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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the Rural Cooperative Home-Based Health Care Demonstration Program

DATES: The deadline for receipt of an application is 4 p.m. e.s.t. on February 13, 2004. The application date and hour are firm. The Agency will not consider any application received after the deadline.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of $1 million of grant funds through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Home Based Health Care Demonstration Program through the Rural Housing Service (RHS), herein referred to as the Agency, USDA. These grant funds are split into two forms: Predevelopment grants and revolving loan grants. The predevelopment grants will not exceed $50,000 each and will be made to qualified public bodies or nonprofit organizations to establish a home health care cooperative. The revolving loan grants will be made to qualified nonprofit or public organizations that will provide startup funds and technical assistance to preplanning grant recipients and home health care cooperatives established through this program. The intermediary recipients for the revolving loan funds will be required to provide matching funds at least equal to the grant funds awarded. This is a demonstration project intended to result in the establishment and operation of homebased health care cooperatives. As such, predevelopment grants will be linked with a revolving loan grant, to the same community, in order that the full operation of the cooperative will occur. This Notice lists the information needed to submit an application for these funds.

SUMMARY: Rural Cooperative Home-Based Health Care Demonstration program,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Programs Affected

This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 10.446. This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.

Paperwork Reduction Act

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., OMB must approve all ``collection of information'' by the Rural Housing Service. The Act defines ``collection of information: as a requirement for ``answers to * * * identical reporting or recordkeeping requirements imposed on ten or more persons * * *.'' (44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A).) Because this NOFA will receive less than 10 respondents, the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply.

Background

Congress created the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Rural Cooperative HomeBased Health Care demonstration project in fiscal year 2003 with an appropriation of $1 million under the Rural Community Advancement Program. These funds are to be used solely to develop and establish homebased health care cooperatives. Pre development grants, not to exceed $50,000 each, will be made available to qualified public bodies or nonprofitbased community development organizations. Revolving loan grants will be made available to qualified public or nonprofit intermediary organizations (including tribal) proposing to carry out a program of financial and technical assistance.
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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

This program has been reviewed under the agency's environmental regulations. It has been determined that the provision of financial assistance for these types of grants are properly designated as categorical exclusions, which require no further documentation. This is based upon the finding that the purposes of these grants do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect upon the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

Definitions for RCDI Purposes

Agencythe Rural Housing Service (RHS) or its successor.

Beneficiaryhomebased health care cooperatives that receive benefits from assistance provided by the recipient.

Capacitythe ability of a recipient organization to provide pre development planning services, manage revolving loan funds, or provide technical assistance towards establishing homebased health care cooperatives.

Cooperativeincorporated associations, at least 51 percent of whose members are rural residents having one vote each, that conduct such operations as producing, purchasing, marketing, processing, or other activities aimed at improving the income of their members as producers or their purchasing power as consumers.

Federally recognized tribestribal entities recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, based on the notice in the Federal Register published on March 13, 2000, volume 65, number 49, page 13298.

Financial assistancefunds used by the recipient to pay for the startup cost of the homebased health care cooperative. Funds that the recipient lends to the beneficiary homebased health care cooperative for eligible homebased health care cooperative demonstration project purposes.

Fundthe HomeBased Health Care Demonstration Program grant.

Intermediarya qualified private nonprofit or public (including tribal) organization recipient for the revolving loan grant that provides technical assistance to the preplanning grant recipient. The intermediary will also provide financial and technical assistance to the homebased health care cooperative(s) formed through this program.

Matching Fundscash or confirmed funding commitments. Matching funds must be at least equal to the grant amount. These funds can only be used for eligible homebased health care cooperative demonstration grant purposes. Inkind contributions cannot be used as matching funds. Matching funds must be committed prior to release of RCDI Rural Cooperative HomeBased Health Care grant funds to the revolving loan grant recipient.

Nonprofit organizationa private, communitybased development entity with a valid letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) designating their tax exempt status.

Recipienta public or community development based nonprofit organization receiving predevelopment grant funds or a public or private nonprofit intermediary organization receiving revolving loan grant funds for the establishment of a homebased health care cooperative.

Revolved fundsthe cash portion of a revolving loan fund that is not composed of Agency revolving loan grant funds, including funds that are repayments of loans to the homebased health care cooperatives from the revolving loan grant funds, including fees and interest collected on such loans. Revolved funds shall not be considered Federal funds.

