ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998, Title II, Section 680.

OBJECTIVES:

To support program activities of national or regional significance to alleviate the causes of poverty in distressed communities which promote: (1) Full-time permanent jobs for poverty level project area residents; (2) income and/or ownership opportunities for low-income community members; (3) a better standard of living for rural low-income individuals in terms of water and waste-water treatment; and (4) national or regional programs designed to provide character building, sports and physical fitness activities for low- income youth.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Federal funds awarded under the Secretary's Discretionary Authority may be used for activities that: improve the quality of the economic and social environment of low-income residents by providing resources to eligible applicants, by arresting tendencies toward dependency, chronic unemployment and community deterioration in urban and rural areas; address needs of water and wastewater treatment; and provide national or regional character building, sports and physical fitness programs for low-income youth; and involve significant new combinations of resources. (1) Projects must result in direct benefits targeted toward low-income people as defined in the most recent Department of Health and Human Services Annual Revision of Poverty Income Guidelines, that are published in the Federal Register. (2) Generally, the project must be capable of being completed within 12 to 60 months of the award of the grant. Each project will have an expiration date. (3) OCS will give favorable consideration to projects that document public/private partnership mobilizing cash and/or in-kind contributions; and to projects that are located in areas characterized by poverty and other indicators of socioeconomic distress such as poverty or AFDC/TANF assistance rate of at least 20 percent, designation as an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community (EZ EC), high levels of unemployment, high levels of incidences of violence, gang activity, crime, drug use and low-income noncustodial parents of children receiving AFDC/TANF.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   For economic development projects, eligibility is restricted to private, locally initiated, nonprofit community development corporations (or affiliates of such corporations) governed by a board consisting of residents of the community and business and civic leaders. For all other projects, the Secretary is authorized to make direct grants to States, cities, counties, and private nonprofit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   A project must be targeted to address the needs of a specific segment of low-income individuals or families. The official poverty line established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services is used as a criterion of eligibility in the Community Services Discretionary Grant program.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Title 45 CFR 74.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:   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 the 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. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS and required by Title 45 CFR, Part 74 must be used. An environmental impact statement may be required for certain projects under 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 the 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. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS and required by Title 45 CFR, Part 74 must be used. An environmental impact statement may be required for certain projects under this program.

Application Procedure:   Awards are granted on a competitive basis. Announcements concerning the availability of funds, requests for applications, along with application form and assurance documents, are published in the Federal Register. Applications to the Office of Community Services for grants under the announcement should be addressed to: Director, Division of Discretionary Grants, OFM, Administration for Children and Families, 6th Floor, OFM/DGM, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Applicants are urged to inform and coordinate application submissions with State and local governments where such information and coordination is appropriate or necessary for the success of the program. This program is subject to the provisions of Title 45 CFR, Part 74 (non-governmental entities) or Part 92 (governmental entities). All applications for assistance under this program must contain: (1) SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; (2) SF-424A, Budget Information; (3) SF-424B, Assurances-Non-Construction Programs; (4) Certificate Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements; (5) Certification regarding environmental tobacco smoke; (6) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and (7) Certification Regarding Lobbying. These must be accompanied by a detailed budget, and a program narrative submitted in accordance with the format detailed in the program announcement.

Award Procedure:   The Director, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), will make the final decision on all grant awards. Selection of applicants will be determined based on the review criteria outlined in the program announcement.

Deadlines:   For program deadlines, applicants should contact: Office of Community Services, ACF, 5th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Generally, financial assistance made available in this program will be for a period not to exceed 12 to 60 months, and each project will have an expiration date. Generally, funds are released in amounts required for a 30-day period.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual progress reports, semi-annual financial reports and a final report summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in relation to the approved goals and objectives are required by OCS.

Audits:   "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Insofar as is practicable, the audits will be conducted in accordance with standards established by the Comptroller General for the audits of governmental organizations, programs, activities and functions. Private nonprofit organizations must submit financial and compliance audits for the period covered by the grant in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 "Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and other Nonprofit Institutions."

Records:   Grant recipients are required to keep all financial, business and program reports necessary for program review and audit to insure that funds have been expended in accordance with the regulations, grant terms and conditions of this program. Audits must be kept on file for at least 3 years.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1504-0-1-506.

Obligations:   (Discretionary Awards) FY 99 $43,037,926; FY 00 est $44,861,000; and FY 01 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   The range is from $75,000 to $500,000.

PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Ninety-eight grants were awarded in fiscal year 1999. Seventy-four grants were awarded in fiscal year 2000. It is anticipated that 90 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2001.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Program announcements are published in the Federal Register.

INFORMATION CONTACTS: