There was 390 guarantees made in fiscal year 2007; 588 guarantees loans made in fiscal year 2008. In FY 2009 anticipated number of loans is 462.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Guaranteed loans may be extended for: (a) modernization, development costs; (b) purchasing and development of land, easements, rights-of-way, buildings, facilities, leases or materials; (c) purchasing equipment, leasehold improvements, machinery and supplies; (d) projects involving agricultural production, when not eligible for Farm Service Agency farmer program assistance and when it is part of an integrated business also involved in the processing of agricultural products and the agricultural production portion of the loan does not exceed the lessor of 50 percent of the total loan or $1 million; and (e) pollution control and abatement.

Maximum loan size is $25 million.

For cooperative organizations under certain conditions, the maximum loan size is $40 million.

Maximum time allowable for final maturity is limited to 30 years for land and buildings, the usable life of machinery and equipment purchased with loan funds, not to exceed 15 years, and 7 years for working capital.

Interest rates for guaranteed loans are negotiated between the lender and the borrower.

For loans of $5 million or less, the maximum percentage of guarantee is 80 percent.

For loans over $5 million but not over $10 million, the maximum percentage of guarantee is 70 percent.

For loans in excess of $10 million up to $40 million, the maximum percentage of guarantee is 60 percent.

Losses on principal advanced, including protective advances, and accrued interest, may be guaranteed by the Agency, but the maximum loss paid by RBS will never exceed the original principal plus accrued interest.

Loans may not be made for: (a) distribution or payment to the owner, partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries of the applicant or members of their families when such persons shall retain any portion of their equity in the business; (b) the transfer of ownership of a business unless the loan will keep the business from closing, or prevent the loss of employment opportunities in the area, or provide expanded job opportunities; (c) the guarantee of lease payments; (d) charitable institutions, churches, fraternal organizations, lending and investment institutions and insurance companies; (e) any legitimate business activity where more than 10 percent of the annual gross income is derived from legalized gambling; (f) the guarantee of loans made by other Federal agencies except those made by Banks for Cooperatives, Federal Land Bank or Production Credit Associations; (g) golf courses; (h) racetracks where individual prizes are awarded in the amount of $500 or more; (i) owner-occupied housing; (j) projects eligible for the Rural Rental Housing and Rural Cooperative Housing loans under sections 515, 521, and 538 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended; and (k) any project which is likely to result in the transfer of business or employment from one area to another or cause production which exceeds demand.

Interested parties should contact the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) or the nearest Rural Development State Office which administers the programs at the local level.

Insurance companies; (e) any legitimate business activity where more Than 10 percent of the annual gross income is derived from legalized gambling; (f) the guarantee of loans made by other Federal agencies except those made by Banks for Cooperatives, Federal Land Bank or Production Credit Associations; (g) golf courses; (h) racetracks where individual prizes are awarded in the amount of $500 or more; (i) owner-occupied housing; (j) projects eligible for the Rural Rental Housing and Rural Cooperative Housing loans under sections 515, 521, and 538 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended; and (k) any project which is likely to result in the transfer of business or employment from one area to another or cause production which exceeds demand.

Interested parties should contact the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) or the nearest Rural Development StateOfficewhichadministers the programs at the local level.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

An applicant may be a cooperative, corporation, partnership, trust, or other legal entity organized and operated on a profit or nonprofit basis; an Indian tribe; a municipality, county, or other political subdivision of a State; or individuals in rural areas.

Applicants for guaranteed loans must be located in one of the fifty States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of the Marshall Islands in rural areas other than a city, having a population of fifty thousand or more and its contingent adjacent urbanized area, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture according to the latest decennial census of the United States.

Preference is given to loans in open country, rural communities and towns with populations of 25,000 or less, and, on applications of equal priority, to veterans.

Applicants must be U.S.

citizens or reside in the U.S.

after being legally admitted for permanent residence and, if corporations, at least 51 percent owned by such individuals.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Beneficiaries include cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, trust or legal entities organized and operated for profit or nonprofit, Federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments and individuals in rural cities and towns of less than 50,000 population.

Credentials/Documentation

Evidence of legal capacity, economic feasibility and financial responsibility relative to the activity for which assistance is requested. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

All preapplication letters must be coordinated fully with appropriate State agencies in keeping with E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," in a manner that will assure maximum support of the State's strategies for development of its rural areas.

The application form as furnished by the Federal agency must be used for this program.

An environmental assessment is required and an environmental impact statement may be required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No.

A-102.

Application Procedures

Form 4279-1 is used for guaranteed loans and filed at the Rural Development State Office. These programs are excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedures

Applications are forwarded to the Rural Development State Director for review and final approval.

Deadlines

None.

Authorization

Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, Section 310B, Public Law 92-419, 7 U.S.C. 1932.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 120 days.

Appeals

If an application is denied, the reasons for denial are fully stated. The lender or applicant may individually or jointly request mediation or an appeal hearing by the National Appeals Staff within 30 days provided the request is in writing. The requestor and State Director are notified of the decision by the Hearing Officer.

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Matching funds are not required. For existing businesses, applicants are required to provide a minimum of 10 percent tangible balance sheet equity for guaranteed loans. For new businesses, at least 20 percent is required for guaranteed loans. Feasibility studies are normally required. Exceptions to the feasibility study requirement may be made to businesses with adequate financial history.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The letter of conditions for the direct loan and the Conditional Commitment for the guaranteed loan specifies the time limit for the use of funds. The Loan Note Guarantee for a guaranteed loan will be issued when all of the requirements of the Conditional Commitment have been or will be met.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Each guaranteed lender will be required to monitor and report to RBS on actual performance during the construction of each project financed, in whole or in part, with RBS assistance.

When the project is in operation, field visits will be made and customary financial statements provided as determined by the guaranteed lender and RBS.

Audits

Independent accountant compiled or reviewed financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles are required annually for guaranteed loans and for direct loans with a principal and interest balance of less than $ 1 million. RBS may require audited statements for guaranteed loans in excess of $3 million.

Records

Records and accounts must be maintained to reflect the operations of the project.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-4155-0-3-452; 12-0400-0-1-452.

Obigations

(Guaranteed Loans) FY 07 $830,435,486; FY 08 $1,390,531,595; FY 09 est $993,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$35,000 to $17.5 million for guaranteed loans. $2.0 million (average size) for B&I guaranteed loans.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Guaranteed Loans: 7 CFR Part 4279-A, Section 4279.1 through 4279.100, Part 4279-B, Section 4279.101 through 4279.200, and Part 4287-B, Section 4287.101 through 4279.200.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Consult your local telephone directory for appropriate Rural Development State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-3201. Telephone: (202) 690-4730. Fax: (202) 690-4737.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

(1) Those projects that will save existing jobs, (2) improve existing business and industry, (3) create the greatest number of permanent jobs, (4) contribute to the overall economic stability of rural areas.