Revolving funda group of assets obtained through, or related to, an Agency revolving loan grant and recorded by the recipient in a bookkeeping account, or set of accounts, and accounted for, along with related liabilities, revenues, and expenses, as an entity or enterprise separate from the recipient's other assets or financial activities.

Rural and rural areaa city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less, other than urbanized areas immediately adjacent to a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population in excess of 50,000 inhabitants. Urbanized area data will be based on the 2000 census.

Technical assistanceskilled help in improving the beneficiary's abilities in the areas of establishment and operation of a cooperative and homebased health care service. The Agency will determine whether a specific activity qualifies as technical assistance.

Eligibility Requirements

1. The recipient for the preplanning grant and the beneficiary cooperative, but not the revolving loan grant recipient, must be located in an eligible rural area. The applicable Rural Development State Office can assist in determining the eligibility of an area. A listing of Rural Development State Offices is included in this notice.

2. The recipient for the predevelopment grants must be a nonprofit community development based organization, or qualified public bodies. The recipient for the revolving loan grant funds must be nonprofit organizations or public bodies, including federally recognized tribes, based on the RCDI definitions of these groups.

3. Documentation must be submitted to verify recipient eligibility. Acceptable documentation varies depending on the type of recipient. A letter from the IRS verifying tax exempt status, or valid evidence that the entity is a public body, is required for nonprofit recipients. For federally recognized tribes, the Agency requires the page listing their name from the current Federal Register list of tribal entities recognized and eligible for funding services (see the definition of federally recognized tribes for details on this list).

4. Individuals cannot be recipients.

5. The revolving loan grant recipient must provide a program of technical assistance to the preplanning grant recipient and financial and technical assistance to the beneficiary cooperative.

6. The intermediary must provide matching funds at least equal to the amount of the grant.

7. The revolving loan grant recipient organization must have at least 3 years prior experience working with cooperatives.

8. Proposals must be structured to utilize the grant funds within 1 year from the date of the award (this time requirement can be extended with the concurrence of the agency).

9. The recipient for the predevelopment grant cannot be the same as the recipient for the revolving loan grant. Predevelopment grants must be made to local public bodies or nonprofit groups located in the community to be served by the homebased health care cooperative. Revolving loan grants can be made to nonprofit or public bodies that are not located in the community where the cooperative is located, but who have the capacity to provide the required financial and technical services locally.

10. A nonprofit entity must already have a determination of tax exempt status letter from the IRS when the recipient applies for the RCDI Rural Cooperative HomeBased Health Care Demonstration Program grant. Organizations with pending requests for this designation are not considered eligible.
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Eligible Fund Uses

Fund uses must be consistent with the RCDI HomeBased Health Care Cooperative Demonstration Program purpose (see ``Background'' section of this notice). Preplanning grant funds will be used to retain a demonstration project organizer to accomplish the following:

1. Provide outreach to homebased health care providers, and assess worker needs,

2. Work with local level human service providers,

3. Build community support among those who have contact with the elderly (social workers, physicians, pharmacists, clergy, hospitals, hospice, meals on wheels, etc.),

4. Select and train membership for the steering committee,

5. Conduct a survey of potential members,

6. Analyze market for homebased health care services,

7. Prepare a business plan,

8. Assist in the incorporation of the cooperative,

9. Assist the cooperative in the preparation and adoption of bylaws and the election of a board of directors, and

10. Hire a local cooperative service administrator and set up office.

At the conclusion of the work by the organizer, all planning elements should be in place for the formal creation of a homebased health care cooperative.

Revolving loan grant funds will be used by the recipient organization to:

1. Fund and administer a revolving loan program to provide startup and operating funds to newly created homebased health care cooperatives.

2. Provide technical assistance to preplanning grant recipients and the homebased health care cooperatives, including development of financial plans for the cooperative, establishing the cooperative's financial records process, and providing followup as the cooperative progresses from implementation to full operation. A maximum of ten percent of the grant funds and matching funds may be used by the revolving loan grant recipient to provide technical assistance to the preplanning grant recipient and the newly formed home based health care cooperative.
Ineligible Fund Uses

1. Construction (in any form).

2. Funding illegal activities.

3. Funding a grant where there may be a conflict of interest, or an appearance of a conflict of interest, involving any action by the Agency.

