[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 24483-24485] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-11257] Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 87 / Thursday, May 6, 1999 / Notices [[Page 24483]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for Section 514 Farm Labor Housing Loans and Section 516 Farm Labor Housing Grants for Off-farm Housing
Agency
Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.
Action
Notice.
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Summary
This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for section 514 Farm Labor Housing loan funds and section 516 Farm Labor Housing grant funds for new construction of off-farm units for farmworker households. Applications may also include requests for section 521 rental assistance (RA). This document describes the method used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission requirements.
Dates
The closing deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this NOFA is 5:00 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State office on July 15, 1999. The application closing deadline is firm as to date and hour. RHS 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 a post office or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), COD, and postage due applications will not be accepted.
Addresses
Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must contact the Rural Development State office serving the place in which they desire to submit an application for off-farm labor housing to receive further information and copies of the application package. 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 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) 279-3455, TDD (334) 279-3495, James B. Harris Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 745-2176, TDD (907) 745-6494, Ron Abbott Arizona State Office, Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 N. Central Ave., Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2906, (602) 280-8755, TDD (602) 280-8701, Steve Langstaff Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3250, TDD (501) 301-3279, Cathy Jones California State Office, 430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616- 4169, (530) 792-5800, Robert P. Anderson Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (303) 236-2801 (ext. 122), TDD (303) 236-1590, ``Sam'' Mitchell Connecticut--Served by Massachusetts State Office Delaware/Maryland State Office, 5201 South Dupont Highway, PO Box 400, Camden, DE 19934-9998, (302) 697-4314, TDD (302) 697-4303, W. Arthur Greenwood Florida & Virgin Islands State Office, 4440 N.W. 25th Place, PO Box 147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3465, TDD (352) 338- 3499, Joseph P. Fritz Georgia State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2164, TDD (706) 546-2034, Wayne Rogers Guam--Served by Hawaii State Office Hawaii, Guam, and Western Pacific Territories State Office, Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-3000, TDD (808) 933-6902, Abraham Kubo Idaho State Office, Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5627, TDD (208) 378-5644, Roni Atkins Illinois State Office, Illini Plaza, Suite 103, 1817 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820, (217) 398-5412 (ext. 256), TDD (217) 398-5396, Barry L. Ramsey Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3117, TDD (317) 290-3343, John Young Iowa State Office, 873 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4493, TDD (515) 284-4858, Bruce McGuire Kansas State Office, 1200 SW Executive Drive, PO Box 4653, Topeka, KS 66604, (785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Gary Shumaker Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (606) 224-7325, TDD (606) 224-7422, Paul Higgins Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7962, TDD (318) 473-7655, Yvonne R. Emerson Maine State Office, 444 Stillwater Ave., Suite 2, PO Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9115, TDD (207) 942-7331, Dale D. Holmes Maryland--Served by Delaware State Office Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island State Office, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4333, Donald Colburn Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 337-6635 (ext. 1609), TDD (517) 337-6795, Philip Wolak Minnesota State Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7823, TDD (651) 602-3799, Mary Ann Erickson Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965- 5850, Danny Ivy Missouri State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0990, TDD (573) 876-9480, Gary Frisch Montana State Office, Unit 1, Suite B, 900 Technology Blvd., Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 585-2515, TDD (406) 586-0819, MaryLou Falconer Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5567, TDD (402) 437-5093, Byron Fischer Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703- 9910, (702) 887-1222, TDD (702) 885-0633 (ext. 13), William L. Brewer New Hampshire--Served by Vermont State Office New Jersey State Office, Tarnsfield Plaza, Suite 22, 790 Woodland Road, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, (609) 265-3630, 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, 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) 873-2062, TDD (919) 873-2003, Eileen Nowlin North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser, PO Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 250-4771, TDD (701) 250-4794, Kathy Lake Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2477, (614) 469-5165, TDD (614) 469-5757, Gerald Arnott Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074- 2654, (405) 742-1070, TDD (405) 742-1007, Patsy Graumann Oregon State Office, 101 SW Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204- 3222, (503) 414-3350, TDD (503) 414-3387, Jillene Davis Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2187, TDD (717) 237-2187, Gary Rothrock Puerto Rico State Office, New San Juan Office Bldg., Room 501, 159 Carlos E. Chardon Street, Hato Rey, PR 00918-5481, (787) 766-5095, Ext. 254, TDD 1-800-274-1572, 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) 765-5690, 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, Dwight Wullweber Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1375, G. Benson Lasater Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9760, TDD (254) 742-9712, Eugene G. Pavlat
Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 S. State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0350, (801) 524-4323, TDD (801) 524-3309, Robert L. Milianta Vermont and New Hampshire State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6020, TDD (802) 223- 6365, Russell Higgins Virgin Islands--Served by Florida State Office Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1582, TDD (804) 287-1753, Carlton Jarratt Washington State Office, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7707, TDD (360) 704-7760, Deborah Davis Western Pacific Territories--Served by Hawaii State Office West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 291-4793, TDD (304) 284-5941, Sue Snodgrass Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschiling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7620, TDD (715) 345-7614, Sherry Engel Wyoming State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, Room 1005, PO Box 820, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 261-6315, TDD (307) 261-6333, Charles E. Huff
For Further Information Contact
For general information, applicants may contact Linda Armour, Mary Fox, or Tracee Lilly, Senior Loan Officers, Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Stop 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250, telephone (202) 720- 1604 (voice) (this is not a toll free number) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD- Federal Information Relay Service).
