Projects that support the implementation of Strategic Community Investment Plans may receive priority funding from authorized programs found in § 1980.1002. The purpose of this subpart is to describe the process by which applications will be reviewed and selected to receive priority funding.

The Agency may elect to reserve funds from one or more programs for projects that support Strategic Community Investment Plans. The programs chosen for a given fiscal year will be announced annually in a notice published in the Federal Register. The authorized programs are:

(a) Community Facility Loans (7 CFR part 1942, subpart A).

(b) Community Facilities Grant Program (7 CFR part 3570, subpart B).

(c) Community Programs Guaranteed Loans (7 CFR part 3575, subpart A).

(d) Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans (7 CFR part 1779).

(e) Water and Waste Loans and Grants (7 CFR part 1780, subparts A, B, C, and D).

(f) Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans (7 CFR part 4279, subparts A and B; 7 CFR part 4287, subpart B).

(g) Rural Business Development Grants (7 CFR part 4280, subpart E).

(h) Community Connect Grant (7 CFR part 1739).

(i) Rural Community Development Initiative Grant (2 CFR part 200).

(j) Tribal College Initiative Grants (7 CFR part 3570, subpart B).

(k) Intermediary Relending Program (7 CFR part 4274).

(l) Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants (7 CFR part 1944, subpart I).

(m) Rural Housing Site Loans (7 CFR part 1822, subpart G).

(n) Housing Preservation Grants (7 CFR part 1994, subpart N; 7 CFR part 1970, subparts A and O).

(o) Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants (7 CFR part 3560, subparts L and M).

(p) Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees (7 CFR part 3565).

(q) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants (7 CFR part 1734).

(r) Rural Energy for America Program (7 CFR part 4280, subpart B).

(s) Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (7 CFR part 4280).

(t) Rural Energy Savings Program (7 U.S.C. 8107a).

(u) Value-Added Producer Grants (7 U.S.C. 1632a).

(v) Household Water Well System Grant Program (7 CFR part 1776).

(w) Solid Waste Management Grant (7 CFR part 1775, subpart D).

Except as supplemented by this subpart, the provisions of the programs identified in § 1980.1002 are incorporated into this subpart.

Unless the Agency publishes a notice that indicates otherwise, the Agency will reserve funds according to the procedures specified in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section for each of the programs identified in § 1980.1002 each fiscal year.

(a) Individual program basis. The Agency will reserve funds on an individual program basis.

(b) Percentage of funds. The Agency will reserve up to 15 percent of the funds made available in a fiscal year to each program identified in § 1980.1002. The percentage of funds to be set aside will be published in a notice in the Federal Register on an annual basis. The Agency may reserve the same or different percentages for each program in a single fiscal year.

(c) Unobligated funds. In accordance with 7 U.S.C. 2008v, all Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) reserved funds will be reserved for the 1-year period beginning on the date on which the funds were first made available. The Agency has determined that for both non-annual and annually appropriated programs, SECD reserved funding will be available for obligation until dates established by covered programs as specified in a SECD annual Federal Register publication. Reserved funds in annual programs not obligated by September 30 will be reconciled according to applicable law.

In addition to the definitions found in the regulations for the programs identified in § 1980.1002, the following definitions apply to this subpart. If the same term is defined in any of the regulations for the programs identified in § 1980.1002, for purposes of this subpart, that term will have the meaning identified in this subpart.

Adopted means appropriate entity has, or entities have, officially approved the plan for implementation. The appropriate entity or entities will vary among plans and may be, for example, a governing body or planning board.

Agency means the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the Rural Housing Service, or the Rural Utilities Service, or their successor agencies.

Carried out in a rural area means either:

(1) The entire project is physically located in a rural area; or

(2) The beneficiaries of the service(s) provided through the project must either reside in a rural area (in the case of individuals) or be located in a rural area (in the case of entities).

Investment means either monetary or non-monetary contributions to the implementation of the Plan's objectives.

Jurisdiction means a unit of government or other entity with similar powers, such as a city, county, district, special purpose district, township, town, borough, parish, village, state, Indian tribe, etc.

Multi-jurisdictional means more than one jurisdiction.

Multi-sectoral means intentional collaboration between two or more sectors (i.e., utility, health, housing, community services, etc.) to accomplish goals and achieve outcomes in communities and regions.

Philanthropic organization means an entity whose mission is to provide monetary, technical assistance, or other items of value for religious, charitable, community development, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.

