[Federal Register: February 2, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 21)]
[Notices]
[Page 5281]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02fe10-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Intent To Hold Public Forums To Solicit Feedback From
the Public Regarding the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Program
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Responding to President Obama's initiative for an open,
transparent government, the Rural Housing Service, hereinafter referred
to as the Agency, intends to hold public forums to solicit feedback
from the public on whether the current method of delivering the self-
help program is the most efficient and cost effective in terms of cost
and program delivery.
Transparency encourages accountability by delivering information to
the public about what the Government is doing. Participation provides
the public with opportunities to contribute ideas and expertise to the
Government which will enable them to make sound policy decisions that
represent a wider group of diverse individuals throughout society.
Collaboration improves effectiveness of the Government by encouraging
partnerships and cooperation within the Federal Government, across
levels of government, and between the Government and private
institutions.
The Agency will use information obtained from public forums to
evaluate all aspects of the self-help program. As the Agency moves
forward, it will continue to encourage and solicit feedback,
recommendations, and comments from all sectors of the public. All
information relative to these forums will be taped, transcribed, and
posted to the Agency Web site.
DATES: Public forums are scheduled for February through June 2010. All
written questions and comments must be received by the Agency prior to
June 30, 2010. The public forums will be held in selected states and
the Washington, DC area.
ADDRESSES: Send questions and comments to: Debra S. Arnold, Program
Analyst, Program Support Staff, Rural Housing Service, USDA at 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0761, Washington, DC 20250-0761,
telephone (202) 720-1366, fax: (202) 690-4335, e-mail
debra.arnold@wdc.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra S. Arnold, Program Analyst,
Program Support Staff, Rural Housing Service, USDA at 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Stop 0761, Washington, DC 20250-0761, telephone (202) 720-
1366, fax: (202) 690-4335, e-mail debra.arnold@wdc.usda.gov. For
participants who require a sign language interpreter or other special
accommodations, please contact Debra S. Arnold as directed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the major areas within the Section
523 Mutual Self-Help Program that the Agency will be focusing on is the
Technical and Management Assistance (T&MA) contracts. The contracts
task regional non-profit organizations to provide training and
technical assistance to recipients of the Section 523 grants. These
recipients, referred to as Section 523 grantees, provide technical
assistance to low and very low-income families to build their homes in
rural areas. In addition to assisting the Section 523 grantees, the
contractors are also required to market the self-help program, monitor
the progress of active Section 523 grantees, and provide training to
both grantees and families.
The location and time of the forums will be determined at a later
date and announced locally. Registration information and deadlines will
be provided, at that time. In addition, this information will be posted
to the Agency Web site.
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Date State
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February 18, 2010...................... Arkansas.
March 5, 2010.......................... Puerto Rico.
March 12, 2010......................... North Carolina.
March 26, 2010......................... Mississippi.
April 9, 2010.......................... Arizona.
April 23, 2010......................... Ohio.
May 14, 2010........................... Washington.
June 4, 2010........................... Vermont.
June 11, 2010.......................... Iowa.
June 18, 2010.......................... Washington, DC.
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Dated: January 27, 2010.
Tammye Trevi[ntilde]o,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-2067 Filed 2-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P