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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

10.437:  Interest Assistance Program

Objectives:  To aid not larger than family sized farms in obtaining credit when they are temporarily unable to project a positive cash flow without a reduction in the interest rate.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS


10.437 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Individuals, partnerships, or joint operations, legal resident aliens, corporations and cooperatives that meet the eligibility requirements for a guaranteed loan and are able to project the required cash flow margins with the aid of interest assistance.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  This program aids both the borrower and the lender. The borrower is able to obtain credit and the lender receives up to a 90 percent guarantee (95 percent in certain cases) on the loan. Interest assistance provides 4 percent of the interest costs.

Credentials/Documentation:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

10.437 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372 and OMB Circular No. A-102.

Application Procedure:  Application for a guaranteed loan with interest assistance can be made by contacting a lender for or further information on procedures, forms and requirements for making an application can be obtained from the FSA county office in the county where the proposed farming operation or headquarters will be located. FSA has county offices serving every rural county in the United States. Farm Service Agency offices are listed in the phone directory under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture. Location of an office may be obtained by writing to United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Washington, DC 20250.

Award Procedure:  Not applicable.

Deadlines:  This program expires September 30, 2002. No other deadlines are applicable. (Food Security Act of 1985, Section 1320).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  One to 30 days.

Appeals:  At the time of any rejection FSA will notify the lender and loan applicant of appeal rights and procedures.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Each loan application will be judged on its own merit and processed in chronological order.

Examples of Funded Projects:  None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $1 to $400,000; $150,000.

10.437 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

10.437 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, this program allowed over 3,490 family-sized farmers to continue farming and receive credit from the private sector.

10.437 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  FARM SERVICE AGENCY, (DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE )

Type of Assistance:  Guaranteed/Insured Loans.

Obligations:  (Subsidized Guaranteed Operating Loans) FY 99 $525,508,000; FY 00 est 902,558,000; and FY 01 est $477,868,000. There have been no funds authorized for subsidized Farm Ownership loans.

Budget Account Number:  12-4140-0-3-351; 12-1140-0-1-351.

Authorization:  Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Regulations published at 54 FR 1534, codified in 7 CFR Part 762 and FSA Handbook 2 FLP.

10.437 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Farm Service Agency State Offices can inform applicants of county office locations where applicants may apply for this assistance. FSA State Office locations are listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:  Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Director, Loan Making Division, Ag Box 0522, Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 720-1632. A guaranteed loan can be obtained by contacting a lender or the FSA county office in the county where the proposed farming operation or headquarters will be located. FSA has more than 2,500 county offices serving every rural county in the United States. (Home Page)

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

10.437 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Interest assistance can be granted for a period of up to 10 years or the life of the loan. The Interest Rate Assistance Program can pay 4 percent of borrower's interest costs.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Interest Assistance Program can be used on either type of guaranteed loan. The types and loan purposes are as follows: (1) Farm Ownership (FO) Loans - to buy, improve, or enlarge farms. Uses may include construction, improvement, or repair of farm homes and service buildings; improvement of on-farm water supplies; (2) Operating Loans (OL) - to pay for items needed for farm operations, including livestock, farm and home equipment, feed, seed, fertilizer, fuel, chemicals, hail and other crop insurance, family living expenses, water system development, hired labor, and methods of operation to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The loan limit is $717,000 for FO and $717,000 for OL.

10.437 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  The lender is required to file FMHA Form 1980-24 annually. This form will reflect current loan information, request a claim payment and establish the amount of interest assistance for the next year.

Audits:  FSA will review FMHA Form 1980-24 annually. In addition, FSA will require a loan activity summary and calculation of interest charges.

Records:  The type of records required will be on a case-by-case basis.

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Last Updated, November, 2000             Comments or Questions?           ©Grant Community.com 2000, All Rights Reserved