Plan means a Strategic Community Investment Plan illustrating:

(1) A variety of activities designed to facilitate the vision of a rural community for the future including considerations for improving and expanding broadband services as needed;

(2) Participation by multiple stakeholders, including local and regional partners;

(3) Leverage of applicable regional resources;

(4) Investment from strategic partners, such as private organizations, cooperatives, other government entities, Indian tribes, and philanthropic organizations;

(5) Clear objectives with the ability to establish measurable performance metrics;

(6) Action steps for implementation; and

(7) Any other elements necessary to ensure that the plan results in a comprehensive and strategic approach to rural economic development, as determined by the Secretary.

Project means the eligible proposed use(s) for which funds are requested as described in the application material submitted to the Agency for funding under the programs listed in § 1980.1002.

Sector means stakeholders from areas such as business, health, education, and/or workforce; or from organization types such as public, private, non-profit, and/or philanthropy.

Stakeholder means an individual, group or organization with an interest in, or affected by, the plan.

Strategic partner means entities such as private organizations, cooperatives, other government entities, Indian Tribes, and philanthropic organizations.

In order to be eligible to receive funds under this subpart, the Project must meet the following:

(a) The Project must meet the Project eligibility criteria of the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002;

(b) The Project must be carried out in a rural area; and

(c) The Project must support the implementation of a Strategic Community Investment Plans on a multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral basis.

In addition to the application material specific to the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002, each applicant seeking funding under this subpart must provide the information specified in paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section.

(a) A Strategic Economic and Community Development application form (Form RD 1980-88);

(b) A description of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which the Plan is to be implemented;

(c) Documentation that the Plan was developed through the collaboration of multiple stakeholders in the jurisdiction of the Plan, including the participation of combinations of stakeholders;

(d) Documentation that the Plan demonstrates leveraging of the applicable region's assets to support the Plan;

(e) Documentation indicating whether or not the Plan includes monetary or non-monetary contributions from strategic partners; and

(f) Documentation that the Plan contains:

(1) Clear, measurable performance objectives with action steps for implementation; and

(2) The ability to track progress toward meeting the Plan's objectives.

The Agency will score each eligible application seeking funding under this subpart as described in this section.

(a) Program scoring. The Agency will score each application using the criteria for the applicable covered program, identified in § 1980.1002. The maximum number of points an application can receive under this paragraph (a) is based on the scoring criteria for the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002, including any discretionary points that may be awarded.

(b) SECD scoring. The Agency will score each application using the criteria identified in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section. The maximum number of points an application can receive under this paragraph (b) is 20 points.

(1) Objectives of the plan. The Agency will score how the project supports achieving the objectives of a plan which are identified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii). Applicants must supply sufficient documentation that demonstrates to the Agency the criteria identified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section are met. The maximum score under this paragraph (b)(1) is 10 points.

(i) If the project directly supports implementation of three or more of the plan's objectives, the application will receive 10 points.

(ii) If the project directly supports implementation of two of the plan's objectives, the application will receive 5 points.

(iii) If the project directly supports implementation of less than two of the plan's objectives, the application will receive no points.

(2) Characteristics of a plan. The Agency will score the plan associated with a Project based upon the characteristics of the plan, which are identified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (v) of this section. Applicants must supply sufficient documentation that demonstrates to the Agency the criteria identified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (v) of this section are met. The maximum score under this paragraph (b)(2) is 10 points.

(i) Variety of activities. If the plan contains a variety of activities which clearly show facilitation toward achieving the vision for the rural communities and/or region as expressed in the plan, two points will be awarded.

(ii) Regional resources leverage. If the plan demonstrates an understanding of the applicable regional asset resources and indicates leveraging of those resources to support the plan, including cultural resources, natural resources, human resources, infrastructure, and financial resources, two points will be awarded.

(iii) Strategic partner investments. If the Plan includes investments from strategic partners other than the U.S. Department of Agriculture, two points will be awarded.

(iv) Participation by multiple stakeholders. If the plan provides evidence of the involvement of multiple stakeholders from multiple jurisdictions and representing multiple sectors in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of the plan, Rural Development (RD) will award two points.

(v) Objectives, performance measures, and action steps. If the plan contains clear, measurable objectives, the ability to track progress toward meeting the objectives and identifiable action steps for implementation, two points will be awarded.

(c) Total score. The Agency will sum the scores each application receives under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section in order to rank applications.

(a) Unless RD indicates otherwise in a notice, the award process for the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002 will be used to determine which Projects receive funding under this subpart.

(b) Projects not receiving funding under this subpart are eligible to compete for funding under the applicable program identified in § 1980.1002. The scores for such Projects when competing for program funding will not include the score assigned to the application under § 1980.1020(b).