c. What is the deadline
for DLT Grant Applications?
Grant applications are accepted during
an application window which is announced
in the Federal Register. Typically, the
window opens in the first quarter of the
year and is open for 60 days. We do not
provide specific information about the
opening of the grant window in advance
of publication in the Register except
on our webpage. We do this so that all
prospective applicants have the same information
available to them and because the exact
date of publication in the Register is
outside our control. The window is announced
on the DLT web page (www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm)
d. What is the eligibility
requirement for a grant applicant? What
are the requirements to be eligible for
funding with a grant?
Refer to B, Legal Eligibility,
and D, Project Information (Eligible
and Ineligible Purposes) in Section
IV of the current Application Guide
(for current information, always use the
most recently published Application
Guide, which is posted on our website
at approximately the same time as the
opening of the application window.
e. What is the application window
for a Combination Loan/Grant or a 100%
Loan.
There is no window for Combos or Loans.
Applications are processed on a non-competitive
first-come, first-served basis. Applications
may be submitted anytime. To be funded
within a current Fiscal Year, which for
the Federal Government ends on September
30, an application should be received
by July 31 of that year.
f. How are Combo and 100% Loan Programs
different from the Grant Program.
The loan programs can fund larger projects.
Generally, the maximum amount considered
for a loan is $10 million. However, we
may fund a project greater than that subject
to the project's feasibility and the availability
of loan funds. Combination Loan/Grants
will generally consist of a fixed proportion
of loan and grant. The ratio is set annually
in that year's Notice of Funds Availability
as published in the Federal Register.
Although the programs are not competitive,
applicants must demonstrate a minimum
Rurality score using the scoring
method described in the Grant Application
Guide. There is no matching fund requirement.
The purposes for combination loan-grant
and loan financing include more than the
fairly narrow range of equipment, software
and technical assistance allowed with
grant funding; particularly with regard
to physical facilities, e.g., "bricks
and mortar", transmission facilities,
and project start-up costs. See the current
year's Loan and Combination Loan/Grant
Application Guide.
g. What kind of interest
rate is available with Loans or the Loan
portion of Combination Loan/Grants
The interest rate for a 100% loan (or
the loan portion of a combination loan/grant)
is based on the cost of money to the United
States Treasury at the time of draw down
of funds. The maximum amortization period
for the loan (portion) is up to 10 years
or the economic life of the facilities
being financed, whichever is less. The
interest rate is based on "Yields
on Treasury Securities" at "constant
maturity." Yields on Treasury securities
at "constant maturity" are interpolated
by the U.S. Treasury from the daily yield
curve. For more information on estimating
prospective interest rates, see the current
year's Loan and Combination Loan/Grant
Application Guide.
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