Guidance, Waivers, and Alternative Requirements for Grantees in Receipt of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds Under Public Law 113-2: “Buyout” and “Acquisition” Activities; Assistance to Agricultural Enterprises; and State of Colorado Waiver for Tourism Promotion

This notice provides clarifying guidance for Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery (CDBG-DR) grantees in receipt of funds under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (the Appropriations Act). It provides clarification regarding the requirements of ``buyout'' activities authorized in the Department's March 5, 2013, Federal Register notice and expands the eligibility criteria for buyout activities to include ``Disaster Risk Reduction Areas'' as defined by the grantee. It also modifies requirements of the March 5, 2013, notice on the prohibition of assistance to businesses that do not meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) definition of small businesses, permitting assistance also to eligible businesses engaged in ``farming operations,'' as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This notice also provides a waiver to the State of Colorado to expend additional CDBG-DR funds and to assist additional communities impacted by declared disasters in 2011, 2012, and 2013, through tourism promotion activities previously authorized in the Department's June 3, 2014, notice.