4. Paying obligations incurred before the beginning date, or after the ending date, of the grant agreement.

5. Improvement or renovation of the recipient's office space or for the repair or maintenance of privately owned vehicles.

6. Payment of the recipient's administrative costs or expenses.

7. Any other purpose prohibited in 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019, as applicable.

8. Funds cannot be used for recipient's general operating costs. Interest Rates

Interest rates charged by the recipient to the beneficiary cooperative on loans made from the revolving loan fund shall be negotiated by the recipient and the beneficiary cooperative. The rate should be the lowest rate sufficient to cover the loan's proportional share of the revolving fund's debt service and administrative costs. Rural Development reserves the right to review the interest rate being charged.

Any cash in the revolving fund from any source that is not needed for servicing or administrative costs must be available for additional loans to beneficiary home health care cooperatives.

Application Selection Process

Rating and ranking. Applications will be rated and ranked by a review panel based on the ``Evaluation Criteria and Weights'' contained in this Notice. If there is a tied score after the applications have been rated and ranked, the tie will be resolved by reviewing the scores for ``Capacity.'' The applicant with the highest score in that category will receive a higher ranking. If the scores for Capacity are the same, the scores will be compared for the next criterion, in sequential order, until one highest score can be determined.

Initial screening. The Agency will screen each application to determine eligibility during the period immediately following the application deadline. Listed below are many of the reasons for rejection to help prospective applicants prepare a better application. The following reasons for rejection are not all inclusive; however, they represent the majority of the applications previously rejected by the RCDI program.

1. Applicants for the preplanning grants are not located in eligible rural areas based on the definition in this Notice.

2. Applicants failed to provide required evidence of recipient's status, i.e., documentation supporting nonprofit designation.

3. Applicants are individuals.

4. Applicants failed to address the Evaluation Criteria and were unable to compete.

5. The purpose of the proposal did not qualify as an eligible RCDI project purpose.

6. Funds are intended to be used for construction.

7. Financial and technical assistance is being provided directly to individuals.

The State Office will review their copy of the application and provide the State Director's written comments and recommendations to the National Office.

Evaluation Criteria and WeightsPrePlanning Grant

This information should be presented in narrative form. Documentation must be limited to three pages per criterion. 1. CapacityMaximum 60 Points

The applicant for the predevelopment planning grant must demonstrate how they will accomplish the required goals for the grant, including their experience in establishing a new organization, experience with the function and organization of cooperatives, experience in the community where the homebased health care cooperative will be established, experience in the health care services industry, and experience in working with diverse organizations in establishing set goals. All applications will be competitively ranked. The applications providing the most comprehensive information about establishing a new homebased health care cooperative will be ranked the highest.

2. Soundness of ApproachMaximum 50 Points

The applicant can receive up to 50 points for soundness of approach. The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion.

a. Has the applicant demonstrated their ability to provide the proposed financial and technical assistance based on prior accomplishments?

b. A description that the basic elements for the establishment of a home health care cooperative are already available in the community where the services will be provided, i.e., a pool of home health care workers already in the area, demonstrated demand for these services, and the possible availability of a source of reliable income for the new cooperative.

c. The proposed financial and technical assistance program is clearly stated and the applicant has defined
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how this proposal will be implemented. The plan for implementation is viable.

d. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the application. The proposed grant amount should be utilized to maximize the capacity to establish homebased health care cooperatives.

e. How closely the proposal fits the objectives for which applications were invited.

3. Innovative ApproachMaximum 20 Points

The applicant must demonstrate that they have developed an innovative approach that can be used by other organizations as a model. To be considered innovative, the approach must propose an easily replicated new or useful service or method of providing homebased health care services. Points will be awarded to applications that have the highest score on the following factors:

a. Ease of replication by homebased health care cooperatives,

b. Uniqueness of proposal.

Evaluation Criteria and WeightsRevolving Loan Grant

This information should be presented in narrative form. Documentation must be limited to three pages per criterion. 1. CapacityMaximum 60 Points

The applicant for the revolving loan grant must demonstrate their capacity to provide technical assistance to the predevelopment planning grant recipient organizations and the newly established home based health care cooperative in the areas of organizing a cooperative, financial planning, financial management, recordkeeping, establishment of payroll systems, and determination of employee benefits. The applicant must also demonstrate the capacity to set up, administer, and maintain a revolving loan grant program. The applications will be competitively ranked with the applications providing the most comprehensive information about providing technical, financial, and revolving loan services being ranked the highest.

