Lenders Conference Categories

CP - Current Procedures.

This issue is a current practice in our standard procedures. We agree with your comment and understand your concerns. We will provide reinforcement measures to our field staff to ensure proper program delivery. Please see the link below for Administrative Notices (ANs), Unnumbered Letters (ULs) and Procedural Notices (PN's) listed as further reference materials.

SC - Statutory.

This subject is an issue that is dictated by our existing statute (law) from which our instructions were originated. A change of this magnitude requires a change in the law that governs our program.

RC - Regulation Change.

This issue requires a regulation change. We will take this comment into consideration for the Proposed Rule which was published on September 14, 2007. If you would like to submit additional comments for consideration for this proposed regulation change, please refer to the Federal Register Notice for instructions. (Link to Federal Register Notice inserted here.)

MC - Management Change.

This issue can be reviewed by our management team and procedures can be implemented to include this suggestion without processing a regulation change. Future consideration will be given to this suggestion.

Comment 1:

An Outreach Plan and team has been developed and is in the process of implementing objectives to improve the visibility and availability of Rural Development Programs, especially to the underserved/targeted population sectors and communities. The plan will assist the National Office and the State Offices to establish measurable goals and objectives to determine the effectiveness of the plan. The Outreach Plan was developed in accordance with several management strategies articulated in the Rural Development Strategic Plan. In addition, the plan contains strategies to improve human capital management by ensuring that the Agency employs a diverse workforce. The plan includes increasing outreach and partnerships with financial institutions and non-traditional lenders to encourage access to capital for rural minority business owners with other Federal departments and agencies efficiently, and bring additional resources to rural areas and aggressively marketing the renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements program.

Comment 2:

This suggestion will be taken into consideration based on IT and funding levels available to make the B&I Loan Pack available as a web-based initiative.

Comment 3:

All waiver requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be beneficial to the Agency in order to be approved.

Comment 4:

This suggestion will be addressed in the 1970 proposed rule which will be published for comments in 2008. If you would like to submit comments for consideration for this proposed regulation change, please be on the look out for the Federal Register Notice for instructions or contact your local Rural Development Office for assistance.

Comment 5:

The current regulations establishes the time frame for processing loans through approval or disapproval as no later than 60 days. However, the subsequent issuance of the Loan Note Guarantee can vary depending upon the timely processing of final documents between the lender, the borrower and the Agency. Please refer to the Rural Development Office Locator (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html) for an office in your vicinity.