 
of Target Market, and if so, how?
    6. How should the CDFI Fund assess accountability if a CDFI's 
Target Market includes borrowers or investees who are not members of a 
Targeted Population themselves (e.g., small businesses, micro 
businesses, and affordable housing developers, charter schools), but 
whose ``end-beneficiaries'' are?
    7. How should a CDFI demonstrate accountability to a national 
Target Market, in particular an Investment Area national in scope? 
Should there be a requirement to have local accountability to 
supplement a national governing or advisory board? In this context, how 
should the term ``local'' be defined?
    8. How should an Applicant that utilizes a web-based lending 
platform, especially one that serves a national Target Market, 
demonstrate accountability?
    G. Non-Governmental Entity: By statute, a CDFI Shall not be an 
agency or instrumentality of the United States, or any State or 
political subdivision thereof. An entity that is created by, or that 
receives substantial assistance from, one or more government entities 
may be a CDFI provided it is not controlled by such entities and 
maintains independent decision-making power over its activities. In the 
CDFI Certification application, the Applicant must respond to a series 
of questions designed to surface/discover issues or circumstances that 
may prevent an Applicant from meeting this criteria.
    1. Are the current standards for establishing that an Applicant is 
not owned or controlled by a governmental entity sufficient?
    2. Are there additional or alternative questions and/or 
documentation the CDFI Fund should require to determine if an Applicant 
is an agency or instrumentality of a Federal, State or local 
government?

II. Certification Policy and Procedures

    A. Should the CDFI Fund request information on the reason for 
applying for certification and intended use (e.g., funding requirement, 
marketing)?
    B. Are there additional sources of data collected by other federal 
agencies that can be used to meet any of the seven certification tests? 
If so, please describe.

III. General Certification Questions for Public Comment: Through This 
RFI, the CDFI Fund Invites Comments and Responses to the Following 
Questions Regarding CDFI Certification

    A. ``Community-based'' is a term often used to describe CDFIs. How 
should ``community-based'' be defined and what does it mean for CDFIs 
to be ``community-based?''
    B. Although not defined in statute, the CDFI Fund allows Applicants 
that serve Native communities to self-designate themselves as Native 
CDFIs and apply for Financial Assistance and Technical Assistance 
through the Native CDFI Program. Applicants that self-designate as a 
Native CDFI must attest to providing 50 percent or more of their 
products and services to Native lands or Native populations. Should the 
CDFI Fund continue to allow Applicants to self-designate as Native 
CDFIs or should there be more defined standards that the CDFI Fund 
should verify? If so, what should they be?
    C. Should CDFIs be allowed to be composed of multiple legal 
entities (Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates)? And if so, must a CDFI 
include all of its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates for consideration?
    D. Should CDFI certification standards have more ``bright-line'' 
tests, i.e. specific thresholds and benchmarks that are, where 
possible, quantitative in nature, or should the CDFI Fund maintain 
flexibility to evaluate Applicants on a case by case basis, even at the 
expense of certainty for applicants?
    E. In addition to earlier questions regarding potentially different 
Primary Mission or Target Market standards based on institution type, 
are there other CDFI certification criteria standards that should vary 
based on institution type or the type of CDFI?
    F. Should ``start-up'' entities be able to be certified? How should 
the term ``start-up'' be defined?
    G. Are there additional areas of CDFI certification policy or the 
CDFI certification application review process that could use 
improvement? If so, how?

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.; 12 CFR 1805.

