---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 C.F.R. § 5001.316"
title: "7"
number: "5001.316"
heading: "CF project priority point system and reservation of funds."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/5001.316"
---

# §5001.316. CF project priority point system and reservation of funds.


This section applies to CF projects seeking a loan guarantee. [Paragraphs (a) through (d)](#a..d) of this section outline the criteria and amount of priority points that may be awarded to an application. The highest possible priority score is 55. [Paragraph (e)](#e) of this section outlines the reservation of funds for projects located in rural areas of 20,000 population or less.

- (a) **Population priority.** If the project will be located in a rural community having a population of less than 20,000—15 points.
- (b) **Project priority.** If the project will construct, enlarge, extend or otherwise improve a public safety, health clinic, early education, primary or secondary education facility—10 points.
- (c) **Leveraging priority.** If the applicant commits other funds to the project in the following percentages:
- (d) **Administrator priority.** When guaranteed loan funds are requested from a National Office reserve, the Administrator may assign up to 15 points to address:
  - (1) Geographic distribution of funds;
  - (2) Emergency conditions caused by economic problems or natural disasters; or
  - (3) **Initiatives that support the Agency's strategic plan.**
- (e) **Rural priority.**
  - (1) Of the funds available each Federal fiscal year, as published on the Agency's website, the following amounts shall be reserved for projects in rural areas with a population of not more than 20,000 inhabitants:
    - (i) 100 percent of the first $200,000,000 so made available;
    - (ii) 50 percent of the next $200,000,000 so made available; and
    - (iii) 25 percent of all amounts exceeding $400,000,000 so made available.
  - (2) On July 1 of each year, the Agency will evaluate the dollar amount of complete applications on hand for projects in rural areas with a population of not more than 20,000 inhabitants. The dollar amount of the complete applications will be subtracted from the reserved allocation identified in this [paragraph (e)](#e) and the remaining amount will be made available through the end of the Federal fiscal year for projects in rural areas with a population of not more than 50,000 inhabitants.

## Notes

### Amendments

[85 FR 42518, July 14, 2020, as amended at 89 FR 79722, Sept. 30, 2024]

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 1926(a); 7 U.S.C. 1932(a); and 7 U.S.C. 8107.

### Source

Source: 85 FR 42518, July 14, 2020, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[85 FR 42518, July 14, 2020, as amended at 89 FR 79722, Sept. 30, 2024]