Civil Rights Requirements for Business and Community Programs Recipients and Participants

Legislation and Policy

It is the policy of USDA that no person shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability in employment or in any program/activity conducted or assisted by USDA Rural Development. It is your responsibility to assure that all people have an equal opportunity to apply for and receive the benefit of your program or service.

As a recipient of federal assistance, your organization must comply with the following:

1. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (7 CFR 15) prohibiting discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance
2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended (29 US 794) and USDA 7 CFR 15b prohibiting exclusion of the handicapped in federally assisted programs
3. Age Discrimination Act prohibiting discrimination based on age
4. Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prohibiting discrimination based on gender
5. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibiting discrimination of the handicapped regardless of involvement of federal assistance
6. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as amended (if applicable) prohibiting discrimination in any housing related activity
7. Equal Credit Opportunity Act (if applicable) prohibiting discrimination in the evaluation of credit worthiness.

As a recipient of federal financial assistance, you and/or your organization must execute the following forms:

1. Form RD 400-4: Assurance Agreement must be agreed upon and executed by the applicant (per 7 CFR 15.4).
   
   
2. When the construction contract amount is in excess of $10,000 (per Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and Executive Order 11246) -
   
   
   1. the applicant will be required to execute Form RD 400-1: Equal Opportunity Agreement and
      
      
   2. the contractor will be required to execute Form RD 400-6: Compliance Statement with the contract documents. (E.O. 11246)

During the life of the loan, loan guarantee, and/or grant agreement, in order to ensure compliance with Civil Rights requirements, USDA will periodically conduct a Compliance Review. As recipient, you must collect, maintain and provide data on race, gender, national origin and any other information as may be pertinent to ascertaining compliance with civil rights laws. In general, recipients should have available racial and ethnic data showing the extent to which members of minority groups are beneficiaries of federally assisted programs. (7 CFR 15.5)

The following may be of assistance to you in meeting your Civil Rights responsibilities:

Guide for Racial/Ethnicity and Gender Statistical Information

Guide for written materials, brochures, handbooks, manuals, ads, etc. for non-discrimination statement, Fair Housing and/or accessibility logo or Equal Opportunity Statement.

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