Written Application for the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind Formula Grant (SC)

Dear Designated State Agency:

This letter concerns funding of your State's Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB) program for fiscal years (FY) 2014-2016. The

IL-OIB program is authorized under Section 752 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), to (1) provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind (enumerated in section 752(e)(1) of the Act); (2) conduct activities that will improve or expand services for such individuals; and (3) conduct activities to help improve public understanding of the problems of such individuals. The Act requires that the Commissioner may not make a grant for this program unless the State involved agrees that the grant will be administered solely by the agency described in section 101(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Act.

The Act requires that each State and territory receive a minimum allotment as determined in section 752(j)(2)(A) and (B), and inasmuch as this is a formula grant, the allotment available to your State each year may vary according to the Federal appropriation level and relative population changes. In addition, section 752(f)(1) and (2) of the Act stipulates that the State shall provide directly or through donations (in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated) from public or private entities, non-Federal contributions toward the costs of the program in an amount that is not less than $1 for each $9 of Federal funds provided in the grant. A State may expend a grant through grants to public and nonprofit agencies or organizations.

Please complete the process described below by the specified deadline, in order that the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has sufficient time to review and approve the application prior to the beginning of the next three-year grant cycle, which begins on October 1, 2013.

To apply for and request IL-OIB funds, you must sign and/or complete three documents:

1. IL-OIB Assurances;

2. form letter used to transmit the application to RSA; and

3. the annual certification regarding lobbying, as required of all U.S. Department of Education grantees.

These three documents constitute your application and request for Federal assistance. Please submit the original signed documents to the RSA Commissioner by September 30, 2013. RSA must receive these documents to award your State's IL-OIB grant for FY 2014-2016.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Independent Living Unit of RSA at 202-245-6156 if you have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

___________________

Lynnae M. Ruttledge

Commissioner

Enclosures