Mary Ann Donovan,
Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 2017-00013 Filed 1-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-70-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                       2251

                                                    Proposed Rules                                                                                                 Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                   Vol. 82, No. 5

                                                                                                                                                                   Monday, January 9, 2017



                                                    This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    representation on its governing board or               under the Community Reinvestment Act
                                                    contains notices to the public of the proposed          otherwise, accountability to residents of              and, pursuant to 12 CFR
                                                    issuance of rules and regulations. The                  its investment area or targeted                        1026.43(a)(3)(v)(A), an exemption from
                                                    purpose of these notices is to give interested          population; and (v) is not an agency or                the Consumer Financial Protection
                                                    persons an opportunity to participate in the            instrumentality of the United States, or               Bureau’s ‘‘Ability to Repay’’ rule. The
                                                    rule making prior to the adoption of the final
                                                    rules.
                                                                                                            of any State or political subdivision of               CDFI Fund believes that it is important
                                                                                                            a State.                                               that certification remain a mark of
                                                                                                               In accordance with the statutory                    confidence in an organization’s
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              definition, the CDFI Fund has                          commitment to a community
                                                                                                            established seven tests, described                     development mission.
                                                    Community Development Financial                         below, to certify an Applicant financial                 It also is imperative that CDFI
                                                    Institutions Fund                                       entity as a CDFI. Applicants provide                   certification criteria continue to
                                                                                                            legal documentation, narratives and                    support, rather than inhibit, the growth
                                                    12 CFR Part 1805                                        financial data to demonstrate their                    and reach of CDFIs, especially as it
                                                                                                            ability to meet the certification criteria.            relates to their ability to take advantage
                                                    Announcement Type: Notice and                           Applications are accepted on a rolling                 of new technologies. These new
                                                    Request for Information                                 basis and may be submitted more than                   technologies create the potential for
                                                    SUMMARY:    The Community Development                   once, if declined. Certified CDFIs must                mission-driven organizations like CDFIs
                                                    Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI                       complete an annual recertification                     to extend their reach and impact in
                                                    Fund), Department of the Treasury,                      process to update the financial and                    order to improve access to financial
                                                    requests comments from the public                       organization data contained in the                     products and services for underserved
                                                    regarding the current policies and                      original certification application. CDFI               communities and populations wherever
                                                    procedures to certify an organization as                certification application and                          they are. This raises questions, however,
                                                    a Community Development Financial                       supplemental information can be found                  of whether CDFI certification—
                                                    Institution (CDFI). Capitalized terms                   on the CDFI Fund Web site.                             particularly in terms of a CDFI’s ability
                                                    found in this notice are defined in the                    With this Request for Information                   to define a Target Market and
                                                    regulations that govern the CDFI                        (RFI), the CDFI Fund is embarking on a                 demonstrate accountability to that
                                                    Program, in our regulations.                            review of its CDFI certification tests to              Target Market—is currently designed to
                                                                                                            ensure that they continue to meet the                  enable such scope, which was neither
                                                    DATES: Written comments must be
                                                                                                            statutory and regulatory requirements                  possible nor envisioned when the
                                                    received on or before March 10, 2017 to
                                                                                                            and the evolving nature of an industry                 criteria were first established.
                                                    be assured of consideration.
                                                                                                            that has changed significantly since the                 Through this RFI, the CDFI Fund
                                                    ADDRESSES: Submit your comments via                     CDFI Fund’s establishment in 1994.                     seeks feedback from the public on
                                                    email to David Meyer, Certification,                    Since the first CDFIs were certified, the              certain aspects of the certification
                                                    Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation                    universe of certified CDFIs has grown                  criteria and process, as listed in
                                                    (CCME) Manager, CDFI Fund, at                           from 196 in 1997 to over a 1,000 in                    Sections I and II. We also seek any
                                                    cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.                                number today, with over $100 billion in                additional information beyond these
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        total assets and headquarters in all fifty             questions that members of the public
                                                    David Meyer, CCME Manager, CDFI                         states and several territories. It is a goal           believe would assist in updating the
                                                    Fund, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,                     of the CDFI Fund to foster a diversity of              CDFI Fund’s certification policies. The
                                                    Washington, DC 20220 or email to                        CDFI types, activities, and geographies,               CDFI Fund intends to consider the
                                                    cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov. Information on                 and to enable market-driven solutions to               feedback received through this RFI as it
                                                    CDFI Certification may be obtained on                   emerge in a constantly changing                        reexamines its current criteria and
                                                    the CDFI Fund’s Web site at https://                    economic environment.                                  proposes any revisions to its CDFI
                                                    www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/                        In addition, the significance of CDFI               certification policies. In making any
                                                    certification/Pages/default.aspx.                       certification has increased over the                   changes to the existing criteria, the CDFI
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant                     years. While CDFI certification                        Fund will seek to ensure that
                                                    to the CDFI Fund’s authorizing statute                  continues to make an entity eligible for               certification continues to foster a
                                                    (the Community Development and                          various programs at the CDFI Fund                      diversity of CDFI types, activities, and
                                                    Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, 12                  (CDFI Program, Native American CDFI                    geographies; allows for innovation that
                                                    U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) (the Act) and the                  Assistance Program, Capital Magnet                     supports the growth and reach of CDFIs;
                                                    regulations that govern the CDFI                        Fund, and the CDFI Bond Guarantee                      and signifies confidence in a strong
                                                    Program (12 CFR part 1805), a                           Program), because it is seen as                        community development mission.
                                                    community development financial                         indicating a strong community
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    institution (CDFI) is a legal entity that:              development mission, it also has come                  I. Certification Criteria
                                                    (i) Has a primary mission of promoting                  to serve as a qualifier for other Federal                 A. Legal Entity: To satisfy the legal
                                                    community development; (ii) serves an                   government programs and benefits.                      entity test, the CDFI Fund requires
                                                    investment area or targeted population;                 These include, among others, the Small                 evidence of an Applicant’s
                                                    (iii) provides development services in                  Business Administration’s Community                    incorporation/organization/
                                                    conjunction with equity investments or                  Advantage program and Federal Home                     establishment, such as IRS
                                                    loans, directly or through a subsidiary                 Loan Bank membership, as well as                       documentation, establishing documents
                                                    or affiliate; (iv) maintains, through                   consideration for certain investments                  filed with appropriate authorities, or


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                                                    2252                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                    charter numbers for Insured Depository                  community development mission, but                     Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s financing
                                                    Institutions and Credit Unions at the                   whose actions do not demonstrate intent                activities?
                                                    time of certification application.                      to create community development and/                      7. Should an organization applying
                                                      1. The statute does not indicate how                  or are predatory in nature?                            for CDFI certification be required to
                                                    long an organization must be in                            4. To what extent should the CDFI                   transact a minimum number or dollar
                                                    existence to be considered a ‘‘person                   Fund evaluate the Financial Products                   amount of loan or equity investments to
                                                    (other than an individual).’’ Should                    and/or Financial Services offered by an                be considered a financing entity?
                                                    there be a minimum period of time an                    Applicant to determine its ability to                  Should the Applicant be required to
                                                    organization should be in existence                     meet the primary mission test? What                    have at least one or more years of loan
                                                    before applying for CDFI certification? If              test would the CDFI Fund apply in any                  or equity investment origination? If so,
                                                    so, how long? If not, why not?                          such evaluation of Financial Products                  what should those rules be?
                                                      2. Is there additional documentation,                 and/or Financial Services?                                8. Should an organization that only
                                                    beyond an organization’s establishing                      5. Currently, by statute, Depository                services loans or Equity Investments or
                                                    documents filed with State                              Institution Holding Companies wishing                  has very few transactions be considered
                                                    jurisdictions, that should be accepted to               to be certified as CDFIs must provide                  a financing entity?
                                                    demonstrate that an organization is a                   documentation that their parent,                          9. Should certified CDFIs be required
                                                    legal entity?                                           Subsidiaries, and Affiliate organizations              to offer loans or Equity Investments
                                                      B. Primary Mission: The statute states                collectively meet the primary mission                  each year, in order to maintain
                                                    that a CDFI must have ‘‘a primary                       test. Should the CDFI Fund also make                   certification status?
                                                    mission of promoting community                          this a requirement for Non-Regulated                      10. Currently, non-arms-length
                                                    development,’’ but specifies few criteria               CDFIs, for example, a Non-Regulated                    transactions do not contribute to
                                                    for meeting that test. The CDFI Fund                    for-profit financial institution? Why or               meeting the financing entity criteria. For
                                                    currently allows Applicants for                         why not?                                               example, transactions made with
                                                    certification to meet this test by                         C. Financing Entity: Insured                        Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates are not
                                                    providing board-approved                                Depository Institutions and Credit                     considered to be arms-length
                                                    organizational documents that                           Unions are deemed to automatically                     transactions. Should some transactions
                                                    demonstrate that the Applicant has a                    meet this criterion. Non-Regulated                     with Affiliates be permissible as
                                                    primary mission of promoting                            CDFIs must demonstrate that they                       evidence of an organization being a
                                                    community development along with a                      engage in direct financial activity (e.g.,             financing entity? If so, which ones? How
                                                    narrative statement describing how the                  the provision of Financial Products,                   should an ‘‘arms-length transaction’’ be
                                                    Applicant’s mission is consistent with                  Financial Services, and Development                    defined?
                                                    the CDFI Fund’s and a brief description                 Services) as reflected on financial                       11. Should Applicants be required to
                                                    of Financial Products offered. Insured                  statements and executed notes, and                     disclose the expected amount and types
                                                    Credit Unions that have received a Low                  must dedicate a predominance of their                  of lending that may be made to