Supplementary Information
Programs Affected
The Farm Labor Housing Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 10.405, Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants. Rental Assistance is listed in the Catalog under Number 10.427, Rural Rental Assistance Payments.
NOFA Application and Processing Deadlines
The NOFA application period closes July 15, 1999. Because of the relatively short timeframe for processing selected loan requests to permit obligation of funds by September 30, 1999, we have established the following processing deadlines: July 15, 1999: NOFA application period closes. July 16-20, 1999: State Offices review applications for completeness; score and rank; and provide list of all applications received to National Office. July 21-30, 1999: State Offices complete preliminary eligibility and feasibility review and perform site visit; begin environmental review. August 2, 1999: Based on the preliminary eligibility and feasibility review, State Offices provide final list of scored and ranked preapplications to the National Office with review comments. August 2-6, 1999: National Office ranks preapplications nation- wide. As soon as possible thereafter, National Office notifies States of requests selected for further processing. August, 1999: Upon National Office notification, States immediately notify selected applicants to submit a formal application within 30 days. Applicants should submit organizational documents immediately to allow time for review by Office of General Counsel (OGC). August-September, 1999: States complete the environmental review and appraisal. Satisfactory completion of the environmental review must occur prior to issuance of the letter of conditions. September 15, 1999: Deadline for receipt of formal application. Deadline for commitment of leveraged funds. September 24, 1999: Deadline for issuing letter of conditions and acceptance by borrower. September 27, 1999: Deadline for loan or grant approval and obligation of funds.
Discussion of Notice
I. Authority and Distribution Methodology
A. Authority The farm labor housing program is under the Housing Act of 1949: section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1484) for loans and section 516 (42 U.S.C. 1486) for grants. Tenant subsidies (rental assistance, or RA) are available through section 521 (42 U.S.C. 1490a). Sections 514 and 516 provide RHS the authority to make loans and grants for financing off-farm housing to broad-based nonprofit organizations, nonprofit organizations of farmworkers, federally recognized Indian tribes, agencies or political subdivisions of State or local government, and public agencies (such as local housing authorities). In addition, RHS is authorized under section 514 to make loans to finance off-farm housing to limited partnerships in which the general partner is a nonprofit entity. B. Distribution Methodology The amounts available for fiscal year (FY) 1999 for off-farm new construction are:
Section 514 loans..........................................$ 15,500,000 Section 516 grants..........................................$ 9,737,493
Section 514 new construction loan funds and section 516 new construction grant funds will be distributed to States based on a national competition, as follows: 1. States will accept, review, score, and rank requests in accordance with 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D. The scoring criteria includes an optional Agency initiative, which will not be used this fiscal year. 2. The National office will rank all requests nationwide and distribute funds to States in rank order, within funding and RA limits. If insufficient funds or RA remain for the next ranked proposal, the Agency will select the next ranked proposal that falls within the remaining levels.
II. Funding Limits
A. Individual requests may not exceed $2.5 million (total loan and grant). B. No State may receive more than 30 percent of the total available funds. C. New construction RA will be held in the National Office for use with section 514 loans and section 516 grants.
III. Application Process
The Rural Housing Service has published elsewhere in this Federal Register a final rule entitled ``Processing Requests for Farm Labor Housing (LH) Loans and Grants''. Loan requests filed in response to this NOFA are subject to the regulatory provisions with respect to this final rule. All applications for sections 514 and 516 new construction funds must be filed with the appropriate Rural Development State office and must meet the requirements of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D, and section IV 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 another Notice published in the Federal Register.
IV. Application Submission Requirements
A. Each application shall include all of the information, materials, forms and exhibits required by 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D, as well as comply with the provisions of this NOFA. 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 application information.
Dated: April 29, 1999. Eileen M. Fitzgerald, Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service. [FR Doc. 99-11257 Filed 5-5-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-XV-U