[Federal Register: February 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 37)]
[Notices]
[Page 8671-8674]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe02-112]
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Part III
Department of Agriculture
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Rural Housing Service
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Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for section 514 Farm Labor Housing
Loans and section 516 Farm Labor Housing Grants for Off-Farm Housing
for Fiscal Year 2002; Notice
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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 for Fiscal Year 2002
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 and acquisition and
rehabilitation of off-farm units for farmworker households.
Applications may also include requests for section 521 rental
assistance (RA) and operating assistance for migrant units. 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 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State
office on May 28, 2002. 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 the United States Postal
Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX)
and postage due applications will not be accepted.
ADDRESSES: Applicants wishing to apply for assistance must contact the
Rural Development State office serving the place in which they desire
to locate 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 Center, 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) 761-7740, TDD (1-907-786-7786, Deborah Davis
Arizona State Office, Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 N. Central Ave.,
Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2906, (602) 280-8706, TDD (602) 280-8770,
Johnna Vargas
Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR
72201-3225, (501) 301-3250, TDD (501) 301-3279, Clinton King
California State Office, 430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616-
4169, (530) 792-5819, TDD (530) 792-5848, Jeff Deis
Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E100, Lakewood, CO
80215, (303) 236-2801 (ext. 124), TDD (303) 236-1590, Mary Summerfield
Connecticut
Served by Massachusetts State Office
Delaware & Maryland State Office, 5201 South Dupont Highway, PO Box
400, Camden, DE 19934-9998, (302) 697-4353, TDD (302) 697-4303, Pat
Baker
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, & Western Pacific Territories State Office, Room 311,
Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-
8309, TDD (808) 933-8321, Thao Khamoui
Idaho State Office, Suite A1, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Boise, ID 83709,
(208) 378-5628, TDD (208) 378-5644, LaDonn McElligott
Illinois State Office, 2118 W. Park Ct. Suite A, Champaign, IL 6821-
2986, (217) 403-6222, TDD (217) 403-6240, Barry L. Ramsey
Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278,
(317) 290-3100 (ext. 423), TDD (317) 290-3343, John Young
Iowa State Office, 873 Federal Building, 210, Walnut Street, Des
Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4666, TDD (515) 284-4858, Julie Sleeper
Kansas State Office, 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2721, TDD (785) 271-2767, Virginia M.
Hammersmith
Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY
40503, (606) 224-7300, 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) 990-9110, TDD (207) 942-7331, Michael Grondin
Maryland
Served by Delaware State Office
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office, 451 West
Street, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4333, TDD (413) 253-4590, Donald
Colburn
Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI
48823, (517) 324-5192, TDD (517) 337-6795, Philip Wolak
Minnesota State Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375 Jackson Street, St.
Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7804, TDD (651) 602-7830, Joyce Vondal
Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol
Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4325, TDD (601) 965-5850, Darnella
Smith-Murray
Missouri State Office, 1201 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center,
Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0990, TDD (573) 876-9480,
Charles H. Marcks
Montana State Office, Unit 1, Suite B, 900 Technology Blvd., Bozeman,
MT 59715, (406) 585-2518, TDD (406) 585-2562, Craig Hildreth
Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, room 152, 100 Centennial Mall
N, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5567, TDD (402) 437-5093, Phil Willnerd
Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-
9910, (775) 887-1222 (ext. 13), TDD (775) 885-0633, William L. Brewer
New Hampshire State Office, Concord Center, Suite 218, Box 317, 10
Ferry Street, Concord, NH 03301-5004, (603) 223-6046, TDD (603) 229-
0536, Jim Fowler
New Jersey State Office, Tarnsfield Plaza, Suite 22, 790 Woodland Road,
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, (609) 265-3636, TDD (609) 265-3687, 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 2120, Raleigh, NC
271209, (919) 873-2066, TDD (919) 873-2003, Terry Strole
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North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser,
PO Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 530-2049, TDD (701) 530-2113,
Kathy Lake
Ohio State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street,
Columbus, OH 43215-2477, (614) 255-2418, TDD (614) 255-2554, Melodie
Taylor
Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654,
(405) 742-1070, TDD (405) 742-1007, Phil Reimers
Oregon State Office, 101 SW Main, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204-3222,
(503) 414-3325, TDD (503) 414-3387, Margo Donelin
Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2281, TDD (717) 237-2261, 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) 253-3432, TDD
(803) 765-5697, Larry D. Floyd
South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth
Street, SW, Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1132, TDD (605) 352-1147, Dwight
Wullweber
Tennessee State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN
37203-1084, (615) 783-1300, TDD (615) 783-1397, G. Benson Lasater
Texas State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main,
Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9755, 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) 524-4324, TDD
(801) 524-3309, Robert L. Milianta
Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor 89 Main Street,
Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6028, TDD (802) 223-6365, Sandra
Mercier
Virgin Islands
Served by Florida State Office
Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa
Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1547, TDD (804) 287-1753, Eileen
Nowlin
Washington State Office, 1011 East Main St., Suite 306, Puyallup, WA
98372-6771, (253) 845-9272 X114, TDD (360) 704-7760, Robert Lund
Western Pacific Territories
Served by Hawaii State Office
West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, Room 320,
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4889, TDD (304) 284-4836, Craig
St. Clair
Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschiling Court, Stevens Point, WI
54481, (715) 345-7620 (ext. 7145), 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 Huff
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants
may contact Mary Fox, Senior Loan Specialist or David Layfield, Senior
Loan Specialist, of the Multi-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural
Housing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Stop 0781,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250, telephone (202)
720-1624 or (202) 690-0759 (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.