                                                    Income Designation from the National                    assets to Financial Products,                          Affiliates and Insiders in their
                                                    Credit Union Administration are                         Development Services, and/or similar                   certification applications? Should such
                                                    deemed to have met this criterion by                    financing.                                             transactions be limited as a condition of
                                                    virtue of their designation.                               1. The CDFI Fund does not currently                 certification? Why or why not?
                                                      1. Should the currently required                      define the term ‘‘predominance,’’ but in                  12. Current CDFI Program regulations
                                                    board-approved documentation and                        practice accepts a plurality of assets as              use the term ‘‘similar financing
                                                    narrative statement be sufficient to                    meeting this criterion. Should the term                activities’’ in its definition of the term
                                                    demonstrate an Applicant’s primary                      ‘‘predominance’’ be defined more                       ‘‘Financial Products.’’ How should the
                                                    mission, or should the CDFI Fund apply                  specifically, and if so, how?                          CDFI Fund determine what is included
                                                    a more prescriptive primary mission                        2. Should entities that provide less                in ‘‘similar financing activities?’’
                                                    test? For example, should the CDFI                      than a plurality of financing activity                    D. Serves an Investment Area or
                                                    Fund provide a more explicit, possibly                  ever be considered Financing Entities? If              Targeted Population: Applicants for
                                                    quantitative, definition of what it means               so, under what circumstances and is                    certification must identify the
                                                    to ‘‘promote community development’’                    there a minimum level of activity that                 Investment Area(s) and/or Targeted
                                                    that Applicants would be required to                    should be required?                                    Population(s) they intend to serve as
                                                    meet? If so, what should be the                            3. Currently, the amount of assets and              their Target Market.
                                                    definition and what test should be                      staff time dedicated to financing                         1. Threshold Target Market Test:
                                                    applied? Are there criteria that the CDFI               activities are used to measure the level               Although no threshold level of service
                                                    Fund should not consider and why?                       of a CDFI’s financing activity. How else               is indicated in the statute or regulation,
                                                      2. Should there be different standards                could a CDFI’s level of financing                      current CDFI Fund policy requires that
                                                    for meeting the primary mission test for                activity be measured?                                  an organization must serve at least one
                                                    nonprofit versus for-profit                                4. For Non-Regulated CDFIs, is the                  eligible Target Market and must direct at
                                                    organizations, particularly for-profits                 current ‘‘predominance of assets’’ test                least 60 percent of all of its Financial
                                                    that are not Insured Depository                         appropriate, or should alternatives or                 Product activities to one or more eligible
                                                    Institutions? If so, what different                     additional considerations be permitted?                Target Market to qualify for
                                                    standards should be applied?                               5. Should Non-Regulated CDFIs be                    certification. In general, both the
                                                      3. What evidence can the CDFI Fund                    permitted to include the financing or                  number and dollar amount of the
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                                                    use to confirm an Applicant’s adherence                 Financial Services activity of a mission-              organization’s Financial Product
                                                    to a stated community development                       driven Subsidiary as part of the                       activities should be at least 60 percent
                                                    mission? For example, how can the                       assessment of the parent CDFI’s                        of all of its Financial Product activities
                                                    CDFI Fund distinguish between an                        financing activities?                                  in the most recent fiscal year. If an
                                                    organization that is fully committed to                    6. Should Non-Regulated CDFIs be                    organization does not meet the 60
                                                    a community development mission and                     permitted to rely upon the financing or                percent threshold in terms of either
                                                    one that targets the same communities                   Financial Services activity of a parent                number or dollar amount of transactions
                                                    or populations as a CDFI and claims a                   CDFI as part of the assessment of the                  (but not both), the organization can


