63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, unless otherwise noted.
(a) This subpart contains regulations for loans made by the Agency to eligible intermediaries and applies to borrowers and other parties involved in making such loans. The provisions of this subpart supersede conflicting provisions of any other subpart. The servicing and liquidation of such loans will be in accordance with part 1951, subpart R, of this title.
(b) The purpose of the program is to alleviate poverty and increase economic activity and employment in rural communities, especially disadvantaged and remote communities, through financing targeted primarily towards smaller and emerging businesses, in partnership with other public and private resources, and in accordance with State and regional strategy based on identified community needs. This purpose is achieved through loans made to intermediaries that establish programs for the purpose of providing loans to ultimate recipients for business facilities and community developments in a rural area.
(c) Proposed intermediaries are required to identify any known relationship or association with a USDA Rural Development employee. Any processing or servicing Agency activity conducted pursuant to this subpart involving authorized assistance to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development employees, members of their families, close relatives, or business or close personal associates, is subject to the provisions of subpart D of part 1900 of this chapter.
(d) Copies of all forms, regulations, and Agency procedures referenced in this subpart are available in the National Office or any Rural Development State Office.
(a) General definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the terms used in this subpart:
Agency. The Federal agency within the USDA with responsibility assigned by the Secretary of Agriculture to administer IRP. At the time of publication of this rule, that Agency was the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS).
Agency IRP loan funds. Cash proceeds of a loan obtained from the Agency through IRP, including the portion of an IRP revolving fund directly provided by the Agency IRP loan.
Agricultural production or agriculture production. The cultivation, production, growing, raising, feeding, housing, breeding, hatching, or managing of crops, plants, animals, or birds, either for fiber, food for human consumption, or livestock feed.
Conflict of interest. A situation in which a person or entity has competing personal, professional, or financial interests that make it difficult for the person or business to act impartially. Regarding use of both grant and matching funds, Federal procurement standards prohibit transactions that involve a real or apparent conflict of interest for owners, employees, officers, agents, their immediate family members, partners, or an organization which is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, having a financial or other interest in or tangible personal benefit from the outcome of the project; or that restrict open and free competition for unrestrained trade. Specifically, project funds may not be used for services or goods going to, or coming from, a person or entity with a real or apparent conflict of interest, including, but not limited to, owner(s) and their immediate family members.
Initial Agency IRP loan. The first IRP loan made by the Agency to an intermediary.
Intermediary. The entity requesting or receiving Agency IRP loan funds for establishing a revolving fund and relending to ultimate recipients.
IRP revolving fund. A group of assets, obtained through or related to an Agency IRP loan and recorded by the intermediary 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 intermediary's other assets and financial activities.
Principals of intermediary. Members, officers, directors, and other individuals or entities directly involved in the operation and management (including setting policy) of an intermediary.
Processing office or officer. The processing office for an IRP application is the office within the Agency administrative organization with assigned authority and responsibility to process the application. The processing office is the primary contact for the proposed intermediary and maintains the official application case file. The processing officer for an application is the person in charge of the processing office. The processing officer is responsible for ensuring that all regulations and Agency procedures are complied with in regard to applications under the office's jurisdiction.
Revolved funds. The cash portion of an IRP revolving fund that is not composed of Agency loan funds, including funds that are repayments of Agency IRP loans and including fees and interest collected on such loans.
Rural or rural area. As described in 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13), as amended.
Servicing office or officer. The servicing office for an IRP loan is the office within the Agency administrative organization with assigned authority and responsibility to service the loan. The servicing office is the primary contact for the borrower and maintains the official case file after the loan is closed. The servicing officer for a loan is the person in charge of the servicing office. The servicing officer is responsible for ensuring that all regulations and Agency procedures are complied with in regard to loans under the office's jurisdiction.
State. Any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Statewide Nonmetropolitan Median Household Income (SNMHI). Median household income of the State's nonmetropolitan counties and portions of metropolitan counties outside of cities, towns or places of 50,000 or more population.
Subsequent IRP loan. An IRP loan from the Agency to an intermediary that has received one or more IRP loans previously.
Technical assistance. A function performed for the benefit of an ultimate recipient or proposed ultimate recipient, which is a problem solving activity. The Agency will determine whether a specific activity qualifies as technical assistance.
Ultimate recipient. An entity or individual that receives a loan from an intermediary's IRP revolving fund.
Underrepresented group. U.S. citizens with identifiable common characteristics, that have not received IRP assistance or have received a lower percentage of total IRP dollars than the percentage they represent of the general population.
United States. The 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
(b) Abbreviations. The following are applicable to this subpart:
B&I - Business and Industry
IRP - Intermediary Relending Program
OGC - Office of the General Counsel
OIG - Office of Inspector General
OMB - Office of Management and Budget
RBS - Rural Business-Cooperative Service, or any successor agency
RDLF - Rural Development Loan Fund
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 69 FR 65519, Nov. 15, 2004; 79 FR 31847, June 3, 2014; 79 FR 76014, Dec. 19, 2014; 80 FR 9912, Feb. 24, 2015; 80 FR 15885, Mar. 26, 2015]
Any loan made under this program prior to September 2, 2014 may submit to the Agency a written request for an irrevocable election to have the loan serviced in accordance with this subpart.
[79 FR 31847, June 3, 2014]
(a) The types of entities which may become intermediaries are:
(1) Private nonprofit corporations.
(2) Public agencies - Any State or local government, or any branch or agency of such government having authority to act on behalf of that government, borrow funds, and engage in activities eligible for funding under this subpart.
(3) Indian groups - Indian tribes on a Federal or State reservation or other federally recognized tribal groups.
(4) Cooperatives - Incorporated associations, at least 51 percent of whose members are rural residents, whose members have one vote each, and which conduct, for the mutual benefit of their members, 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.
(b) The intermediary must:
(1) Have the legal authority necessary for carrying out the proposed loan purposes and for obtaining, giving security for, and repaying the proposed loan.
(2) Have a proven record of successfully assisting rural business and industry, or, for intermediaries that propose to finance community development, a proven record of successfully assisting rural community development projects of the type planned.
(i) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section, such record will include recent experience in loan making and servicing with loans that are similar in nature to those proposed for the IRP and a delinquency and loss rate acceptable to the Agency.
(ii) The Agency may approve an exception to the requirement for loan making and servicing experience provided:
(A) The proposed intermediary has a proven record of successfully assisting (other than through lending) rural business and industry or rural community development projects of the type planned; and
(B) The proposed intermediary will, before the loan is closed, bring individuals with loan making and servicing experience and expertise into the operation of the IRP revolving fund.