Definitions
Farm Labor. Farm labor includes services in connection with
cultivating the soil, raising or harvesting any agriculture or
aquaculture commodity; or in catching, netting, handling, planting,
drying, packing, grading, storing, or preserving in its unmanufactured
state any agriculture or aquaculture commodity; or delivering to
storage, market, or a carrier for transportation to market or to
process any agricultural or aquacultural commodity.
Migrant Agricultural Laborers. Agricultural laborers and family
dependents who establish a temporary residence while performing
agriculture work at one or more locations away from the place they call
home or home base. (This does not include day-haul agricultural workers
whose travels are limited to work areas within one day of their work
locations.)
Off-Farm Labor Housing. Housing for farm laborers regardless of the
farm where they work.
Discussion of Notice
I. Authority and Distribution Methodology
A. Authority
The Farm Labor Housing program is authorized by 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 (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, public
agencies (such as local housing authorities) and with section 514 loans
to nonprofit limited partnerships in which the general partner is a
nonprofit entity.
B. Distribution Methodology
Because RHS has the ability to adjust loan and grant levels, final
loan and grant levels will fluctuate. The estimated funds available for
fiscal year (FY) 2002 for off-farm housing are: Section 514 loans,
$22,459,099; Section 516 grants, $13,967,000.
C. Section 514 and Section 516 Funds
Section 514 loan funds and section 516 grant funds will be
distributed to States based on a national competition, as follows:
1. States will accept, review, and score requests in accordance
with 7 CFR part 1944, subpart D. The scoring factors are:
(a) The presence and extent of leveraged assistance, including
donated land, for the units that will serve program-eligible tenants,
calculated as a percentage of the RHS total development cost (TDC). RHS
TDC excludes non-RHS eligible costs such as a developer's fee.
Leveraged assistance includes, but is not limited to, funds for hard
construction costs, section 8 or other non-RHS tenant subsidies, and
state or federal funds. A minimum of ten percent leveraged assistance
is required to earn points; however, if the total percentage of
leveraged assistance is less than ten percent and the proposal includes
donated land, two points will be awarded for the donated land. Points
will be awarded in accordance with the following table. (0 to 20
points)
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Percentage Points
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75 or more.................................................... 20
60-74......................................................... 18
50-59......................................................... 16
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40-49......................................................... 12
30-39......................................................... 10
20-29......................................................... 8
10-19......................................................... 5
0-9........................................................... 0
Donated land in proposals with less than ten percent total 2
leveraged assistance.........................................
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(b) Seasonal, temporary, migrant housing. (5 points for up to and
including 50 percent of the units; 10 points for 51 percent or more.)
(c) The selection criteria contained in 7 CFR 1944, Subpart D
includes one optional criteria set by the National Office. This fiscal
year, the National office initiative will be used in the selection
criteria as follows:
Up to 10 points will be awarded based on the presence of and extent
to which a tenant services plan exists that clearly outlines services
that will be provided to the residents of the proposed project. These
services may include but are not limited to: transportation related
services, on-site English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, move-in
funds, emergency assistance funds, homeownership counseling, food
pantries, after school tutoring, and computer learning centers. Two
points will be awarded for each resident service included in the tenant
services plan up to a maximum of 10 points. Plans must detail how the
services are to be administered, who will administer them, and where
they will be administered. All tenant service plans must include
letters of intent that clearly state the service that will be provided
at the project for the benefit of the residents from any party
administering each service, including the applicant. (0 to 10 points)
2. States will conduct preliminary eligibility review, score
applications, and forward to the National Office.
3. 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. In case of point-score ties in the National ranking,
first preference will be given to a preapplication to develop units in
a state that does not have existing RHS-financed off-farm LH units;
second preference to a preapplication will be from a State that has not
yet been selected in the current funding cycle. In the event there are
multiple preapplications in either category, one preapplication from
each State (the highest State-ranked) will compete by computer-based
random lottery. If necessary, the process will be completed until all
same-pointed preapplications are selected or funds are exhausted.
II. Funding Limits
A. Individual requests may not exceed $3 million (total loan and
grant).
B. No State may receive more than 30 percent of the total available
funds unless an exception is granted from the Administrator.
C. Rental Assistance and Operating Assistance will be held in the
National Office for use with section 514 loans and section 516 grants
and will be awarded based on each project's financial structure and
need.
III. Application Process
All applications for sections 514 and 516 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 pm, local
time, on May 28, 2002, unless 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: February 15, 2002.
James C. Alsop,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-4329 Filed 2-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
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