Notice2021-22499
Strategic Economic and Community Development Program
Primary source
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Published
October 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Business-Cooperative ServiceRural Housing ServiceRural Utilities Service
Abstract
The Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development (RD) is seeking applications for the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) priority, as reauthorized by Section 6401of the Agriculture Improvement Act, 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) with modifications, for projects that support multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, the Agency will implement SECD by reserving loan and or grant funds from the appropriations of the programs covered by this funding priority. This notice describes the requirements by which the Agency will consider projects eligible for the covered programs' reserved appropriated funds and the information needed to submit an application.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 197 (Friday, October 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 197 (Friday, October 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57409-57412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22499]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RBS-21-BUSINESS-0034]
Strategic Economic and Community Development Program
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.
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SUMMARY: The Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development (RD) is
seeking applications for the Strategic Economic and Community
Development (SECD) priority, as reauthorized by Section 6401of the
Agriculture Improvement Act, 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) with modifications,
for projects that support multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral
strategic community investment plans. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, the
Agency will implement SECD by reserving loan and or grant funds from
the appropriations of the programs covered by this funding priority.
This notice describes the requirements by which the Agency will
consider projects eligible for the covered programs' reserved
appropriated funds and the information needed to submit an application.
DATES: To apply for SECD funding in FY 2022, applicants must submit
Form RD 1980-88, ``Strategic Economic and Community Development
(Section 6401),'' with their program application to the appropriate
covered program. Each of the seven covered programs have different
established deadlines for receipt of applications. Please refer to the
Agency website or the appropriate covered program's Federal Register
Notice for deadline information. All applicants are responsible for any
expenses incurred in preparing and submitting applications.
ADDRESSES: This notice will be announced on <a href="http://www.Grants.gov">www.Grants.gov</a>. SECD
applications, with the exception of Community Connect Grant Program
SECD applications, must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development
Office servicing the area where the project is located. A list of the
USDA Rural Development State Offices can be found at: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices">https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices</a>. Community Connect applicants
must submit SECD applications electronically at: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect">https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect</a>. For lenders assigned an OneRD Loan
Guarantee Initiative Customer Relationship Manager (CRM), SECD
applications must be submitted to their assigned CRM.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, please contact
your respective Rural Development State Office listed here: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices">https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices</a>.
For all other inquiries, you may contact Greg Batson, Rural
Development Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop
0793, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0783,
Telephone: (573) 239-2945. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#096e7b6c6e667b70276b687d7a6667497c7a6d68276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="21465344464e53580f434055524e4f61545245400f464e57">[email protected]</span></a>.
A checklist of all required application information for regional
planning priority can be found at: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 6401 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm
Bill) re-authorized Section 6025 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014
Farm Bill) with some modifications. Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill
enables the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize projects that
support multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community
investment plans
[[Page 57410]]
when applying for program funds. These changes were implemented in an
amendment to 7 CFR 1980 subpart K, which published in the Federal
Register on September 22, 2020. In FY 2022, the Agency will reserve
funds from the covered programs, using SECD regulation 7 CFR part 1980,
subpart K.
SECD supports projects that promote and implement strategic
community investment plans. These plans use the unique strengths of
rural communities to advance prosperity. USDA Rural Development helps
finance these projects to build community prosperity by using community
assets, identifying resources, convening partners and leveraging
federal, state, local or private funding.
In FY 2022, the Agency plans to implement SECD through reserving
funds from the covered programs' appropriations. This notice provides
requirements to applicants submitting applications for the covered
programs' reserved funds and establishes the above-mentioned priority
effective upon the publication of this notice.
Rural Development: Rural Development: Key Priorities
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will
advance the following key priorities of Rural Development:
<bullet> Assisting rural communities recover economically from the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged
communities;
<bullet> Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to
USDA-Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development
funded projects; and
<bullet> Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities.
For further information, visit <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points">https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
A. Statutory Authority
These funds are made available under the Authority of Section 6401
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334);
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v).
B. Programs
Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill (7 U.S.C. 2008v), authorizes any
program under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub. L.
87-128), as determined by the Secretary, to give priority to
applications that support the implementation of multi-jurisdictional
and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. In FY 2022,
the Agency implements SECD through reserving funds from the covered
programs, using SECD regulation 7 CFR part 1980, subpart K.
Accordingly, the Agency is giving priority to projects implementing
strategic community investment plans in FY 2022 through the following
Rural Development programs:
<bullet> Community Facility Loans; see 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A.
<bullet> Community Facilities Grants; see 7 CFR part 3570, subpart
B.
<bullet> Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR part
5001.
<bullet> Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans; see 7
CFR part 5001.
<bullet> Water and Waste Loans and Grants; see 7 CFR part 1780.
<bullet> Rural Business Development Grants; see 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart E.
<bullet> Community Connect Grants; see 7 CFR part 1739.
II. Award Information
Type of Awards: Guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022 appropriated funds.
Available Funds: The amount of reserved funds available for SECD
projects is dependent on the amount of available appropriated funding
provided to each of the covered programs during the fiscal year.
Regional Planning Priority
For FY 2022 applications, the following table specifies the
percentage of funds being reserved:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of
Program funds reserved
for SECD
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Community Facility Loans.............................. 10
Community Facilities Grant Program.................... 5
Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans................. 5
Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans.... 10
Water and Waste Loans................................. 5
Water and Waste Grants................................ 3
Rural Business Development Grants..................... 5
Community Connect Grant Program....................... 10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Award Amounts: Guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants will be
awarded in amounts consistent with each applicable covered program.
Award Dates: Awards for SECD applications submitted to the covered
programs in FY 2022 will be obligated on or before June 30, 2022,
except Community Connect. Community Connect SECD awards will be
obligated upon completion of all required programmatic reviews. The
Agency will return any reserved funds that are not obligated by the
obligation deadline to each covered program's regular funding account
for obligation of eligible projects in that program.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Requirements
To be considered for SECD reserved funds, both the applicant and
project must meet the eligibility requirements of the covered program.
These requirements vary among the covered programs and applicants
should refer to the regulations for those programs, which are
referenced in I.A. of this notice.
The agency supports community and regional planning through the
SECD regulation without making any changes to the applicant eligibility
requirements of the covered programs. The SECD regulation includes
three criteria that a project must meet in order to be considered for
the SECD reserve funding (see 7 CFR 1980.1010):
The first criterion, as noted above, is that the project meets the
applicable eligibility requirements of the covered program for which
the applicant is applying.
The second criterion is that the project is ``carried out in a
rural area'' as defined in 7 CFR 1980.1005. As defined, this means
either the entire project is physically located in a rural area or all
the beneficiaries of the service(s) provided through the project must
either reside in or be located in a rural area. Note that the
definition of ``rural'' varies among the covered programs and the
Section 6401 regulation does not change those definitions. Therefore,
the applicable program regulations as outlined in I.A. should be
reviewed as necessary.
The third criterion is that the project supports the implementation
of a strategic community investment plan on a multi-jurisdictional and
multi-sectoral basis as defined in 7 CFR 1980.1005.
In order to be considered for the reserved funds from covered
programs in FY 2022, applicants must (1) meet all requirements of the
covered program; (2) meet all requirements in accordance with 7 CFR
part 1980, subpart K (see7 CFR 1980.1010); and (3) submit Form RD 1980-
88 and the supporting documentation required in 7 CFR 1080.1015 with
their program application:
<bullet> Sufficient information to show that the project will be
carried out in a rural area, as defined by the appropriate covered
program; and
[[Page 57411]]
<bullet> Identification of any current or previous applications the
applicant has submitted for funds from the covered programs.
B. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) for Award
Management (SAM)
For covered program applicants, a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number must be obtained and registered in the
System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application
pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b). In addition, an entity applicant must
maintain registration in SAM at all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by the
Agency. The applicant must ensure that the information in the database
is current, accurate, and complete. Applicants must ensure they
complete the Financial Assistance General Certifications and
Representations in SAM. Similarly, all recipients of Federal financial
assistance are required to report information about first-tier
subawards and executive compensation in accordance to 2 CFR part 170.
So long as an entity applicant does not have an exception under 2 CFR
170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary processes and systems
in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the applicant
receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b). An applicant, unless excepted
under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c), or (d), is required to: (a) Be registered
in SAM before submitting its application; (b) provide a valid DUNS
number in its application; and (c) continue to maintain an active SAM
registration with current information at all times during which it has
an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration
by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make
a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with
all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not
fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding
agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency
may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal
award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award
to another applicant. As required by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), all grant applications must provide a DUNS number when
applying for Federal grants, on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations
can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free
number at 1-866- 705-5711 or via internet at <a href="http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform">http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform</a>. Additional information concerning this requirement can be
obtained on the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> website at <a href="http://www.grants.gov">http://www.grants.gov</a>. Similarly,
applicants may register for SAM at <a href="https://www.sam.gov">https://www.sam.gov</a> or by calling 1-
866-606- 8220. The applicant must provide documentation that they are
registered in SAM and their DUNS number. If the applicant does not
provide documentation that they are registered in SAM and their DUNS
number, the application will not be considered for funding. Applicants
no longer must complete the following forms for acceptance of a federal
award, given that such information is now collected through the
registration or annual recertification process in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>: <bullet>
Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered Transactions.'' <bullet>
Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion. Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.'' <bullet> Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-
Free Workplace Requirements (Grants).'' <bullet> Form AD-3031,
``Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for
Corporate Applicants.''
C. Cost Sharing or Matching
Any and all cost sharing, matching, and cost participation
requirements of the applicable covered program apply to projects
seeking SECD reserved funds.
D. Other Eligibility Requirements
Any and all other eligibility requirements (beyond those identified
in III.A of this notice) found in the covered programs applying to
applicants, their projects, and the beneficiaries of those projects are
unchanged by either this notice or the Section 6401 regulation.
IV. Application Evaluation and Selection for Covered Programs Funds
A. Scoring of Applications
All FY 2022 applications for covered programs will be reviewed,
evaluated, and scored based on the covered program's scoring criteria.
This notice does not affect that process. This notice only affects the
scoring of SECD applications competing for a covered program's SECD
reserve funds.
For applicants wishing to be considered for reserved SECD funds in
FY 2022, the Agency will review, evaluate, and score each application
based on the criteria specified in 7 CFR 1980.1020, to award points for
each program's competition for the SECD reserved funds.
B. Selection Process
The Agency will prioritize applications competing for a covered
program's reserved funds based on the covered program's awarded points
plus the SECD earned points to determine which projects receive
reserved funds.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
The Agency will notify SECD applicants who receive funding in a
manner consistent with award notifications for the covered program.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Any and all additional requirements of the applicable covered
programs apply to projects receiving funding in response to this
notice. Please see the regulations for the applicable covered program.
C. Reporting Requirements
Any and all post-award reporting requirements contained in the
covered program apply to all projects receiving reserved funds in
response to this notice.
VII. Additional Information
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements contained in 7 CFR part 1980,
subpart K, have been approved by Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570-0068.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS
number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line
at 1-866-705-5711 or online at <a href="https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform">https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform</a>.
Similarly, all grant applicants must be registered in the System for
Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application. Applicants
may register for the SAM at <a href="http://www.sam.gov/SAM">http://www.sam.gov/SAM</a>. All recipients of
Federal financial grant assistance are required to report information
about first-tier sub-awards and executive total compensation in
accordance with 2 CFR part 170. Applicants must ensure they complete
the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations in
SAM.
[[Page 57412]]
Civil Rights
Programs referenced in this Notice are subject to applicable Civil
Rights Laws. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1968, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from
discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived
from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity
conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at <a href="https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027">https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027</a>, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or
letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a1a18050d180b074403041e0b010f2a1f190e0b440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2151534e4653404c0f484f55404a4461545245400f464e57">[email protected]</span></a>.
Justin Maxson,
Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2021-22499 Filed 10-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
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