Notice2023-24119
Community Facilities Program: Virtual Public Listening Session
Primary source
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Published
November 1, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Housing Service
Abstract
The Community Facilities Loan and Grant program (Community Facilities) of the Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is consolidating the existing regulations that govern Community Facility direct loans and grants, fire and rescue and other small community facilities projects; as well as codifying the Tribal College Initiative, and Economic Impact Initiative grant programs that will incorporate all the necessary loan and grant making information into one streamlined final rule. The result will be an up-to-date comprehensive regulation that will be used to administer the programs. Community Facilities is hosting a virtual listening session to obtain stakeholder input on key proposed areas for changes and/or updates to the proposed consolidated Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant regulation. This session is open to the public.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 210 (Wednesday, November 1, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 210 (Wednesday, November 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74975-74976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24119]
[[Page 74975]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket No. RHS-23-CF-0023]
Community Facilities Program: Virtual Public Listening Session
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Community Facilities Loan and Grant program (Community
Facilities) of the Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural
Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), is consolidating the existing regulations that govern Community
Facility direct loans and grants, fire and rescue and other small
community facilities projects; as well as codifying the Tribal College
Initiative, and Economic Impact Initiative grant programs that will
incorporate all the necessary loan and grant making information into
one streamlined final rule. The result will be an up-to-date
comprehensive regulation that will be used to administer the programs.
Community Facilities is hosting a virtual listening session to obtain
stakeholder input on key proposed areas for changes and/or updates to
the proposed consolidated Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant
regulation. This session is open to the public.
DATES: The virtual listening session will be held on November 7, 2023,
beginning at 2 p.m. (ET).
ADDRESSES: The listening session will convene virtually on the Zoom
platform. All participants must pre-register. To register please use
the following link:
<bullet> General Session--November 7, 2023, 2 p.m. (ET) <a href="https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_uRtst_n4QVuQiSLIGVzglg">https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_uRtst_n4QVuQiSLIGVzglg</a>.
A confirmation email, including the Zoom link and teleconference
information for the meeting, will be sent upon receipt of the
registration.
The Agency will accept comments regarding the subject matter in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. Comments will be
accepted through Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the Docket No.
RHS-23-CF-0023. A link to the Notice will appear. You may submit a
comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you can access the
``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the ``Browse & Comment
on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that have been submitted
as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment, select the
``comment'' button, complete the required information, and select the
``Submit Comment'' button at the bottom. Information on using
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, including instructions for accessing documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the
comment period, is available through the site's ``FAQ'' link at the
bottom. Comments on this information collection must be received by
December 8, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Surabhi Dabir, Senior Policy Advisor,
Community Facilities Program, Rural Housing Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0781, Telephone: (202)
568-9315; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1774787a7a62797e636e7176747e7b7e637e7264576264737639707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3a0acaeaeb6adaab7baa5a2a0aaafaab7aaa6b083b6b0a7a2eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Community Facilities offers direct loans and grants to develop or
improve essential facilities and services in communities across rural
America. These amenities meet essential needs and help increase the
competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining
businesses that provide employment and services for their residents.
Public bodies, non-profit organizations and federally recognized
Tribes can use the funds to construct, expand or improve facilities
that provide health care, education, public safety, and public
services. Projects can include fire and rescue stations, village and
town halls, health care clinics, hospitals, adult- and child-care
centers, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, public
buildings, schools, libraries, and many other essential community
facilities. Financing may also cover the costs for land acquisition,
professional fees, and purchase of equipment when associated with an
essential community facility. These facilities not only improve the
basic quality of life but assist in the development and sustainability
of rural America.
Potential Topics for Comments
The following questions and discussion items are provided as
examples of topics stakeholders may wish to provide comment. The
Community Facilities Program is requesting comment and discussion on
the following topics:
Barriers To Be Addressed
1. What challenges or barriers have you encountered that make it
difficult to access CF loan and grant resources?
2. What suggestions do you have for Community Facilities to address
these challenges through regulatory changes?
Application Process
3. Community Facilities is contemplating allowing projects below a
certain threshold to submit a simplified application with less required
documentation. What key requirements would you simplify?
Expanded Eligibility
4. Community Facilities has historically limited investments in
recreation type projects. Community Facilities is considering expanding
eligibility to certain recreation facilities like hiking/biking trails
and public pools. Do you have suggestions for what recreation
facilities should and should not be funded?
5. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) gave
Community Facilities the authority to refinance certain hospital debt
to preserve a rural community's access to health services. What
suggestions do you have for how Community Facilities should implement
the hospital refinancing provision?
6. Community Facilities is contemplating expanding eligibility for
funding housing projects to meet the essential workforce needs of the
education, health care, and public safety sectors. What types of
housing projects should Community Facilities fund? What types of
facilities should be allowed to use Agency funding to finance housing
projects for a facility's workforce needs? What factors or limitations
should Community Facilities consider?
Miscellaneous
7. Any other key topics or issues Community Facilities should
consider addressing through the regulation update?
Community Facilities is consolidating its existing regulations at 7
CFR part 3570, subpart B (for grants), and 7 CFR part 1942, subparts A
(for CF direct loans) and C (for Fire and Rescue and Other Small
Community Facilities Projects), and incorporating all the necessary
loan and grant making requirements into one streamlined rule; 7 CFR
part 3570, subpart A. This consolidation will update its regulations
and codify policies to current practices. It will also codify the
Tribal College Initiative and Economic Impact Initiative grant
programs. Community Facilities is seeking stakeholder input on key
proposed areas for changes and updates to the consolidated Community
Facilities Direct Loan and Grant
[[Page 74976]]
regulation. In addition to participating in the listening sessions,
stakeholders may provide written comments to the agency until December
8, 2023.
After the listening session, the Agency will consider stakeholder
input for identifying opportunities for regulatory updates to policies
and practices of Community Facilities' direct loan and grant programs.
Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-24119 Filed 10-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
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