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                              2253

                                                    provide an argument as to why the                       Products and Services, or is wholly                       a. Given that it is unlikely that most
                                                    figure is less than 60 percent and the                  located within an Empowerment Zone                     CDFIs that work broadly across the
                                                    CDFI Fund reserves the right to accept                  or Enterprise Community.                               nation will complete transactions in
                                                    or reject the explanation.                                 a. The CDFI Fund’s current practice is              every State every year, how can
                                                       a. Is the current standard that 60                   to define Investment Areas that are                    organizations demonstrate that they
                                                    percent of a CDFI’s Financial Product                   composed of one or more units of                       serve a national Target Market, whether
                                                    activities must be in qualified Target                  geography that meet certain distress                   for an Investment Area or for a Targeted
                                                    Markets the right standard? If not, what                criteria. Units include but are not                    Population? Should there be a certain
                                                    percentage of transactions should be in                 limited to counties, census tracts, and                minimum geographic dispersion of
                                                    and/or to a qualified Target Market to                  Indian Reservations. Should the CDFI                   actual investments?
                                                    demonstrate that an organization serves                 Fund change this practice? If so, how?                    b. Some CDFIs serve multiple markets
                                                    that Target Market and why?                                b. Currently the CDFI Fund allows                   that are part of a multi-State region or
                                                       b. Should there be different                         Investment Areas to be composed of a                   are comprised of geographically
                                                    thresholds for different institution types              set of contiguous geographic units that                unconnected markets. When should the
                                                    (i.e., Insured Depository Institutions and              may include a small portion of units                   CDFI Fund recognize these practices as
                                                    Credit Unions, nonprofit loan funds,                    that individually do not qualify as                    constituting a national Target Market?
                                                    and venture capital funds)?                             Investment Areas. Should the CDFI                         E. Development Services: A CDFI
                                                       c. The CDFI Fund currently relies on                                                                        directly, through an Affiliate, or through
                                                                                                            Fund continue this practice, or should
                                                    self-reported summary data submitted                                                                           a contract with another provider, must
                                                                                                            all units within the Investment Area
                                                    by Applicants to demonstrate that they                                                                         have a track record of providing
                                                                                                            meet the Investment Area
                                                    meet the Target Market threshold test.                                                                         Development Services in conjunction
                                                                                                            qualifications?
                                                    Should statistical sampling of                                                                                 with its Financial Products and/or
                                                                                                               3. Targeted Populations: Targeted
                                                    transactions be required to establish a                                                                        Financial Services. Development
                                                                                                            Populations include Low Income
                                                    current baseline of activity and                                                                               Services means activities undertaken by
                                                    document the Target Markets that they                   Targeted Populations (LITP) and Other
                                                                                                            Targeted Populations (OTP) for a                       a CDFI, its Affiliate or contractor that
                                                    are serving?                                                                                                   promote community development and
                                                       d. The August 31, 2015 Interim CDFI                  specific geographic unit. LITP, for a
                                                                                                            specified geographic unit, by statute                  shall prepare or assist current or
                                                    Program Regulations added the                                                                                  potential borrowers or investees to use
                                                    provision of Financial Services as a                    includes individuals whose family
                                                                                                            income (adjusted for family size) is 80                the CDFI’s Financial Products or
                                                    means of demonstrating that an                                                                                 Financial Services. For example, such
                                                    applicant serves a Target Market.                       percent of the area MFI (for
                                                                                                            metropolitan areas). LITP in non-                      activities include, but are not limited to,
                                                    However, the CDFI Fund does not                                                                                financial or credit counseling;
                                                    currently have a method of recognizing                  Metropolitan Areas is the greater of 80
                                                                                                            percent of the area MFI; or 80 percent                 homeownership counseling; and
