[Federal Register: December 13, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 238)]
[Notices]
[Page 73899]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13de05-93]
[[Page 73899]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the
FY 2006 Funding Round of the Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) Program
ACTION: Change to NOFA inviting applications for the FY 2006 funding
round of the BEA Program: Waiver of limitations on eligible Qualified
Activities provided to certain CDFI Partners; Change of Application
Deadlines; Increase of Award Amount; Modification of Application and
Submission Information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On September 9, 2004, the Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund (the ``Fund'') announced in a NOFA for the BEA
Program (69 FR 54718) that BEA Program applicants that are also
Community Development Financial Institutions (``CDFIs'') cannot receive
credit under the BEA Program for financial assistance or Qualified
Activities provided to CDFI Partners that are also FDIC-insured
depository institutions or depository institution holding companies.
Due to the recent occurrence of certain natural disasters, the Fund
will waive this provision with regard to the FY 2006 funding round of
the BEA Program for applicants providing financial assistance or
Qualified Activities to CDFI Partners that are also FDIC-insured
depository institutions or depository institution holding companies
which have been directly affected by said disasters.
For the FY 2006 funding round, CDFIs may receive BEA Program credit
for financial assistance or Qualified Activities provided to CDFI
Partners that are FDIC-insured depository institutions or depository
institution holding companies whose principal place of business is
located in a county for which the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) has issued a ``major disaster declaration'' due to Hurricane
Katrina on or after August 28, 2005 or due to Hurricane Rita on or
after September 24, 2005 and made a determination that such county is
eligible for both ``individual and public assistance.'' A list of the
eligible counties may be found on the FEMA Web site (http://www.fema.gov
).
Change of Application Deadlines: The NOFA published on September 9,
2004 for the BEA Program (69 FR 54718) also announced that the deadline
for applications for the FY 2006 funding round is February 14, 2006.
This notice is to announce that the deadline for the submission of
applications via Grants.gov for the FY 2006 funding round of the BEA
Program has been changed to 5 p.m. EST on March 1, 2006. Paper
attachments to the application must be received no later than 5 p.m.
EST on March 6, 2006.
Increase of Award Amount: The NOFA published on September 9, 2004
for the BEA Program (69 FY 54718) also announced that the Fund expects
that it may award approximately $6 million in appropriated funds for FY
2006 BEA Program awards.
This notice is to announce that the Fund now expects that it may
award approximately $12 million for FY 2006 BEA Program awards. The
Fund reserves the right to make awards in an amount less than or in
excess of this amount subject to funding availability.
Modification of Application and Submission Information: The NOFA
published on September 9, 2004 for the BEA Program (69 FY 54718)
provided information regarding submission of applications in response
to the NOFA.
This notice is to announce that for the FY 2006 funding round, in
compliance with Public Law 106-107 and Section 5(a) of the Federal
Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act, the Fund is required
to accept applications submitted through the Grants.gov electronic
system. The Fund will post to its Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov
instructions for accessing and submitting an application through
Grants.gov. The application instructions will be posted as soon as they
are available and once the application materials are accessible through
Grants.gov. The anticipated release date for the application
instructions is January 6, 2006. Applicants are encouraged to start the
registration process now at http://www.Grants.gov as the process may take
several weeks to fully complete. See the following link for information
on getting started on Grants.gov: http://grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf
.
All other information and requirements set forth in the September
9, 2004 NOFA for the BEA Program shall remain effective, as published.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Fund will respond to questions and
provide support concerning the NOFA and the funding application between
the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, starting the date of the
publication of the NOFA through close of business February 27, 2006 for
the FY 2006 funding round (2 business days before the application
deadline).
The Fund will not respond to questions or provide support
concerning the application after 5:00 p.m. EST on February 27, 2006 for
the FY 2006 funding round, until after the application deadline of
March 1, 2006.
Other information regarding the Fund and its programs may be
downloaded and printed from the Fund's Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov.
The Fund will post on its Web site responses to
questions of general applicability regarding the BEA Program.
A. Information technology support: Technical support can be
obtained by calling (202) 622-2455 or by e-mail at
ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov. People who have visual or mobility
impairments that prevent them from creating Hot Zone or Distressed
Community maps using the Fund's Web site should call (202) 622-2455 for
assistance. These are not toll free numbers.
B. Programmatic support: If you have any questions about the
programmatic requirements (such as the eligibility of specific
transactions or CDFI Partners), contact a member of the BEA Program
staff, who can be reached by e-mail at cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov, by
telephone at (202) 622-6355, by facsimile at (202) 622-7754, or by mail
at CDFI Fund, 601 13th Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC
20005. These are not toll-free numbers.
C. Administrative support: If you have any questions regarding the
administrative requirements of the NOFA, contact the Fund's Grants
Manager by e-mail at grantsmanagement@cdfi.treas.gov, by telephone at
(202) 622-8226, by facsimile at (202) 622-9625, or by mail at CDFI
Fund, 601 13th Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 20005.
These are not toll free numbers.
D. Legal counsel support: If you have any questions or matters that
you believe require response by the Fund's Office of Legal Counsel,
please refer to the document titled ``How to Request a Legal Review'',
found on the Fund's Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov.
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1834a, 4703, 4703 note, 4713; 12 CFR part
1806.
Dated: December 2, 2005.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 05-23749 Filed 12-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-70-P