2. Soundness of ApproachMaximum 50 Points

The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion.

a. Has the applicant demonstrated their ability to provide the proposed financial and technical assistance based on prior accomplishments?

b. The proposed financial and technical assistance program is clearly stated and the applicant has defined how this proposal will be implemented. The plan for implementation is viable.

c. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the application. The proposed grant amount should be utilized to maximize the capacity to establish homebased health care cooperatives.

d. How closely the proposal fits the objectives for which applications were invited.

3. Experience With Cooperatives

The applicant must document demonstrated expertise in understanding the unique structure of cooperatives, and provide indications of the organization's capability to assist a cooperative during the organizational and the critical startup phase of their organization. Program Requirements

1. A Civil Rights Impact Analysis Certification must be completed by the Agency prior to grant approval.

2. A preaward compliance review will be conducted by the Agency prior to closing the grant.

3. The recipient must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Executive Order 12250.

4. The grantee must comply with the applicable requirements of 7 CFR part 3015, ``Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations''; part 3016, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments''; and part 3019, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.'' Program Restrictions

Meeting expenses. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1345, ``Expenses of Meetings,'' appropriations may not be used for travel, transportation, and subsistence expenses for a meeting. RCDI HomeBased Health Care Cooperative Demonstration Program grant funds cannot be used for these meetingrelated expenses. RCDI funds may be used to pay for a speaker as part of a program, equipment to facilitate the program, and the actual room that will house the meeting. RCDI HomeBased Health Care Cooperative Demonstration Program funds can be used for travel, transportation, or subsistence expenses for training and technical assistance purposes. Any meeting or training not delineated in the application must be approved by the Agency to verify compliance with 31 U.S.C. 1345. Travel and per diem expenses will be similar to those paid to Agency employees. Rates are based upon location. Rate information can be accessed on the Internet at http://policyworks.gov/perdiem. Grantees and recipients will be restricted to traveling coach class on common carrier airlines. Grantees and recipients may exceed the Government rate for lodging by a maximum of 20 percent. Meals and incidental expenses will be reimbursed at the same rate used by Agency employees. Mileage and gas reimbursement will be the same rate used by Agency employees. The current mileage and gas reimbursement rate is 36.5 cents per mile.
Grantee Requirements

Grantees will be required to do the following:

1. Execute an RCDI Grant Agreement Rural Cooperative HomeBased Health Care Program PrePlanning Grant Agreement or RCDI Community Development Initiative Grant Agreement Rural Cooperative HomeBased Health Care Demonstration Program Revolving Loan Grant Agreement (depending on which grant is being requested). Copies of these agreements are published at the end of this NOFA.

2. Execute Form RD 19401, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''

3. Use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' to request reimbursements.

4. Provide financial status and project performance reports on a quarterly basis starting with the first full quarter after the grant award.

5. Maintain a financial management system that is acceptable to the Agency.

6. Ensure that records are maintained to document all activities and expenditures utilizing RCDI HomeBased Health Care Cooperative Demonstration Program grant funds and matching funds. Receipts for expenditures will be included in this documentation.

7. Provide annual audits or management reports on Forms RD 4422, ``Statement of Budget, Income, and Equity,'' and 4423, ``Balance Sheet,'' or other similar financial reporting documents, that utilize generally accepted accounting practices, depending on the amount of Federal funds expended and the outstanding balance.

8. Collect and maintain data provided by recipients on race, sex, and national origin, and ensure that their recipients collect and maintain the same data on their beneficiaries.

9. Provide a final project performance report.

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10. Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural Development employees on a form provided by the Agency.

11. Verify a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. A DUNS number may be received by calling the dedicated tollfree request line at 8667055711.

Contents of Application Package

A complete application for RCDI HomeBased Health Care Cooperative Demonstration Program funds must include the following:

1. A summary page listing the following items: (This information should be doublespaced between items and not in narrative form.)

a. Applicant's name,

b. Applicant's address,

c. Applicant's telephone number,

d. Name of applicant's contact person, telephone number, and email address

e. Applicant's fax number,

f. County where applicant is located,

g. Congressional district number where applicant is located,

h. Amount of grant request,

i. Number of recipients, and

j. DUNS number.

