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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 96-638

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Improvement and Expansion Grant: Entrepreneur Assistance

[26 Pa.B. 1871]

   The Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1992, announces that competing applications to improve and expand services to persons with severe disabilities, specifically services providing entrepreneurial assistance to such persons served by the New Castle OVR District Office, will be accepted. This competition is authorized under section 120 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

   Funding for this competition is under the auspice of the Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, which will serve as administrator and fiscal agent for the grant awarded under this competition. Applications will be written to accomplish the following area of emphasis:

   To establish a rehabilitation-based entrepreneur assistance service covering the counties served by the New Castle District Office, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Assistance will be available to entrepreneurs/prospective entrepreneurs with disabilities and will include technical guidance and support as well as financial assistance. The entrepreneur assistance service will combine OVR's expertise with that of the business community. That expertise coupled with low-interest financial assistance will assure that persons with disabilities have adequate information to consider self-employment, technical support to pursue that choice, and financing sufficient to provide a fiscal base for their entrepreneurial venture.

Service Information

   The goal of this competition is to improve and expand services to persons with the most severe disabilities, specifically services providing technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs/prospective entrepreneurs with severe disabilities enabling them to consider and pursue careers in self-employment. Services provided through this competition are limited to the counties served by the New Castle District Office, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Those counties include Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence Counties.

   This competition will result in one award to accomplish the following objectives:

   --To provide an easily accessible source of technical guidance, support and education for use by persons with disabilities engaged in starting or operating their own business.

   --To provide a low-cost source of initial and/or venture financing to persons with disabilities. Financial assistance to entrepreneurs may underwrite equipment or other capital acquisitions, support overhead costs, including personnel expenses; business expansion, or other costs as determined allowable and appropriate by OVR. Financing so provided will be repaid, with interest, by the entrepreneur according to terms set forth in the entrepreneur's loan agreement with the grantee.

   --To provide a resource for on-going technical assistance for entrepreneurs including evaluation of progress, modification of business plans, and reference information related to market, financing and business management.

Application Information

   Applications may be submitted from management, financial, educational, and/or rehabilitation professionals located in the following areas: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence Counties. Areas to be served as a result of this RFP are Armstrong, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence Counties only.

   This competition will result in award of one multiyear grant made for a period not to exceed 36 months, but subject to review and renewal at 12-month intervals. Renewal will be contingent upon satisfactory project performance, continuing need for the project, and availability of funds.

   Applications received by close of business 5 p.m., Monday, June 3, 1996, which are complete and conform to established specifications will be accepted for review. Applications submitted after this date and time will be ineligible for consideration. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers convened for that purpose.

   The effective dates for the first year of the contract will be September 30, 1996--September 29, 1997. Final awards made through this competition are subject to the approval of the Executive Director, Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

   Eligible applicants include private not-for-profit organizations, for-profit entities and public organizations/institutions. Organizations or individuals demonstrating compliance with the terms of this announcement may apply to participate in this competition.

   A complete application package which includes more detailed information is available by calling Raymond L. Walker at (717) 787-5735 (TDD: 783-8917) or writing to Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Facilities and Grants Management Section, 1320 Labor and Industry Building, Seventh and Forster Streets, Harrisburg, PA 17120, FAX: (717) 783-5221, Attention: Raymond L. Walker.

Preproposal Conference

   A preproposal conference to deal specifically with technical questions regarding applications will be held for applicants on Wednesday, May 1, 1996, starting at 1 p.m. at the New Castle District Office, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, 100 Margaret Street, New Castle, PA 16101. For directions please call the New Castle OVR District Office at 1 (800) 442-6379 (Voice/TT).

   Copies of the application package will also be available at this conference. Persons expecting to attend should advise Raymond L. Walker, no later than 1 week prior to the conference, of any special accommodations that may be required in order for them to fully participate in the preproposal conference.

JOHNNY J. BUTLER,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-638. Filed for public inspection April 19, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]


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