RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION:

Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, Section 310B, Public Law 92-419, 7 U.S.C. 1989, Public Law 101- 624, Public Law 102-142, 7 U.S.C. 1932.

OBJECTIVES:

To facilitate the development of small and emerging private business, industry, and related employment for improving the economy in rural communities.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Rural business enterprise grant (RBEG) funds may be used to create, expand or operate rural distance learning networks or programs that provide educational or job training instruction related to potential employment or job advancement to adult students; develop, construct or acquisition land, buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utility extensions, necessary water supply and waste disposal facilities; refinancing; services and fees; and to establish a revolving loan fund. Television demonstration grant (TDG) funds may be used for television programming to demonstrate the effectiveness of providing information on agriculture and other issues of importance to farmers and other rural residents.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Applicants eligible for RBE grants are public bodies and nonprofit corporations serving rural areas such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations which will serve rural areas. Applicants eligible for TD grants are statewide, private, nonprofit, public television systems whose coverage is predominantly rural. Rural area for this program is defined as a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less, other than an urbanized area immediately adjacent to a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population in excess of 50,000 inhabitants.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Generally any private business which will employ 50 or less new employees and has less than $1.0 million in projected gross revenue and has or will utilize technological innovation and commercialization of new products that can be used in rural areas and new processes that can be used in such production.

Credentials/Documentation:   Evidence of legal capacity, economic feasibility and financial responsibility relative to the activity for which assistance is requested.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:   The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-102 must be used for this program. An environmental assessment is required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   Preapplication Form SF-424 is filed at the Rural Development local office. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-102 must be used for this program.

Award Procedure:   After the preapplication has been reviewed by the RD local office, it is forwarded to the RD State Office for review and processing instructions. Following approval by the State Office, funds are made available to the local office for final delivery. Notification of awards must be made to the designated State Central Information Reception Agency.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   30 to 90 days.

Appeals:   If an application is rejected, the reasons for rejection are fully stated. Applicant may request a review of this decision from the next higher management level of Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Funds are allocated to States based on rural population and percent of nonmetropolitan per capita income. On occasion, the allocation to States may not be practical due to funding or administrative constraints. In these cases, funds will be controlled by the National Office.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Periodic reports are made to FMHA.

Audits:   Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations", State, local governments or Non-profit Organizations that receive Federal financial assistance of $300,000 or more within the fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year.

Records:   The grantee shall maintain adequate records and accounts to assure that grant funds are used for authorized purposes.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   12-2065-0-1-452; 12-0400-0-1-452.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 99 $36,410,014; FY 00 est $39,960,000; and FY 01 est $40,664,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $2,000 to $500,000; $88,600.

PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, 411 grants were made. It is estimated that 390 grants will be made in fiscal year 2000.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

7 CFR 1942, Subpart G.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Consult your telephone directory for RD local office number. If no listing, get in touch with appropriate Rural Development State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   Director, Specialty Lenders Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-3222. Telephone: (202) 720-1400. Use the same number for FTS.

Web Site Address:   http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Grant funds were used to assist rural communities in developing small industrial parks or sites by acquiring land, the purchase of necessary equipment, construction of buildings, to provide water and waste disposal facilities, and to pay for costs of streets, parking areas and access roads. Also, grant funds were utilized to establish/capitalize revolving loan funds to assist in the development of small and emerging private business enterprises in rural areas, and provided technical assistance (i.e., a problem solving function) to qualifying small businesses in rural areas.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: