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10.773 RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

(RBOG)

FEDERAL AGENCY

RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION

Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, Section 741, Public Law 104-127.

OBJECTIVES

To promote sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

Grant funds may be used to assist in the economic development of rural areas by providing technical assistance, training, and planning for business and economic development.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

Grants may be made to public bodies, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes on Federal or State reservations or other Federally recognized tribal groups, and cooperatives with members that are primarily rural residents and that conduct activities for the mutual benefit of the members.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Rural communities and businesses in rural areas.

Credentials/Documentation

Evidence of legal capacity. Evidence of financial strength and expertise in activities such as proposed in the application, sufficient to ensure accomplishment of the activities and objectives described in the application. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

This program is subject to 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. This program is subject to environmental review requirements; however, most applications are expected to qualify as general exclusions.

Application Procedure

Potential applicants should file Standard Form 424.1, "Application for Federal Assistance (For Nonconstruction)," and additional material required by Agency regulations with the USDA Rural Development State Office. The application will include a written narrative and scope of work. More details are available from the Headquarters Office or any Rural Development State Office.

Award Procedure

Applications will be given a priority score in accordance with the criteria set out in the program regulations.

Deadlines

None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

30 days to 1 year.

Appeals

Adverse decision may be appealed in accordance with procedures set out at 7 CFR 11.

Renewals

Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements, although availability of matching funds is considered in determining priority.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funding for complete projects is limited to projects that can be completed within 2 years. Projects of longer duration may only be funded for 1 year at a time.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

Grantees must provide a financial report and performance activity report quarterly while the project is in process, and a project evaluation report within 1 year after the project is completed.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records and accounts must be maintained to reflect the operations of the project.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

12-0400-0-1-452.

Obligations

FY 04 $3,308,000; FY 05 est $3,032,000; and FY 06 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$3,000 to $615,000. Average: $98,684.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In fiscal year 2004, 55 grants were approved for $3.3 million. $3.03 million is available for 2005.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

Implementing regulations were published in the Federal Register (64 FR 71984) on December 23, 1999. The CFR citation is 7 CFR 4284, Subpart G.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Contact the appropriate Rural Development State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, Specialty Lenders Division, STOP 3225, Room 6767, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1521. Telephone: (202) 720-1400.

Web Site Address

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

A $50,000 grant was made to a Regional Development Commission to help fund a business support center; a $25,000 grant was made to a Native American tribe for technical assistance for implementing an economic development strategic plan.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

Grant selection criteria include the extent to which economic development resulting from the proposed project will be sustainable over the long term; the extent to which the project should lead to improvements in the quality of economic activity within the community, such as higher wages, improved benefits, greater career potential, and the use of higher level skills; the amount of leveraging of funds from other sources; service to communities that are experiencing trauma due to a major natural disaster or the closing or major downsizing of a military facility or other major employer; service to communities that have remained consistently poor over the long term or have experienced long term population decline or job deterioration; and the extent of the project's usefulness as a best practice that may serve as a model for other communities.