                                                    or applying the provision of Financial                                                                         business planning and management
                                                    Services toward the current 60 percent                  of the statewide non-Metropolitan Area
                                                                                                            MFI. The CDFI Fund currently includes,                 assistance.
                                                    threshold test for certification. In                                                                              1. Should the CDFI Fund more
                                                    addition to the level of Financial                      for a specific geographic unit(s),
                                                                                                            African-Americans, Hispanics, Native                   explicitly define Development Services?
                                                    Products provided by an Applicant,                                                                             If so, how should it be defined?
                                                    how should an Applicant receive credit                  Americans, Native Alaskans, Native
                                                                                                            Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders                    2. Should the CDFI Fund require
                                                    for the provision of Financial Services                                                                        CDFIs to provide a corresponding
                                                    toward meeting any threshold test? How                  among the groups automatically
                                                                                                            considered eligible for an OTP Target                  Development Service for each Financial
                                                    should this be measured? If an                                                                                 Product and Financial Service?
                                                    Applicant requests credit for providing                 Market. Applicants are permitted to
                                                                                                                                                                      3. Should a certified CDFI be required
                                                    Financial Services, should there be a                   seek OTP recognition for other
                                                                                                                                                                   to offer each Development Service each
                                                    separate minimum level of Financial                     populations by demonstrating that the
                                                                                                                                                                   year to maintain certification status?
                                                    Products that must be provided by the                   group lacks access to capital.                            F. Accountability: The CDFI Fund
                                                    Applicant?                                                 a. Should the Targeted Populations be               currently requires that a CDFI maintain
                                                       e. The CDFI Fund currently first                     expanded to automatically accept more                  accountability to its Target Market
                                                    considers an Applicant’s financial                      specifically defined Other Targeted                    through representation on its governing
                                                    activity during its most recent fiscal                  Populations that are eligible for other                board and/or advisory boards. Prior to
                                                    year in determining whether it meets                    Federal programs that support economic                 recent changes in the regulation, a CDFI
                                                    the threshold test. Is this the appropriate             development in Low-Income                              could demonstrate accountability
                                                    time period to consider, or should a                    communities? If so, which ones and                     through other mechanisms such as focus
                                                    longer period of time be considered? If                 why?                                                   groups, community meeting, and/or
                                                    so, should the applicant be required to                    b. CDFIs currently are approved to                  customer surveys.
                                                    meet the threshold in each year of the                  serve Targeted Populations within a                       1. What percentage of a CDFI’s board
                                                    test, for a time period, or should an                   defined geographic unit at below and up                members should satisfy accountability
                                                    average be considered? Should the CDFI                  to a national level. Should all                        rules? Should different percentages
                                                    Fund consider an Applicant’s portfolio                  Applicants proposing to serve Targeted                 apply to different types of boards, i.e.
                                                    of loans outstanding?                                   Populations be approved to serve such                  governing vs. advisory boards?
                                                       2. Investment Areas: The statute                     Target Markets nationally?                                2. Is representation on an advisory
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                                                    requires that an Investment Area must                      4. National Target Markets: Currently,              board sufficient to demonstrate
                                                    meet at least one of the economic                       in order to be certified with a Target                 accountability?
                                                    distress criteria (poverty rate greater                 Market national in geographic scope,                      3. Should CDFIs be able to
                                                    than 20 percent; Median Family Income                   CDFIs need to show that they have                      demonstrate accountability through
                                                    (MFI) at 80 percent or below specific                   conducted their financing activities                   means other than board membership? If
                                                    MFI benchmarks; unemployment rate                       broadly across the variously defined                   so, how?
                                                    1.5 times the national average) and has                 regions of the country, (e.g. Northeast,                  4. Is a business plan and a stratified,
                                                    significant unmet needs for Financial                   West, Midwest, South, Southeast, etc.)                 statistically significant random sample