(3) Have the services of a staff with loan making and servicing expertise acceptable to the Agency.
(4) Have capitalization acceptable to the Agency.
(c) No loans will be extended to an intermediary unless:
(1) There is adequate assurance of repayment of the loan based on the fiscal and managerial capabilities of the proposed intermediary.
(2) The loan is not otherwise available on reasonable (i.e., usual and customary) rates and terms from private sources or other Federal, State, or local programs.
(3) The amount of the loan, together with other funds available, is adequate to assure completion of the project or achieve the purposes for which the loan is made.
(d) At least 51 percent of the outstanding interest or membership in any nonpublic body intermediary must be composed of citizens of the United States or individuals who reside in the United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence.
(e) Any delinquent debt to the Federal Government by the intermediary or any principal of the intermediary shall cause the intermediary to be ineligible to receive any IRP loan. Agency loan funds may not be used to satisfy the debt.
(a) Ultimate recipients may be individuals, public or private organizations, or other legal entities, with authority to incur the debt and carry out the purpose of the loan.
(b) To be eligible to receive loans from the IRP revolving loan fund, ultimate recipients;
(1) Must be citizens of the United States or reside in the United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence. In the case of an organization, at least 51 percent of the outstanding membership or ownership must be either citizens of the United States or residents of the United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence.
(2) Must be located in a rural area of a State.
(3) Must be unable to finance the proposed project from its own resources or through commercial credit or other Federal, State, or local programs at reasonable rates and terms.
(4) Must, along with its principal officers (including their immediate family), hold no legal or financial interest or influence in the intermediary. Also, the intermediary and its principal officers (including immediate family) must hold no legal or financial interest or influence in the ultimate recipient. However, this paragraph shall not prevent an intermediary that is organized as a cooperative from making a loan to one of its members.
(c) Any delinquent debt to the Federal Government by the ultimate recipient or any of its principals shall cause the proposed ultimate recipient to be ineligible to receive a loan from Agency IRP loan funds. Agency IRP loan funds may not be used to satisfy the delinquency.
(a) Intermediaries. Agency IRP loan funds must be placed in the intermediary's IRP revolving fund and used by the intermediary to provide direct loans to eligible ultimate recipients.
(b) Ultimate recipients. Loans from the intermediary to the ultimate recipient using the IRP revolving fund must be for community development projects, the establishment of new businesses, expansion of existing businesses, creation of employment opportunities, or saving existing jobs. Such loans may include, but are not limited to:
(1) Business and industrial acquisitions when the loan will keep the business from closing, prevent the loss of employment opportunities, or provide expanded job opportunities.
(2) Business construction, conversion, enlargement, repair, modernization, or development.
(3) Purchase and development of land, easements, rights-of-way, buildings, facilities, leases, or materials.
(4) Purchase of equipment, leasehold improvements, machinery, or supplies.
(5) Pollution control and abatement.
(6) Transportation services.
(7) Start-up operating costs and working capital.
(8) Interest (including interest on interim financing) during the period before the facility becomes income producing, but not to exceed 3 years.
(9) Feasibility studies.
(10) Debt refinancing.
(i) The intermediary is responsible for making prudent lending decisions based on sound underwriting principles when considering the restructuring of an ultimate recipient's debt; and
(ii) Refinancing debts may be allowed only when it is determined by the intermediary that the project is viable and refinancing is necessary to create new or save existing jobs or create or continue a needed service; and
(iii) On any request for refinancing of existing secured loans, the intermediary is required, at a minimum, to obtain the previously held collateral as security for the loans and must not pay off a creditor in excess of the value of the collateral. Additional collateral will be required when the refinancing of unsecured loans is unavoidable to accomplish the necessary strengthening of the ultimate recipient's position.
(11) Reasonable fees and charges only as specifically listed in this paragraph. Authorized fees include loan packaging fees, environmental data collection fees, management consultant fees, and other fees for services rendered by professionals. Professionals are generally persons licensed by States or accreditation associations, such as engineers, architects, lawyers, accountants, and appraisers. The maximum amount of fee will be what is reasonable and customary in the community or region where the project is located. Any such fees are to be fully documented and justified.
(12) Hotels, motels, tourist homes, bed and breakfast establishments, convention centers, and other tourist and recreational facilities except as prohibited by § 4274.319.
(13) Educational institutions.
(14) Revolving lines of credit: Provided,
(i) The portion of the intermediary's total IRP revolving fund that is committed to or in use for revolving lines of credit will not exceed 25 percent at any time;
(ii) All ultimate recipients receiving revolving lines of credit will be required to reduce the outstanding balance of the revolving line of credit to zero at least one time each year;
(iii) All revolving lines of credit will be approved by the intermediary for a specific maximum amount and for a specific maximum time period, not to exceed two years;
(iv) The intermediary will provide a detailed description, which will be incorporated into the intermediary's work plan and be subject to Agency approval, of how the revolving lines of credit will be operated and managed. The description will include evidence that the intermediary has an adequate system for:
(A) Interest calculations on varying balances, and
(B) Monitoring and control of the ultimate recipients' cash, inventory, and accounts receivable; and
(v) If, at any time, the Agency determines that an intermediary's operation of revolving lines of credit is causing excessive risk of loss for the intermediary or the Government, the Agency may terminate the intermediary's authority to use the IRP revolving fund for revolving lines of credit. Such termination will be by written notice and will prevent the intermediary from approving any new lines of credit or extending any existing revolving lines of credit beyond the effective date of termination contained in the notice.
(15) Aquaculture-based rural small businesses.
(16) A borrower is permitted to use up to 10 percent of the amount provided under this subpart to construct, improve, or acquire broadband infrastructure related to the project financed, subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1980, subpart M.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 73 FR 54307, Sept. 19, 2008; 85 FR 57084, Sept. 15, 2020]
Agency IRP loan funds may not be used for payment of the intermediary's administrative costs or expenses. The IRP revolving fund may not be used for:
(a) Assistance in excess of what is needed to accomplish the purpose of the ultimate recipient's project.
(b) Distribution or payment to the owner, partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries of the ultimate recipient or members of their families when such persons will retain any portion of their equity in the ultimate recipient.
(c) Charitable institutions, that would not have revenue from sales, fees, or stable revenue to support the operation and repay the loan, and fraternal organizations.
(d) Assistance to Federal government employees, active duty military personnel, employees of the intermediary, or any organization for which such persons are directors or officers or have 20 percent or more ownership.
(e) A loan to an ultimate recipient which has an application pending with or a loan outstanding from another intermediary involving an IRP revolving fund if the total IRP loans would exceed the limits established in § 4274.331(b).
(f) Agricultural production.
(g) The transfer of ownership unless the loan will keep the business from closing, or prevent the loss of employment opportunities in the area, or provide expanded job opportunities.
(h) Community antenna television services or facilities.
(i) Any illegal activity.
(j) Any project that is in violation of either a Federal, State, or local environmental protection law or regulation or an enforceable land use restriction unless the assistance given will result in curing or removing the violation.
(k) Lending and investment institutions and insurance companies.
(l) Golf courses, race tracks, or gambling facilities.
(m) For any line of credit.
(n) For any legitimate business activity when more than 10 percent of the annual gross revenue is derived from legalized gambling activity.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 73 FR 54307, Sept. 19, 2008]
(a) No loan to an intermediary shall be extended for a period exceeding 30 years. Interest and principal payments will be scheduled at least annually. The initial principal payment may be deferred (during the period before the facility becomes income producing) by the Agency, but not more than 3 years.
(b) Loans made by an intermediary to an ultimate recipient from the IRP revolving fund will be scheduled for repayment over a term negotiated by the intermediary and ultimate recipient. The term must be reasonable and prudent considering the purpose of the loan, expected repayment ability of the ultimate recipient, and the useful life of collateral, and must be within any limits established by the intermediary's work plan.
(a) Loans made by the Agency pursuant to this subpart shall bear interest at a fixed rate of 1 percent per annum over the term of the loan.
(b) Interest rates charged by intermediaries to ultimate recipients on loans from the IRP revolving fund shall be negotiated by the intermediary and ultimate recipient. The rate must be within limits established by the intermediary's work plan approved by the Agency. The rate should normally be the lowest rate sufficient to cover the loan's proportional share of the IRP revolving fund's debt service costs, reserve for bad debts, and administrative costs.
(a) Intermediaries. Security for all loans to intermediaries must be such that the repayment of the loan is reasonably assured, when considered along with the intermediary's financial condition, work plan, and management ability. It is the responsibility of the intermediary to make loans to ultimate recipients in such a manner that will fully protect the interests of the intermediary and the Government.
(1) Security for such loans may include, but is not limited to:
(i) Any realty, personalty, or intangible capable of being mortgaged, pledged, or otherwise encumbered by the intermediary in favor of the Agency; and
(ii) Any realty, personalty, or intangible capable of being mortgaged, pledged, or otherwise encumbered by an ultimate recipient in favor of the Agency.
(2) Initial security will consist of a pledge by the intermediary of all assets now in or hereafter placed in the IRP revolving fund, including cash and investments, notes receivable from ultimate recipients, and the intermediary's security interest in collateral pledged by ultimate recipients. Except for good cause shown, the Agency will not obtain assignments of specific assets at the time a loan is made to an intermediary or ultimate recipient. The intermediary will covenant that, in the event the intermediary's financial condition deteriorates or the intermediary takes action detrimental to prudent fund operation or fails to take action required of a prudent lender, the intermediary will provide additional security, execute any additional documents, and undertake any reasonable acts the Agency may request to protect the Agency's interest or to perfect a security interest in any asset, including physical delivery of assets and specific assignments to the Agency. All debt instruments and collateral documents used by an intermediary in connection with loans to ultimate recipients must be assignable.
(3) In addition to normal security documents, a first lien interest in the intermediary's revolving fund account will be accomplished by a control agreement satisfactory to RBS. The control agreement does not have to require RBS signature for withdrawals. The depository bank shall waive its offset and recoupment rights against the depository account to RBS and subordinate any liens it may have against the IRP depository bank account. The use of Form RD 402-1, “Deposit Agreement,” or similar form developed by the State Regional Office of the General Counsel is acceptable.
(b) Ultimate recipients. Security for a loan from an intermediary's IRP revolving fund to an ultimate recipient will be negotiated between the intermediary and ultimate recipient, within the general security policies established by the intermediary and approved by the Agency.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 70 FR 38572, July 5, 2005]
(a) Intermediary.
(1) No loan to an intermediary will exceed the maximum amount the intermediary can reasonably be expected to lend to eligible ultimate recipients, in an effective and sound manner, within 1 year after loan closing.
(2) The initial Agency IRP loan as defined in § 4274.302(a) will not exceed $2 million.
(3) Intermediaries that have received one or more IRP loans may apply for and be considered for subsequent IRP loans provided:
(i) At least 80 percent of each of an intermediary's IRP loans, except those earmarked for special purposes, must have been disbursed to eligible ultimate recipients or the subsequent loan will serve a geographic area not included in an area currently served.
(ii) The intermediary is promptly relending all collections from loans made from its IRP revolving fund in excess of what is needed for required debt service, reasonable administrative costs approved by the Agency, and a reasonable reserve for debt service and uncollectible accounts. The intermediary provides documentation to demonstrate that funds available for relending do not exceed the greater of $150,000 or the total amount of loans closed during a calendar quarter on average, over the last 12 months.
(iii) The outstanding loans of the intermediary's IRP revolving fund are generally sound; and
(iv) The intermediary is in compliance with all applicable regulations and its loan agreements with the Agency.
(4) Subsequent loans will not exceed $1 million each and not more than one loan will be approved by the Agency for an intermediary in any single fiscal year unless the request is from an IRP earmark.
(5) Total outstanding IRP indebtedness of an intermediary to the Agency will not exceed $15 million at any time.
(b) Ultimate recipients. Loans from intermediaries to ultimate recipients using the IRP revolving fund must not exceed the lesser of:
(1) $250,000; or
(2) Seventy five percent of the total cost of the ultimate recipient's project for which the loan is being made.
(c) Portfolio. No more than 25 percent of an IRP loan approved may be used for loans to ultimate recipients that exceed $150,000. This limit does not apply to revolved funds.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 70 FR 38573, July 5, 2005; 79 FR 31847, June 3, 2014]
(a) Applicability. Intermediaries receiving loans under this program shall be governed by these regulations, the loan agreement, the approved work plan, security interests, and any other conditions which the Agency may impose in making a loan. Whenever this subpart imposes a requirement on loans made from the “IRP revolving fund,” such requirement shall apply to all loans made by an intermediary to an ultimate recipient from the intermediary's IRP revolving fund for as long as any portion of the intermediary's IRP loan from the Agency remains unpaid. Whenever this subpart imposes a requirement on loans made by intermediaries from “Agency IRP loan funds,” without specific reference to the IRP revolving fund, such requirement shall apply only to loans made by an intermediary using Agency IRP loan funds, and will not apply to loans made from revolved funds.
(b) Maintenance of IRP revolving fund. For as long as any part of an IRP loan to an intermediary remains unpaid, the intermediary must maintain the IRP revolving fund. All Agency IRP loan funds received by an intermediary must be deposited into an IRP revolving fund. The intermediary may transfer additional assets into the IRP revolving fund. All cash of the IRP revolving fund shall be deposited in a separate bank account or accounts. No other funds of the intermediary will be commingled with such money. All moneys deposited in such bank account or accounts shall be money of the IRP revolving fund. Loans to ultimate recipients are advanced from the IRP revolving fund. The receivables created by making loans to ultimate recipients, the intermediary's security interest in collateral pledged by ultimate recipients, collections on the receivables, interest, fees, and any other income or assets derived from the operation of the IRP revolving fund are a part of the IRP revolving fund.
(1) The portion of the IRP revolving fund that consists of Agency IRP loan funds, on a last-in-first-out basis, may only be used for making loans in accordance with § 4274.314 of this subpart. The portion of the IRP revolving fund which consists of revolved funds may be used for debt service, reasonable administrative costs, or reserves in accordance with this section, or for making additional loans.
(2) The intermediary must submit an annual budget of proposed administrative costs for Agency approval. The annual budget should itemize cash income and cash out-flow. Projected cash income should consist of, but is not limited to, collection of principal repayment, interest repayment, interest earnings on deposits, fees, and other income. Projected cash out-flow should consist of, but is not limited to, principal and interest payments, reserve for bad debt, and an itemization of administrative costs to operate the IRP revolving fund. Proceeds received from the collection of principal repayment cannot be used for administrative expenses. The amount removed from the IRP revolving fund for administrative costs in any year must be reasonable, must not exceed the actual cost of operating the IRP revolving fund, including loan servicing and providing technical assistance, and must not exceed the amount approved by the Agency in the intermediary's annual budget.
(3) A reasonable amount of revolved funds must be used to create a reserve for bad debts. Reserves must be accumulated over a period of years. The total amount should not exceed maximum expected losses, considering the quality of the intermediary's portfolio of loans. Unless the intermediary provides loss and delinquency records that, in the opinion of the Agency, justifies different amounts, a reserve for bad debts of 6 percent of outstanding loans must be accumulated over 3 years and then maintained.
(4) Any cash in the IRP revolving fund from any source that is not needed for debt service, approved administrative costs, or reasonable reserves must be available for additional loans to ultimate recipients. Funds may not be used for any investments in securities or certificates of deposit of over 30-day duration without the concurrence of Rural Development. If funds in excess of $250,000 have been unused to make loans to ultimate recipients for 6 months or more, those funds will be returned to Rural Development unless Rural Development provides an exception to the intermediary. Any exception would be based on evidence satisfactory to Rural Development that every effort is being made by the intermediary to utilize the IRP funding in conformance with program objectives.
(5) All reserves and other cash in the IRP revolving loan fund not immediately needed for loans to ultimate recipients or other authorized uses will be deposited in accounts in banks or other financial institutions. Such accounts will be fully covered by Federal deposit insurance or fully collateralized with U.S. Government obligations, and must be interest bearing. Any interest earned thereon remains a part of the IRP revolving fund.
(6) If an intermediary receives more than one IRP loan, it need not establish and maintain a separate IRP revolving loan fund for each loan; it may combine them and maintain only one IRP revolving fund, unless the Agency requires separate IRP revolving funds because there are significant differences in the loan purposes, work plans, loan agreements, or requirements for the loans. The Agency may allow loans with different requirements to be combined into one IRP revolving fund if the intermediary agrees in writing to operate the combined revolving funds in accordance with the most stringent requirements as required by the Agency.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 31847, June 3, 2014]
(a) Intergovernmental consultation. The IRP is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. The approval of a loan to an intermediary will be the subject of intergovernmental consultation. For each ultimate recipient to be assisted with a loan from Agency IRP loan funds and for which the State in which the ultimate recipient is to be located has elected to review the program under their intergovernmental review process, the State Single Point of Contact must be notified. Notification, in the form of a project description, must be initiated by the intermediary or the ultimate recipient. Any comments from the State must be included with the intermediary's request to use the Agency loan funds for the ultimate recipient. Prior to the Agency's decision on the request, compliance with the requirements of intergovernmental consultation must be demonstrated for each ultimate recipient. These requirements are set forth in U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, and RD Instruction 1970-I, ‘Intergovernmental Review,’ available in any Agency office or on the Agency's Web site.
(b) Environmental requirements. Actions taken under this subpart must comply with 7 CFR part 1970, as specified in § 1970.51(a)(3) for multi-tier actions. Intermediaries and ultimate recipients must consider the potential environmental impacts of their projects at the earliest planning stages and develop plans to minimize the potential to adversely impact the environment. Intermediaries must cooperate and furnish such information and assistance as the Agency needs to make any of its environmental determinations.
(c) Equal opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements.
(1) In accordance with title V of Pub. L. 93-495, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for Federally Conducted Programs and Activities, neither the intermediary nor the Agency will discriminate against any employee, intermediary, or proposed ultimate recipient on the basis of sex, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental disability (provided the proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient has the capacity to contract), because all or part of the proposed intermediary's or proposed ultimate recipient's income is derived from public assistance of any kind, or because the proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction anytime Agency loan funds are involved.
(2) The regulations contained in subpart E of part 1901 of this title apply to this program.
(3) The Administrator will assure that equal opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements are met in accordance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, “Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs,” 42 U.S.C. 2000d-4, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for Federally Conducted Programs and Activities, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
(d) Seismic safety of new building construction.
(1) The Intermediary Relending Program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12699 that requires each Federal agency assisting in the financing, through Federal grants or loans, or guaranteeing the financing, through loan or mortgage insurance programs, of newly constructed buildings to assure appropriate consideration of seismic safety.
(2) All new buildings financed with Agency IRP loan funds shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the seismic provisions of one of the following model building codes or the latest edition of that code providing an equivalent level of safety to that contained in the latest edition of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Programs (NEHRP) Recommended Provisions for the Development of Seismic Regulations for New Building (NEHRP Provisions):
(i) 1991 International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Uniform Building Code;
(ii) 1993 Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA) National Building Code; or
(iii) 1992 Amendments to the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) Standard Building Code.
(3) The date, signature, and seal of a registered architect or engineer and the identification and date of the model building code on the plans and specifications shall be evidence of compliance with the seismic requirements of the appropriate code.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 70 FR 38573, July 5, 2005; 76 FR 80732, Dec. 27, 2011; 81 FR 11051, Mar. 2, 2016]
A loan agreement or a supplement to a previous loan agreement must be executed by the intermediary and the Agency at loan closing for each loan. The loan agreement will be prepared by the Agency and reviewed by the intermediary prior to loan closing.
(a) The loan agreement will, as a minimum, set out:
(1) The amount of the loan;
(2) The interest rate;
(3) The term and repayment schedule;
(4) The provisions for late charges. The intermediary shall pay a late charge of 4 percent of the payment due if payment is not received within 15 calendar days following the due date. The late charge shall be considered unpaid if not received within 30 calendar days of the missed due date for which it was imposed. Any unpaid late charge shall be added to principal and be due as an extra payment at the end of the term. Acceptance of a late charge by the Agency does not constitute a waiver of default;
(5) The disbursement procedure. Disbursement of loan funds by the Agency to the intermediary shall take place after the loan agreement and promissory note are executed, and any other conditions precedent to disbursement of funds are fully satisfied. For purposes of computing interest, the date of each draw down shall constitute the date the funds are advanced under the loan agreement;
(i) The intermediary may initially draw up to 25 percent of the loan funds or, the intermediary must have at least one ultimate recipient loan application ready to close. Upon requesting a disbursement, the intermediary must provide documentation showing that its equity contribution has been deposited into the IRP revolving loan fund account. The initial draw must be deposited in an interest bearing account in accordance with § 4274.332(b)(5) until needed and must be used for loans to ultimate recipients before any additional Agency IRP loan funds may be drawn by the intermediary.
(ii) After the initial draw of funds, an intermediary may draw down only such funds as are necessary to cover a 30-day period in implementing its approved work plan. Advances must be requested by the intermediary in writing;
(6) The provisions regarding default. On the occurrence of any event of default, the Agency may declare all or any portion of the debt and interest to be immediately due and payable and may proceed to enforce its rights under the loan agreement or any other instruments securing or relating to the loan and in accordance with the applicable law and regulations. Any of the following may be regarded as an “event of default” in the sole discretion of the Agency:
(i) Failure of the intermediary to carry out the specific activities in its loan application as approved by the Agency or comply with the loan terms and conditions of the loan agreement, any applicable Federal or State laws, or with such USDA or Agency regulations as may become applicable;
(ii) Failure of the intermediary to pay within 15 calendar days of its due date any installment of principal or interest on its promissory note to the Agency;
(iii) The occurrence of;
(A) The intermediary becoming insolvent, or ceasing, being unable, or admitting in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, or making a general assignment for the benefit of, or entering into any composition or arrangement with creditors, or;
(B) Proceedings for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or liquidator of the intermediary, or of a substantial part of its assets, being authorized or instituted by or against it;
(iv) Submission or making of any report, statement, warranty, or representation by the intermediary or agent on its behalf to USDA or the Agency in connection with the financial assistance awarded hereunder which is false, incomplete, or incorrect in any material respect; or
(v) Failure of the intermediary to remedy any material adverse change in its financial or other condition (such as the representational character of its board of directors or policymaking body) arising since the date of the Agency's award of assistance hereunder, which condition was an inducement to Agency's original award.
(7) The insurance requirements.
(i) Hazard insurance with a standard mortgage clause naming the intermediary as beneficiary will be required by the intermediary on every ultimate recipient's project funded from the IRP revolving fund in an amount that is at least the lesser of the depreciated replacement value of the property being insured or the amount of the loan. Hazard insurance includes fire, windstorm, lightning, hail, business interruption, explosion, riot, civil commotion, aircraft, vehicle, marine, smoke, builder's risk, public liability, property damage, flood or mudslide, or any other hazard insurance that may be required to protect the security. The intermediary's interest in the insurance will be assigned to the Agency, upon the Agency's request, in the event of default by the intermediary.
(ii) Ordinarily, life insurance, which may be decreasing term insurance, is required for the principals and key employees of the ultimate recipient funded from the IRP revolving fund and will be assigned or pledged to the intermediary and subsequently, in the event of request by the Agency following default by the intermediary, to the Agency. A schedule of life insurance available for the benefit of the loan will be included as part of the application.
(iii) Workmen's compensation insurance on ultimate recipients is required in accordance with the State law.
(iv) Flood insurance. The intermediary is responsible for determining if an ultimate recipient funded from the IRP revolving fund is located in a special flood or mudslide hazard area. If the ultimate recipient is in a flood or mudslide area, then flood or mudslide insurance must be provided in accordance with subpart B of part 1806 of this chapter.
(v) Intermediaries will provide fidelity bond coverage for all persons who have access to intermediary funds. Coverage may be provided either for all individual positions or persons, or through “blanket” coverage providing protection for all appropriate employees and officials. The Agency may also require the intermediary to carry other appropriate insurance, such as public liability, workers compensation, and property damage.
(A) The amount of fidelity bond coverage required by the Agency will normally approximate the total annual debt service requirements for the Agency loans;
(B) Other types of coverage may be considered acceptable if it is determined by the Agency that they fulfill essentially the same purpose as a fidelity bond;
(C) Intermediaries must provide evidence of adequate fidelity bond and other appropriate insurance coverage by loan closing. Adequate coverage in accordance with this section must then be maintained for the life of the loan. It is the responsibility of the intermediary to assure and provide evidence that adequate coverage is maintained. This may consist of a listing of policies and coverage amounts in reports required by paragraph (b)(4) of this section or other documentation.
(b) The intermediary will agree in the loan agreement:
(1) Not to make any changes in the intermediary's articles of incorporation, charter, or by-laws without the concurrence of the Agency;
(2) Not to make a loan commitment to an ultimate recipient to be funded from Agency IRP loan funds without first receiving the Agency's written concurrence;
(3) To maintain a separate ledger and segregated account for the IRP revolving fund;
(4) To Agency reporting requirements by providing:
(i) An annual audit;
(A) Dates of audit report period need not necessarily coincide with other reports on the IRP. Audit reports shall be due 90 days following the audit period. Audits must cover all of the intermediary's activities. Audits will be performed by an independent certified public accountant. An acceptable audit will be performed in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards and include such tests of the accounting records as the auditor considers necessary in order to express an opinion on the financial condition of the intermediary. The Agency does not require an unqualified audit opinion as a result of the audit. Compilations or reviews do not satisfy the audit requirement;
(B) It is not intended that audits required by this subpart be separate and apart from audits performed in accordance with State and local laws or for other purposes. To the extent feasible, the audit work should be done in connection with these audits. Intermediaries covered by 2 CFR part 200, subpart F, as codified in 2 CFR 400.1, should submit audits made in accordance with that regulation.
(ii) Quarterly or semiannual reports (due 30 days after the end of the period);
(A) Reports will be required quarterly during the first year after loan closing and, if all loan funds are not utilized during the first year, quarterly reports will be continued until at least 90 percent of the Agency IRP loan funds have been advanced to ultimate recipients. Thereafter, reports will be required semiannually. Also, the Agency may require quarterly reports if the intermediary becomes delinquent in repayment of its loan or otherwise fails to fully comply with the provisions of its work plan or Loan Agreement, or the Agency determines that the intermediary's IRP revolving fund is not adequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the ultimate recipients.
(B) These reports shall contain information only on the IRP revolving loan fund, or if other funds are included, the IRP loan program portion shall be segregated from the others; and in the case where the intermediary has more than one IRP revolving fund from the Agency a separate report shall be made for each of the IRP revolving funds.
(C) The reports will be submitted through the Agency approved electronic system and includes information on the intermediary's lending activity, income and expenses, financial condition and a summary of applicable information of the ultimate recipients the intermediary has financed.
(D) An annual report on the extent to which increased employment, income and ownership opportunities are provided to low-income persons, farm families, and displaced farm families for each loan made by such intermediary.
(iii) Annual proposed budget for the following year; and
(iv) Other reports as the Agency may require from time to time.
(5) Before the first relending of Agency funds to an ultimate recipient, to obtain written Agency approval of;
(i) All forms to be used for relending purposes, including application forms, loan agreements, promissory notes, and security instruments;
(ii) Intermediary's policy with regard to the amount and form of security to be required;
(6) To obtain written approval of the Agency before making any significant changes in forms, security policy, or the work plan. The servicing officer may approve changes in forms, security policy, or work plans at any time upon a written request from the intermediary and determination by the Agency that the change will not jeopardize repayment of the loan or violate any requirement of this subpart or other Agency regulations. The intermediary must comply with the work plan approved by the Agency so long as any portion of the intermediary's IRP loan is outstanding;
(7) To secure the indebtedness by pledging the IRP revolving fund, including its portfolio of investments derived from the proceeds of the loan award, and pledging its real and personal property and other rights and interests as the Agency may require;
(8) In the event the intermediary's financial condition deteriorates or the intermediary takes action detrimental to prudent fund operation or fails to take action required of a prudent lender, to provide additional security, execute any additional documents, and undertake any reasonable acts the Agency may request, to protect the agency's interest or to perfect a security interest in any assets, including physical delivery of assets and specific assignments; and
(9) If any part of the loan has not been used in accordance with the intermediary's work plan by a date 3 years from the date of the loan agreement, the Agency may cancel the approval of any funds not yet delivered to the intermediary and the intermediary will return, as an extra payment on the loan, any funds delivered to the intermediary that have not been used by the intermediary in accordance with the work plan. The Agency, at its sole discretion, may allow the intermediary additional time to use the loan funds. Regular loan payments will be based on the amount of funds actually drawn by the intermediary.
(10) For IRP intermediaries, IRP funds in excess of $250,000 that have not been used to make loans to ultimate recipients for 6 months or more will be returned to Rural Development unless Rural Development provides an exception to the intermediary. Any exception would be based on evidence satisfactory to Rural Development that every effort is being made by the intermediary to utilize the IRP funding in conformance with program objectives.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 70 FR 38573, July 5, 2005; 73 FR 54307, Sept. 19, 2008; 79 FR 31847, June 3, 2014; 79 FR 76014, Dec. 19, 2014]
(a) The application will consist of:
(1) An application form provided by the Agency.
(2) A written work plan and other evidence the Agency requires to demonstrate the feasibility of the intermediary's program to meet the objectives of this program. The plan must, at a minimum:
(i) Document the intermediary's ability to administer IRP in accordance with the provisions of this subpart. In order to adequately demonstrate the ability to administer the program, the intermediary must provide a complete listing of all personnel responsible for administering this program along with a statement of their qualifications and experience. The personnel may be either members or employees of the intermediary's organization or contract personnel hired for this purpose. If the personnel are to be contracted for, the contract between the intermediary and the entity providing such service will be submitted for Agency review, and the terms of the contract and its duration must be sufficient to adequately service the Agency loan through to its ultimate conclusion. If the Agency determines the personnel lack the necessary expertise to administer the program, the loan request will not be approved;
(ii) Document the intermediary's ability to commit financial resources under the control of the intermediary to the establishment of IRP. This should include a statement of the sources of non-Agency funds for administration of the intermediary's operations and financial assistance for projects;
(iii) Demonstrate a need for loan funds. As a minimum, the intermediary should identify a sufficient number of proposed and known ultimate recipients it has on hand to justify Agency funding of its loan request, or include well developed targeting criteria for ultimate recipients consistent with the intermediary's mission and strategy for IRP, along with supporting statistical or narrative evidence that such prospective recipients exist in sufficient numbers to justify Agency funding of the loan request;
(iv) Include a list of proposed fees and other charges it will assess the ultimate recipients;
(v) Demonstrate to Agency satisfaction that the intermediary has secured commitments of significant financial support from public agencies and private organizations;
(vi) Provide evidence to Agency satisfaction that the intermediary has a proven record of obtaining private or philanthropic funds for the operation of similar programs to IRP;
(vii) Include the intermediary's plan (specific loan purposes) for relending the loan funds. The plan must be of sufficient detail to provide the Agency with a complete understanding of what the intermediary will accomplish by lending the funds to the ultimate recipient and the complete mechanics of how the funds will get from the intermediary to the ultimate recipient. The service area, eligibility criteria, loan purposes, fees, rates, terms, collateral requirements, limits, priorities, application process, method of disposition of the funds to the ultimate recipient, monitoring of the ultimate recipient's accomplishments, and reporting requirements by the ultimate recipient's management are some of the items that must be addressed by the intermediary's relending plan;
(viii) Provide a set of goals, strategies, and anticipated outcomes for the intermediary's program. Outcomes should be expressed in quantitative or observable terms such as jobs created for low income area residents or self empowerment opportunities funded, and should relate to the purpose of IRP (see § 4274.301(b)); and
(ix) Provide specific information as to whether and how the intermediary will ensure that technical assistance is made available to ultimate recipients and potential ultimate recipients. Describe the qualifications of the technical assistance providers, the nature of technical assistance that will be available, and expected and committed sources of funding for technical assistance. If other than the intermediary itself, describe the organizations providing such assistance and the arrangements between such organizations and the intermediary.
(3) Except for 7 CFR 1970.53 actions that are determined by the primary recipients to not have extraordinary circumstances, an agreement in writing to the environmental requirements in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970.
(4) Comments from the State Single Point of Contact, if the State has elected to review the program under Executive Order 12372;
(5) A pro forma balance sheet at start-up and projected balance sheets for at least 3 additional years; financial statements for the last 3 years, or from inception of the operations of the intermediary if less than 3 years; and projected cash flow and earnings statements for at least 3 years supported by a list of assumptions showing the basis for the projections. The projected earnings statement and balance sheet must include one set of projections that shows the IRP revolving fund only and a separate set of projections that shows the proposed intermediary organization's total operations. Also, if principal repayment on the IRP loan will not be scheduled during the first 3 years, the projections for the IRP revolving fund must extend to include a year with a full annual installment on the IRP loan;
(6) A written agreement of the intermediary to the Agency audit requirements;
(7) An agreement on a form provided by the Agency assuring compliance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
(8) Complete organizational documents, including evidence of authority to conduct the proposed activities;
(9) Evidence that the loan is not available at reasonable rates and terms from private sources or other Federal, State, or local programs;
(10) Latest audit report, if available;
(11) A form provided by the Agency in which the applicant certifies its understanding of the Federal collection policies for consumer or commercial debts;
(12) A Department of Agriculture form containing a certification regarding debarment, suspension, and other responsibility matters for primary covered transactions; and
(13) A statement on a form provided by the Agency (Appendix B to Part 418 - Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying) regarding lobbying, as required by 2 CFR part 418.
(b) Applications from intermediaries that already have an active IRP loan may be streamlined as follows:
(1) The requirements of paragraphs (a)(6), (a)(8), and (a)(10) of this section may be omitted;
(2) A statement that the new loan would be operated in accordance with the work plan on file for the previous loan may be submitted in lieu of a new work plan; and
(3) The financial information required by paragraph (a)(5) of this section may be limited to projections for the proposed new IRP revolving loan fund.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 76014, Dec. 19, 2014; 81 FR 11051, Mar. 2, 2016]
(a) Intermediaries' contact. Intermediaries desiring assistance under this subpart may file applications with the state office for the state in which the intermediary's headquarters is located. Intermediaries headquartered in the District of Columbia may file the application with the National Office, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, Specialty Lenders Division, STOP 1521, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1521.
(b) Filing applications. Intermediaries must file the complete application, in one package. Applications received by the Agency will be reviewed and ranked quarterly and funded in the order of priority ranking. The Agency will retain unsuccessful applications for consideration in subsequent reviews, through a total of four quarterly reviews.
(c) Loan priorities. A point system will be used to determine an eligible applicant's priority for available loan funds. Points will be allowed only for factors indicated by well documented, reasonable plans which, in the opinion of the Agency, provide assurance that the items have a high probability of being accomplished. The points awarded will be as specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(6) of this section. If an application does not fit one of the categories listed, it receives no points for that paragraph or subparagraph.
(1) Other funds. Points allowed under this paragraph are to be based on documented successful history or written evidence that the funds are available.
(i) The intermediary will obtain non-Federal loan or grant funds to pay part of the cost of the ultimate recipients' projects. The amount of funds from other sources will average:
(A) At least 10% but less than 25% of the total project cost - 5 points;
(B) At least 25% but less than 50% of the total project cost - 10 points; or
(C) 50% or more of the total project cost - 15 points.
(ii) The intermediary will provide loans to ultimate recipients from its project contribution funds to pay part of the costs of ultimate recipient projects. Project contribution funds must be separate and distinct from any loan or grant dollars provided to the intermediary under the IRP, as well as the intermediary's equity contribution. When evaluating an application for initial or supplemental funding, the Agency will consider the level of the applicant's project contribution and award points as follows:
(A) At least 10% but less than 25% of the total project costs - 5 points;
(B) At least 25% but less than 50% of total project costs - 10 points; or
(C) 50% or more of total project costs - 15 points.
(2) Employment. For computations under this paragraph, income data should be 5-year income data from the American Community Survey (ACS) or, if needed, other Census Bureau data, updated according to changes in the consumer price index. If there is reason to believe that the ACS or other Census Bureau data does not accurately represent the median household income of the service area, the reasons will be documented and the borrower may furnish, or RD may obtain, additional information regarding such median household income data. Information must consist of reliable data from local, regional, State or Federal sources or from a survey conducted by a reliable impartial source. The poverty line used will be as defined in section 673 (2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)). Unemployment data used will be that published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
(i) The median household income in the service area of the proposed intermediary equals the following percentage of the poverty line for a family of four:
(A) At least 150% but not more than 175% - 5 points;
(B) At least 125% but less than 150% - 10 points; or
(C) Below 125% - 15 points.
(ii) The following percentage of the loans the intermediary makes from Agency IRP loan funds will be in counties with median household income below 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income. (To receive priority points under this category, the intermediary must provide a list of counties in the service area that have qualifying income):
(A) At least 50% but less than 75% - 5 points;
(B) At least 75% but less than 100% - 10 points; or
(C) 100% - 15 points.
(iii) The unemployment rate in the intermediary's service area equals the following percentage of the national unemployment rate:
(A) At least 100% but less than 125% - 5 points;
(B) At least 125% but less 150% - 10 points; or
(C) 150% or more - 15 points.
(iv) The intermediary will require, as a condition of eligibility for a loan to an ultimate recipient from Agency IRP loan funds, that the ultimate recipient certify in writing that it will employ the following percentage of its workforce from members of families with income below the poverty line:
(A) At least 10% but less than 20% of the workforce - 5 points;
(B) At least 20% but less than 30% of the workforce - 10 points; or
(C) 30% of the workforce or more - 15 points.
(v) The intermediary has a demonstrated record of providing assistance to members of underrepresented groups, has a realistic plan for targeting loans to members of underrepresented groups, and, based on the intermediary's record and plans, it is expected that the following percentages of its loans made from Agency IRP loan funds will be made to entities owned by members of underrepresented groups:
(A) At least 10% but less than 20% - 5 points;
(B) At least 20% but less than 30% - 10 points; or
(C) 30% or more - 15 points.
