[Federal Register: March 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 44)]
[Notices]
[Page 11376-11379]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07mr06-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability and solicitation of
applications.
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SUMMARY: USDA Rural Development administers rural utilities programs
through the Rural Utilities Service. USDA Rural Development announces
additional Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 funding available through its
Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program (TAT). An additional
$500,000 in emergency funding will be made available, pursuant to the
Secretary's determination of extreme need, to conduct Water Resource
Studies in the states affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and/or
Wilma (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas).
DATES: You may submit completed applications for the Water Resource
Studies grant(s) from the date of announcement to 30 days after this
announcement appears in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain application guides and materials for the
Water Resource Studies grants the following ways:
The Internet at USDA Rural Development Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/
.
You may also request application guides and materials by
contacting the USDA Rural Development, WEP at (202) 720-9586.
You may submit:
Completed paper applications for Water Resource Studies
grants to the USDA Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2233, STOP 1570, Washington, DC
20250-1570. Applications should be marked ``Attention: Assistant
Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs.''
Electronic grant applications at http://www.grants.gov/
(Grants.gov), following the instructions you find on that Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anita O'Brien, Loan Specialist, Water
Program Division, USDA Rural Development, telephone: (202) 690-3789,
fax: (202) 690-0649.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Water Resource Studies Grants.
Announcement Type: Funding Level Announcement and Solicitation of
Applications.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(14); Pub.L. 109-97, 119 Stat. 2120.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.761.
Dates: You may submit completed application for a TAT grant from
the date of announcement to 30 days after this announcement appears in
the Federal Register.
Reminder of competitive grant application deadline: Applications
must be mailed, shipped or submitted electronically through Grants.gov
no later than 30 days after this announcement appears in the Federal
Register to be eligible for funding.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the Water Resource
Studies Grants;
II. Award Information: Available funds, maximum amounts;
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, what kinds of
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility;
IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get application
materials; what constitutes a completed application; how and where
to submit applications; deadlines; and, items that are eligible;
V. Application Review Information: Considerations and preferences;
scoring criteria; review standards; and selection information;
VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information and
award recipient reporting requirements;
VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, and contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
Drinking water systems are basic and vital to both health and
economic development. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma severely
damaged water systems in the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas. Without dependable water supply, rural
communities in these states will not attract families and businesses to
return and invest in the hurricane damaged communities.
USDA Rural Development supports the sound development of rural
communities and the growth of our economy without endangering the
environment. It provides financial and technical assistance to help
communities bring safe drinking water and sanitary, environmentally
sound waste disposal facilities to rural Americans in greatest need.
The additional funding for Water Resource Studies will allow rural
communities to better plan and secure dependable water supplies for
rebuilding their community's health and economic development. Qualified
private non-profit organizations may apply to receive a grant to
conduct Water Resource Studies to evaluate sources of dependable water
supplies for communities in the hurricane affected states.
II. Award Information
Available funds: $500,000 is available for Water Resource Study
grants in FY 2006.
III. Eligibility Information
A. What are the basic eligibility requirements for applying?
The applying entity (Applicant) must:
1. Be a private, non-profit organization that has tax-exempt status
from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS);
2. Be legally established and located within one of the following:
a. A state within the United States.
b. The District of Columbia.
c. The Commonwe