New Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (93.602)

Program

93.602 New Assets for Independence Demonstration Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Assets for Independence Act.

Program Number

93.602

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The purpose of the Assets for Independence program is to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of asset-building projects that assist low-income people in becoming economically self-sufficient by teaching them about economic and consumer issues and enabling them to establish matched savings accounts called individual development accounts (IDAs). The program is demonstrating and evaluating the effects of AFI projects and IDAs in terms of increasing the economic self-sufficiency of low-income families; promoting savings for home ownership, post-secondary education, and small business or micro-enterprise development; and stabilizing families and communities.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants for five-year project and budget periods. Grantees must allocate at least 85% of the grant funds for matching participants' IDA savings and 2% of the grant funds for data collection and evaluation. Grantees may use the remaining 13% to support other project activities. Grantees are required to provide or secure non-federal cash contributions equal to or greater than the grant amount.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

This program supports innovative projects administered by national, State-wide, regional and community-based organizations. Eligible applicants are: (1) Private nonprofit organizations that are tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) State or local governments or agencies or Tribal governments submitting applications jointly with tax exempt organizations; (3) credit unions designated as low-income credit unions by the National Credit Union Administration; or an organization designated as a Community Development Financial Institution by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Eligible project participants are individuals that are members of households eligible for assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or of households whose annual adjusted gross income does not exceed 200 percent of the poverty income guidelines. The net worth of the household at the end of the calendar year preceding the determination of eligibility must not exceed $10,000 excluding the primary dwelling unit and one motor vehicle owned by a member of the household. Grantees may restrict eligibility to people with lower incomes and net worth.

Credentials/Documentation

Low Income Credit Unions must submit official documentation that the National Credit Union Administration has designated the organization as such. Community Development Financial Institutions must submit documentation that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated the organization as such. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Competitive applications must be submitted on Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B, and include a project narrative as described in the program announcement issued by the Office of Community Services and published on the www.grants.gov website. Required forms are attached to the published announcement. No State plan is required.

Award Procedure

The Director, Office of Community Services makes funding decisions based on recommendations of a panel of experts who review funding proposals. The panel review is based on criteria set forth in the program announcement.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. Applications will normally be approved/disapproved and grant awards made within 90 days of application receipt.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 100.%. The matching requirement is for a non-federal cash contribution.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

These grants have 5-year budget and project periods. Grantees may access grant funds throughout the period to the extent that they provide proof that they have the required non federal cash support on hand. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantees may access federal grant funds to the extent that they provide proof of the required non-federal cash contribution.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Standard Financial Report. Narrative Program Progress Report. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance and Outcome Indicator Report.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grantees must comply with OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations." Non-federal grantees that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. Non-federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from the audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section .215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

Program records, financial records, and all other records pertinent to the award shall be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: A total of 78 grants were awarded in FY 2008. Fiscal Year 2009: A total of 51 grants were awarded in FY 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: It is estimated that 62 grants will be awarded in FY 2010.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 $24,023,000; FY 09 est $24,025,000; FY 10 est $24,025,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The Office of Community Services (OCS) awards grants for this program ranging up to $1,000,000. The average grant is approximately $350,000. OCS expects to fund approximately 62 grants per year. Eligible entities may apply for new grants up to the statutory limit of $1,000,000 each year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The following regulations: Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 16 - DHHS Grant Appeals Process, Part 74 - Administration of Grants (grants with sub grants to entities), Part 75 - Informal Grant Appeal Procedures, Part 76 - Debarment and Suspension from Eligibility For Financial Assistance, Sub part F - Drug Free Workplace Requirements, Part 80 - Non-discrimination Under Programs Receiving Federal Assistance through Department of Health and Human Services Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Part 81 - Practice and Procedures for Hearings Under Part 80 of this Title, Part 83 - Regulation for the Administration and Enforcement of Sections 799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act, Part 84 - Non-discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance, Part 85 - Enforcement of Non- discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by Department of Health and Human Services, Part 86 - Non- discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial Assistance, Part 91 - Non-discrimination on the Basis of Age in Health and Human Services Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance, Part 92 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Governments (Federal Register, March 11, 1988), Part 93 - New Restrictions on Lobbying, Part 1000 - Individual Development Accounts.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

James Gatz 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Suite 500 West, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: afiprogram@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 2024014626 Fax: 2024015648

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/afi

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: List of funded projects is available on request to Information Contact and on the website listed above. Fiscal Year 2009: List of funded projects is available on request to Information Contact and on the website listed above. Fiscal Year 2010: List of funded projects is available on request to Information Contact and on the website listed above.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

(1) Organization experience and administrative capability; (2) Sufficiency of the project, design and plan: The degree to which the project described in the application appears likely to aid project participants in achieving economic self-sufficiency through activities requiring one or more of the qualified expenses (home purchase, post secondary education or training, or business capitalization); (3) Adequacy of plan for providing information for evaluation; (4) Commitment of non-federal funds and additional resources; (5) Results or benefits expected; and (6) Significant and beneficial impacts.