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                                                    2254                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                    of lending by asset class and location                  III. General Certification Questions for               DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                    sufficient to document accountability?                  Public Comment: Through This RFI, the
                                                    Under what circumstances?                               CDFI Fund Invites Comments and                         National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                            Responses to the Following Questions                   Administration
                                                       5. Should accountability requirements
                                                    differ based on a CDFI’s type of Target                 Regarding CDFI Certification
                                                                                                                                                                   15 CFR Part 922
                                                    Market, and if so, how?                                    A. ‘‘Community-based’’ is a term often
                                                                                                                                                                   [Docket No. 160907827–6827–01]
                                                       6. How should the CDFI Fund assess                   used to describe CDFIs. How should
                                                    accountability if a CDFI’s Target Market                ‘‘community-based’’ be defined and                     RIN 0648–BG02
                                                    includes borrowers or investees who are                 what does it mean for CDFIs to be
                                                    not members of a Targeted Population                    ‘‘community-based?’’                                   Mallows Bay—Potomac River National
                                                    themselves (e.g., small businesses,                                                                            Marine Sanctuary; Notice of Proposed
                                                                                                               B. Although not defined in statute, the             Rulemaking and Availability of Draft
                                                    micro businesses, and affordable
                                                                                                            CDFI Fund allows Applicants that serve                 Environmental Impact Statement and
                                                    housing developers, charter schools),
                                                                                                            Native communities to self-designate                   Management Plan
                                                    but whose ‘‘end-beneficiaries’’ are?
                                                                                                            themselves as Native CDFIs and apply
                                                       7. How should a CDFI demonstrate                     for Financial Assistance and Technical                 AGENCY:  Office of National Marine
                                                    accountability to a national Target                     Assistance through the Native CDFI                     Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
                                                    Market, in particular an Investment                                                                            Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
                                                                                                            Program. Applicants that self-designate
                                                    Area national in scope? Should there be                                                                        Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                                                                            as a Native CDFI must attest to
                                                    a requirement to have local                                                                                    Department of Commerce (DOC).
                                                                                                            providing 50 percent or more of their
                                                    accountability to supplement a national                                                                        ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                                                                            products and services to Native lands or
                                                    governing or advisory board? In this                    Native populations. Should the CDFI                    SUMMARY:    The National Oceanic and
                                                    context, how should the term ‘‘local’’ be               Fund continue to allow Applicants to                   Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
                                                    defined?                                                self-designate as Native CDFIs or should               proposes to designate approximately 52
                                                       8. How should an Applicant that                      there be more defined standards that the               square miles of waters encompassing
                                                    utilizes a web-based lending platform,                  CDFI Fund should verify? If so, what                   and surrounding Maryland’s Mallows
                                                    especially one that serves a national                   should they be?                                        Bay as the Mallows Bay—Potomac River
                                                    Target Market, demonstrate                                 C. Should CDFIs be allowed to be                    National Marine Sanctuary (MPNMS or
                                                    accountability?                                         composed of multiple legal entities                    sanctuary). NOAA also proposes
                                                       G. Non-Governmental Entity: By                                                                              regulations to implement the sanctuary
                                                                                                            (Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates)? And if
                                                    statute, a CDFI Shall not be an agency                                                                         designation and establish the
                                                                                                            so, must a CDFI include all of its
                                                                                                                                                                   sanctuary’s terms of designation to
                                                    or instrumentality of the United States,                Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates for                     protect historical, archeological, and
                                                    or any State or political subdivision                   consideration?                                         cultural resources of national
                                                    thereof. An entity that is created by, or                  D. Should CDFI certification                        significance. A draft environmental
                                                    that receives substantial assistance from,              standards have more ‘‘bright-line’’ tests,             impact statement (DEIS) and draft
                                                    one or more government entities may be                  i.e. specific thresholds and benchmarks                management plan (DMP) have also been