2. A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each component of the application.

3. Each of the Evaluation Criteria must be addressed specifically and individually by category. Present these criteria in narrative form. Documentation must be limited to three pages per criterion.

4. A detailed project budget that includes the RCDI HomeBased Health Care Cooperative Demonstration Program grant amount and matching funds when applicable for the duration of the grant. This should be a lineitem budget by category. Categories such as salaries,
administrative, other, and indirect costs must be clearly defined. Supporting documentation listing the components of these categories must be included.

5. Form SF424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' (Do not complete Form SF424A, ``Budget Information.'' A separate lineitem budget should be presented as described in No. 4 of this section.)

6. Form SF424B, ``AssurancesNonConstruction Programs.''

7. Form AD1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility MattersPrimary Covered Transactions.''

8. Form AD1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary ExclusionLower Tier Covered

Transactions.''

9. Form AD1049, ``Certification Regarding DrugFree Workplace Requirements.''

10. Certification of NonLobbying Activities.

11. Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if applicable.

12. Form RD 4001, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement,'' for the applicant and each recipient.

13. Form RD 4004, ``Assurance Agreement,'' for the applicant and each recipient.

14. Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural Development employees.

The required forms and certifications can be downloaded from the RCDI Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm. What and Where to Submit

The original application package must be submitted to: Stephen Wetherbee, Rural Housing Service, STOP 0787, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 202500787. A copy of the application must be submitted to the Rural Development State Office where the applicant is located. A listing of Rural Development State Offices is included in this notice. Applications sent electronically or by facsimile will not be accepted.

When to Submit

The deadline for receipt of an application is 4 p.m. eastern time on February 13, 2004. The application date and hour deadlines are firm and apply to submission of the original application to the National Office in Washington, DC. The Agency will not consider any application received after the deadline. A listing of Rural Development State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers, and person to contact follows:

Note: Telephone numbers listed are not tollfree.

Alabama State Office, Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 361063683, (334) 2793400, TDD (334) 2793495, James B. Harris.

Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen, suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 7617705, TDD (907) 7618905, Dean Stewart.

Arizona State Office, Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 N. Central Ave., Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ 850122906, (602) 2808700, TDD (602) 280 8705, Leonard Gradillas.

Arkansas State Office, 700 W. Capitol Ave., rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 722013225, (501) 3013200, TDD (501) 3013279, Jesse Sharp.

California State Office, 430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 956164169, (530) 7925800, TDD (530) 7925848, Janice Waddell.

Colorado State Office, 655 Parfet Street, room E100, Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 5442903, TDD (720) 5442976, Leroy W. Cruz.

Connecticut, Served by Massachusetts State Office.

Delaware and Maryland State Office, 4607 South Dupont Highway, P.O. Box 400, Camden, DE 199340400, (302) 6974300, TDD (302) 6974303, James E. Waters.

Florida & Virgin Islands State Office, 4440 NW. 25th Place, P.O. Box 147010, Gainesville, FL 326147010, (352) 3383400, TDD (352) 338 3499, Janet Droz (Acting).

Georgia State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 306012768, (706) 5462162, TDD (706) 5462034, Jerry M. Thomas.

Guam, Served by Hawaii State Office.

Hawaii, Guam, & Western Pacific Territories State Office, Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933 8309, TDD (808) 9338380, Thao Khamoui.

Idaho State Office, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 3785600, TDD (208) 3785644, Daniel H. Fraser.

Illinois State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 4036200, TDD (217) 4036240, Gerald A. Townsend.

Indiana State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 2903100, TDD (317) 2903343, Gregg Delp.

Iowa State Office, 873 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 2844663, TDD (515) 2844858, Dorman Otte.

Kansas State Office, 1303 SW First American Place, suite 100, Topeka, KS 666044040, (785) 2712700, TDD (785) 2712767, Gary L. Smith.

Kentucky State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 2247300, TDD (606) 2247422, Vernon Brown.

Louisiana State Office, 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 4737920, TDD (318) 4737655, Danny H. Magee.

Maine State Office, 967 Illinois Ave., suite 4, PO Box 405, Bangor, ME 044020405, (207) 9909106, TDD (207) 9427331, Alan C. Daigle.

Maryland, Served by Delaware State Office.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 2534300, TDD (413) 2537068, Daniel R. Beaudette.

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Michigan State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 3245100, TDD (517) 3376795, Philip H. Wolak.

