[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 11]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1703.34]

[Page 42-44]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER XVII--RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 1703--RURAL DEVELOPMENT--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart B--Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
 
Sec. 1703.34  Applications.

    (a) Borrowers may file an application on any official workday during 
the

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first 14 days of every month. A borrower must send a copy of the 
application, except for an application that requests a zero-interest 
loan or grant for project feasibility studies, to the state single point 
of contact for state and local governments at the same time it submits 
the application to RUS. As discussed in Sec. 1703.33(g), state and local 
governments have 60 days to review a borrower's proposal before the 
Administrator gives final approval to an application, except a proposal 
for project feasibility studies. The Administrator may establish a 
special application period if determined necessary.
    (b) A completed application will consist of an original and two 
copies of:
    (1) An application form. The application must include a completed 
application form, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' Standard Form 
424;
    (2) A board resolution. The application must include a board 
resolution that:
    (i) Requests a zero-interest loan and/or grant, including the amount 
of the zero-interest loan and/or the amount of the grant rounded to the 
nearest 1,000 dollars;
    (ii) Includes the total combined deferment and repayment period 
requested for a zero-interest loan if less than 10 years;
    (iii) Includes the board's endorsement of the proposed rural 
economic development project as described in the application;
    (iv) States the proposed project does not violate Secs. 1703.20 and 
1703.21; and discloses any information regarding a conflict of interest, 
potential conflict of interest, or appearance of a conflict of interest 
that would allow the Administrator to make an informed decision;
    (v) Authorizes an official of the borrower to requisition zero-
interest loan or grant funds under this program;
    (vi) For an application for a grant only, authorizes the chief 
executive officer of the borrower to execute and deliver on behalf of 
the borrower the certification Form AD-1049 regarding a drug-free 
workplace program as required in part 3017, subpart F of this title; and
    (vii) Any other matters deemed necessary by the Administrator;
    (3) Miscellaneous Federal forms. The application must include the 
following completed forms:
    (i) Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions,'' as 
required in part 3015, subparts A through E of this title; and
    (ii) Assurance statement or certification statement required under 
the Uniform Act as set forth in Sec. 1703.33(d). For pass-through-loans 
and pass-through-grants, the ultimate recipient of the proceeds of the 
RUS zero-interest loan or grant must sign the assurance statement that 
it will comply with the applicable provisions of the Uniform Act or sign 
a certification that the provisions of the Uniform Act will not apply to 
the rural development project which will be partially financed with the 
proceeds of RUS funds. If the borrower will not provide a pass-through-
loan or pass-through-grant to another entity, the borrower must submit a 
completed assurance statement or certification regarding the applicable 
provisions of the Uniform Act, or have such an assurance statement on 
file at RUS;
    (4) Contingent certifications and disclosures. As determined by the 
type and amount of requested funds, the application must include the 
following completed forms:
    (i) For an application for a zero-interest loan in excess of 
$150,000 or for an application for a grant in excess of $100,000, a 
certification statement, ``Certification Regarding Lobbying,'' and, if 
the borrower is engaged in lobbying activities described under 
Sec. 1703.33(h), a completed disclosure form, ``Disclosure of Lobbying 
Activities''; and
    (ii) For an application for a grant only, a completed certification 
form, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 
(Grants),'' Form AD-1049 as required in part 3017, subpart F of this 
title;
    (5) Other requirements. The following:
    (i) A section entitled ``Selection Factors'' as set forth in 
Sec. 1703.35;
    (ii) A section entitled ``Project Description'' as set forth in 
Sec. 1703.36;

[[Page 44]]

    (iii) Except for applications for project feasibility studies, a 
section entitled ``Environmental Impact of the Project'' as set forth in 
Sec. 1703.37;
    (iv) Monitoring plan. For a pass-through loan and/or grant, a copy 
of the Borrower's plan to monitor the loan and/or grant and ensure that 
the requirements of this subpart are met; and
    (v) Scope of work. For an application for a loan and/or grant, a 
proposed scope of work for the project.
    (c) The Administrator may request additional information it 
considers relevant from the borrower.
    (d) During the application review process, the borrower may change 
the amount of the zero-interest loan or grant funds requested or other 
portions of its application, only if approved by the Administrator. A 
borrower that changes its request from a grant to a zero-interest loan 
must submit information necessary for the Administrator to evaluate a 
loan proposal as set forth in this subsection, and submit a new board 
resolution requesting the loan.

(The information collection requirements contained in paragraph (b) of 
this section were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 
control number 0572-0090)

[57 FR 44317, Sept. 25, 1992, as amended at 59 FR 11711, Mar. 14, 1994; 
59 FR 38341, July 28, 1994]