                                                    a CDFI provided it is not controlled by                 that are, where possible, quantitative in              prepared for this proposed action. The
                                                    such entities and maintains                             nature, or should the CDFI Fund                        purpose of this action is to supplement
                                                    independent decision-making power                                                                              and complement current Maryland state
                                                                                                            maintain flexibility to evaluate
                                                    over its activities. In the CDFI                                                                               regulations and resource protection
                                                                                                            Applicants on a case by case basis, even
                                                    Certification application, the Applicant                                                                       efforts to ensure long term protection of
                                                                                                            at the expense of certainty for
                                                    must respond to a series of questions                                                                          the nationally significant collection of
                                                                                                            applicants?
                                                    designed to surface/discover issues or                                                                         historic shipwrecks and other maritime
                                                    circumstances that may prevent an                          E. In addition to earlier questions                 cultural heritage resources. NOAA is
                                                    Applicant from meeting this criteria.                   regarding potentially different Primary                soliciting public comment on the
                                                       1. Are the current standards for                     Mission or Target Market standards                     proposed rule, draft environmental
                                                    establishing that an Applicant is not                   based on institution type, are there other             impact statement, and draft
                                                    owned or controlled by a governmental                   CDFI certification criteria standards that             management plan. NOAA will also
                                                    entity sufficient?                                      should vary based on institution type or               begin consultations under Section 106
                                                                                                            the type of CDFI?                                      of the National Historic Preservation Act
                                                       2. Are there additional or alternative
                                                                                                               F. Should ‘‘start-up’’ entities be able             (NHPA) and solicit public comments
                                                    questions and/or documentation the
                                                                                                            to be certified? How should the term                   specifically related to the identification
                                                    CDFI Fund should require to determine
                                                                                                            ‘‘start-up’’ be defined?                               and assessment of the historic
                                                    if an Applicant is an agency or
                                                                                                                                                                   properties within the affected area in
                                                    instrumentality of a Federal, State or                     G. Are there additional areas of CDFI
                                                                                                                                                                   compliance with Section 106 review
                                                    local government?                                       certification policy or the CDFI                       process.
                                                                                                            certification application review process
                                                    II. Certification Policy and Procedures                                                                        DATES: NOAA will consider all
                                                                                                            that could use improvement? If so, how?
                                                                                                                                                                   comments received by March 31, 2017.
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                                                      A. Should the CDFI Fund request                         Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.; 12 CFR            Public meetings will be held on the
                                                    information on the reason for applying                  1805.                                                  following dates:
                                                    for certification and intended use (e.g.,                                                                        (1) March 7, 2017, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
                                                    funding requirement, marketing)?                        Mary Ann Donovan,
                                                                                                                                                                   p.m., La Plata, MD, and
                                                                                                            Director, Community Development Financial
                                                      B. Are there additional sources of data                                                                        (2) March 9, 2017, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
                                                                                                            Institutions Fund.
                                                    collected by other federal agencies that                                                                       p.m., Arnold, MD.
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2017–00013 Filed 1–6–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    can be used to meet any of the seven                                                                           ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 4810–70–P
                                                    certification tests? If so, please describe.                                                                   on this document, identified by NOAA–


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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:09:33
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:09:33
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
DatesWritten comments must be received on or before March 10, 2017 to be assured of consideration.
ContactDavid Meyer, CCME Manager, CDFI Fund, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20220 or email to [email protected] Information on CDFI Certification may be obtained on the CDFI Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov/ programs-training/certification/Pages/default.aspx.
FR Citation82 FR 2251 

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