Minnesota State Office, 410 AgriBank Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 551011853, (651) 6027800, TDD (651) 6023799.

Mississippi State Office, Federal Building, suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 9654316, TDD (601) 9655850, Darnella SmithMurray.

Missouri State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 8760976, TDD (573) 8769480, D. Clark Thomas.

Montana State Office, 900 Technology Blvd., suite B, Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 5852530, TDD (406) 5852562, Deborah Chorlton.

Nebraska State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 4375551, TDD (402) 4375093, Denise BrosiusMeeks.

Nevada State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 897039910, (775) 8871222, TDD (775) 8850633, Mike Holm.

New Hampshire State Office, Concord Center, suite 218, Box 317, 10 Ferry Street, Concord, NH 033015004, (603) 2236037, TDD (603) 223 6083, William W. Konrad.

New Jersey State Office, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor North, suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 7877700, Michael P. Kelsey.

New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson St., NE., room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 7614950, TDD (505) 7614938, Clyde F. Hudson.

New York State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, suite 357, Syracuse, NY 132022541, (315) 4776400, TDD (315) 4776447, Gail Giannotta.

North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Road, suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 8732000, TDD (919) 8732003, Phyllis Godbold.

North Dakota State Office, Federal Building, room 208, 220 East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, (701) 5302037, TDD (701) 5302113, Donald Warren.

Ohio State Office, Federal Building, room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 432152418, (614) 2552400, TDD (614) 2552554, David M. Douglas.

Oklahoma State Office, 100 USDA, suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074 2654, (405) 7421000, TDD (405) 7421007, Michael W. Schrammel.

Oregon State Office, 101 SW., Main, suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204 3222, (503) 4143300, TDD (503) 4143387, Joe Sahlfeld (Acting).

Pennsylvania State Office, One Credit Union Place, suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 171102996, (717) 2372299, TDD (717) 2372261, Gary Rothrock.

Puerto Rico State Office, IBM Buildingsuite 601, 654 Munos Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, PR 009186106, (787) 7665095, TDD (787) 7665332, Pedro Gomez.

Rhode Island, served by Massachusetts State Office.

South Carolina State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 7655163, TDD (803) 7655697, Larry D. Floyd.

South Dakota State Office, Federal Building, room 210, 200 Fourth Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 3521100, TDD (605) 3521147, Roger Hazuka.

Tennessee State Office, suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 372031084, (615) 7831300, TDD (615) 7831397, Keith Head.

Texas State Office, Federal Building, suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 7429700, TDD (254) 7429712, Francesco Valentin.

Utah State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, P.O. Box 11350, 125 S. State Street, room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 841470350, (801) 5244320, TDD (801) 5243309, Bonnie Carrig.

Vermont State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 8286000, TDD (802) 2236365, Rhonda Shippee.

Virgin Islands, served by Florida State Office.

Virginia State Office, Culpeper Building, suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 2871550, TDD (804) 2871753, Carrie Schmidt.

Washington State Office, suite B, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard, SW., Olympia, WA 985125715, (360) 7047740, TDD (360) 7047760, Sandi Boughton.

Western Pacific Territories, served by Hawaii State Office.

West Virginia State Office, Federal Building, 75 High Street, room 320, Morgantown, WV 265057500, (304) 2844860, TDD (304) 2844836, Dianne Crysler.

Wisconsin State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 3457600, TDD (715) 3457614, Mark Brodziski.

Wyoming State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, room 1005, P.O. Box 820, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 2616300, TDD (307) 2616333, Jack Hyde.

Dated: December 1, 2003.
Arthur A. Garcia,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
United States Department of Agriculture
Rural Housing Service
Rural Community Development Initiative Grant Agreement
Rural Cooperative HomeBased Health Care Demonstration Program PrePlanning Grant
THIS GRANT AGREEMENT (Agreement), effective the date the Agency official signs the document, is a contract for receipt of grant funds under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). BETWEEN a private or public or tribal organization, (Grantee or Intermediary) and the United States of America acting through the Rural Housing Service (the Agency), Department of Agriculture, (Grantor), for the benefit of recipients listed in Grantee's application for the grant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Stephen Wetherbee, Senior Loan Specialist, Community Programs, RHS, USDA, STOP 0787, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 202500787, Telephone: (202) 7201503, Facsimile (202) 6900471, Email: stephen.wetherbee@usda.gov. You may also obtain information from the RCDI Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm .