rural community advancement program

rural community advancement program (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 1932, except for sections 381E–H, 381N, and 3810 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $718,837,000, to remain available until expended, of which $23,150,000 shall be for rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(l) of such Act; of which $631,088,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2), 306C(a)(2), and 306D of such Act; and of which $64,599,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided, That of the amount appropriated for rural community programs, $6,000,000 shall be available for a Rural Community Development Initiative: Provided further, That such funds shall be used solely to develop the capacity and ability of private, nonprofit community-based housing and community development organizations, and low-income rural communities to undertake projects to improve housing, community facilities, community and economic development projects in rural areas: Provided further, That such funds shall be made available to qualified private and public (including tribal) intermediary organizations proposing to carry out a program of technical assistance: Provided further, That such intermediary organizations shall provide matching funds from other sources in an amount not less than funds provided: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated for the rural business and cooperative development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made available for a grant to a qualified national organization to provide technical assistance for rural transportation in order to promote economic development: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated for rural utilities programs, not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be for water and waste 113 STAT. 1151disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico borders, including grants pursuant to section 306C of such Act; not to exceed $12,000,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems to benefit Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, including grants pursuant to section 306C of such Act: Provided further, That the Federally Recognized Native American Tribe is not eligible for any other rural utilities programs set aside under the Rural Community Advancement Program; not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems for rural and native villages in Alaska pursuant to section 306D of such Act with up to one percent available to administer the program and up to one percent available to improve interagency coordination; not to exceed $16,215,000 shall be for technical assistance grants for rural waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act; and not to exceed $7,300,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $45,245,000 shall be available through June 30, 2000, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones; of which $34,704,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; of which $8,435,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided further, That any obligated and unobligated balances available from prior years for the “Rural Utilities Assistance Program” account shall be transferred to and merged with this account.