(vi) The population of the service area according to the most recent decennial Census was lower than that recorded by the previous decennial Census (or as equivalently determined using another data source if the other data source was used in determining whether the area was rural) by the following percentage:
(A) At least 10 percent but less than 20 percent - 5 points;
(B) At least 20 percent but less than 30 percent - 10 points; or
(C) 30 percent or more - 15 points.
(3) Intermediary contribution. All assets of the IRP revolving fund will serve as security for the IRP loan, and the intermediary will contribute funds not derived from the Agency into the IRP revolving fund along with the proceeds of the IRP loan. The amount of non-Agency derived funds contributed to the IRP revolving fund will equal the following percentage of the Agency IRP loan:
(i) At least 5% but less than 15% - 15 points;
(ii) At least 15% but less than 25% - 30 points; or
(iii) 25% or more - 50 points.
(4) Experience. The intermediary has actual experience in making and servicing commercial loans, with a successful record, for the following number of full years:
(i) At least 1 but less than 3 years - 5 points;
(ii) At least 3 but less than 5 years - 10 points;
(iii) At least 5 but less than 10 years - 20 points; or
(iv) 10 or more years - 30 points.
(5) Community representation. The service area is not more than 14 counties and the intermediary utilizes local opinions and experience by including community representatives on its board of directors or equivalent oversight board. For purposes of this section, community representatives are people, such as civic leaders, business representatives, or bankers, who reside in the service area and are not employees of the intermediary. Points will be assigned as follows:
(i) At least 10% but less than 40% of the board members are community representatives - 5 points;
(ii) At least 40% but less than 75% of the board members are community representatives - 10 points; or
(iii) At least 75% of the board members are community representatives - 15 points.
(6) Administrative. The Administrator may assign up to 35 additional points to an application to account for the following items not adequately covered by the other priority criteria set out in this section. The items that may be considered are the amount of funds requested in relation to the amount of need; a particularly successful business development record; a service area with no other IRP coverage; a service area with severe economic problems, such as communities that have remained persistently poor over the last 60 years or have experienced long-term population decline or job deterioration; a service area with emergency conditions caused by a natural disaster or loss of a major industry; a work plan that is in accord with a strategic plan, particularly a plan prepared as part of a request for an Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community designation; or excellent utilization of a previous IRP loan.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 70 FR 38573, July 5, 2005; 80 FR 9912, Feb. 24, 2015]
If the Agency is able to make the loan, it will provide the intermediary a letter of conditions listing all requirements for the loan. Immediately after reviewing the conditions and requirements in the letter of conditions, the intermediary should complete, sign and return the form provided by the Agency indicating the intermediary's intent to meet the conditions. If certain conditions cannot be met, the intermediary may propose alternate conditions to the Agency. The Agency loan approval official must concur with any changes made to the initially issued or proposed letter of conditions prior to acceptance.
The loan will be considered approved on the date the signed copy of the obligation of funds document is mailed to the intermediary. The approving official may request an obligation of funds when available and according to the following:
(a) The obligation of funds document may be executed by the loan approving official providing the intermediary has the legal authority to contract for a loan and to enter into required agreements, and has signed the obligation of funds document.
(b) An obligation of funds established for an intermediary may be transferred to a different (substituted) intermediary provided:
(1) The substituted intermediary is eligible to receive the assistance approved for the original intermediary;
(2) The substituted intermediary bears a close and genuine relationship to the original intermediary; and
(3) The need for and scope of the project and the purposes for which Agency IRP loan funds will be used remain substantially unchanged.
(a) At loan closing, the intermediary must certify to the following:
(1) No major changes have been made in the work plan except those approved in the interim by the Agency.
(2) All requirements of the letter of conditions have been met.
(3) There has been no material change in the intermediary nor its financial condition since the issuance of the letter of conditions. If there have been changes, they must be explained. The changes may be waived, at the sole discretion of the Agency.
(4) That no claim or liens of laborers, materialmen, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers of machinery and equipment, or other parties are pending against the security of the intermediary, and that no suits are pending or threatened that would adversely affect the security of the intermediary when the security instruments are filed.
(b) The processing officer will approve only minor changes which do not materially affect the project, its capacity, employment, original projections, or credit factors. Changes in legal entities or where tax consideration are the reason for change will not be approved.
(a) An intermediary may use revolved funds to make loans to ultimate recipients in accordance with § 4274.314(b) without obtaining prior Agency concurrence. Prior Agency concurrence is required when an intermediary proposes to use Agency IRP loan funds to make a loan to an ultimate recipient.
(b) A request for Agency concurrence in approval of a proposed loan to an ultimate recipient must include:
(1) Certification by the intermediary that;
(i) The proposed ultimate recipient is eligible for the loan;
(ii) The proposed loan is for eligible purposes;
(iii) The proposed loan complies with all applicable statutes and regulations;
(iv) The ultimate recipient is unable to finance the proposed project through commercial credit or other Federal, State, or local programs at reasonable rates and terms; and
(v) The intermediary and its principal officers (including immediate family) hold no legal or financial interest or influence in the ultimate recipient, and the ultimate recipient and its principal officers (including immediate family) hold no legal or financial interest or influence in the intermediary except the interest and influence of a cooperative member when the intermediary is a cooperative;
(2) Except for 7 CFR 1970.53 actions that are determined by the primary recipients to not have extraordinary circumstances, required environmental documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970.
(3) All comments obtained in accordance with § 4274.337(a), regarding intergovernmental consultation;
(4) Copies of sufficient material from the ultimate recipient's application and the intermediary's related files, to allow the Agency to determine the:
(i) Name and address of the ultimate recipient;
(ii) Loan purposes;
(iii) Interest rate and term;
(iv) Location, nature, and scope of the project being financed;
(v) Other funding included in the project; and
(vi) Nature and lien priority of the collateral.
(5) Such other information as the Agency may request on specific cases.
[63 FR 6053, Feb. 6, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 31848, June 3, 2014; 81 FR 11051, Mar. 2, 2016]
Any appealable adverse decision made by the Agency which affects the intermediary may be appealed in accordance with USDA appeal regulations found at 7 CFR part 11.
The Administrator may, in individual cases, grant an exception to any requirement or provision of this subpart which is not inconsistent with any applicable law, provided the Administrator determines that application of the requirement or provision would adversely affect USDA's interest.
The reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained in this regulation have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the provisions of 44 U.S.C. chapter 35 and have been assigned OMB control number 0570-0021 in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).