USC Chapter 155

USC Chapter 155
in effect

40 U.S.C. § 15501 Economic and infrastructure development grants

(a) In General.—A Commission may make grants to States and local governments, Indian tribes, and public and nonprofit organizations for projects, approved in accordance with section 15503—(1) to develop the transportation infrastructure of its region; (2) to develop the basic public infrastructure of its region; (3) to develop the telecommunications infrastructure of its region; (4) to assist its region in obtaining job skills training, skills development and employment-related education, entrepreneurship, technology, and business development; (5) to provide assistance to severely economically distressed and underdeveloped areas of its region that lack financial resources for improving basic health care and other public services; (6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, recreation, and preservation of open space in a manner consistent with economic development goals; (7) to promote the development of renewable and alternative energy sources; (8) to grow the capacity for successful community economic development in its region; and (9) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this subtitle. (b) Allocation of Funds.—A Commission shall allocate at least 40 percent of any grant amounts provided by the Commission in a fiscal year for projects described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (7) of subsection (a). (c) Sources of Grants.—Grant amounts may be provided entirely from appropriations to carry out this subtitle, in combination with amounts available under other Federal grant programs, or from any other source. (d) Maximum Commission Contributions.—(1) In general.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Commission may contribute not more than 50 percent of a project or activity cost eligible for financial assistance under this section from amounts appropriated to carry out this subtitle. (2) Distressed counties.—The maximum Commission contribution for a project or activity to be carried out in a county for which a distressed county designation is in effect under section 15702 may be increased to 80 percent. (3) Special rule for regional projects.—A Commission may increase to 60 percent under paragraph (1) and 90 percent under paragraph (2) the maximum Commission contribution for a project or activity if—(A) the project or activity involves 3 or more counties or more than one State; and (B) the Commission determines in accordance with section 15302(a) that the project or activity will bring significant interstate or multicounty benefits to a region. (e) Maintenance of Effort.—Funds may be provided by a Commission for a program or project in a State under this section only if the Commission determines that the level of Federal or State financial assistance provided under a law other than this subtitle, for the same type of program or project in the same area of the State within region, will not be reduced as a result of funds made available by this subtitle. (f) No Relocation Assistance.—Financial assistance authorized by this section may not be used to assist a person or entity in relocating from one area to another, except that financial assistance may be used as otherwise authorized by this subtitle to attract businesses to the region from outside the United States.

40 U.S.C. § 15502 Comprehensive economic and infrastructure development plans

(a) State Plans.—In accordance with policies established by a Commission, each State member of the Commission shall submit a comprehensive economic and infrastructure development plan for the area of the region represented by the State member. (b) Content of Plan.—A State economic and infrastructure development plan shall reflect the goals, objectives, and priorities identified in any applicable economic and infrastructure development plan developed by a Commission under section 15303. (c) Consultation With Interested Local Parties.—In carrying out the development planning process (including the selection of programs and projects for assistance), a State shall—(1) consult with local development districts, local units of government, and local colleges and universities; and (2) take into consideration the goals, objectives, priorities, and recommendations of the entities described in paragraph (1). (d) Public Participation.—(1) In general.—A Commission and applicable State and local development districts shall encourage and assist, to the maximum extent practicable, public participation in the development, revision, and implementation of all plans and programs under this subtitle. (2) Guidelines.—A Commission shall develop guidelines for providing public participation, including public hearings.

40 U.S.C. § 15503 Approval of applications for assistance

(a) Evaluation by State Member.—An application to a Commission for a grant or any other assistance for a project under this subtitle shall be made through, and evaluated for approval by, the State member of the Commission representing the applicant. (b) Certification.—An application to a Commission for a grant or other assistance for a project under this subtitle shall be eligible for assistance only on certification by the State member of the Commission representing the applicant that the application for the project—(1) describes ways in which the project complies with any applicable State economic and infrastructure development plan; (2) meets applicable criteria under section 15504; (3) adequately ensures that the project will be properly administered, operated, and maintained; and (4) otherwise meets the requirements for assistance under this subtitle. (c) Votes for Decisions.—On certification by a State member of a Commission of an application for a grant or other assistance for a specific project under this section, an affirmative vote of the Commission under section 15302 shall be required for approval of the application.

40 U.S.C. § 15504 Program development criteria

In considering programs and projects to be provided assistance by a Commission under this subtitle, and in establishing a priority ranking of the requests for assistance provided to the Commission, the Commission shall follow procedures that ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, consideration of— (1) the relationship of the project or class of projects to overall regional development; (2) the per capita income and poverty and unemployment and outmigration rates in an area; (3) the financial resources available to the applicants for assistance seeking to carry out the project, with emphasis on ensuring that projects are adequately financed to maximize the probability of successful economic development; (4) the importance of the project or class of projects in relation to the other projects or classes of projects that may be in competition for the same funds; (5) the prospects that the project for which assistance is sought will improve, on a continuing rather than a temporary basis, the opportunities for employment, the average level of income, or the economic development of the area to be served by the project; and (6) the extent to which the project design provides for detailed outcome measurements by which grant expenditures and the results of the expenditures may be evaluated.

40 U.S.C. § 15505 Local development districts and organizations

(a) Grants to Local Development Districts.—Subject to the requirements of this section, a Commission may make grants to a local development district to assist in the payment of development planning and administrative expenses. (b) Conditions for Grants.—(1) Maximum amount.—The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not exceed 80 percent of the administrative and planning expenses of the local development district receiving the grant. (2) Maximum period for state agencies.—In the case of a State agency certified as a local development district, a grant may not be awarded to the agency under this section for more than 3 fiscal years. (3) Local share.—The contributions of a local development district for administrative expenses may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including space, equipment, and services. (c) Duties of Local Development Districts.—A local development district shall—(1) operate as a lead organization serving multicounty areas in the region at the local level; (2) assist the Commission in carrying out outreach activities for local governments, community development groups, the business community, and the public; (3) serve as a liaison between State and local governments, nonprofit organizations (including community-based groups and educational institutions), the business community, and citizens; and (4) assist the individuals and entities described in paragraph (3) in identifying, assessing, and facilitating projects and programs to promote the economic development of the region.

40 U.S.C. § 15506 Supplements to Federal grant programs

(a) Finding.—Congress finds that certain States and local communities of the region, including local development districts, may be unable to take maximum advantage of Federal grant programs for which the States and communities are eligible because—(1) they lack the economic resources to provide the required matching share; or (2) there are insufficient funds available under the applicable Federal law with respect to a project to be carried out in the region. (b) Federal Grant Program Funding.—A Commission, with the approval of the Federal Cochairperson, may use amounts made available to carry out this subtitle—(1) for any part of the basic Federal contribution to projects or activities under the Federal grant programs authorized by Federal laws; and (2) to increase the Federal contribution to projects and activities under the programs above the fixed maximum part of the cost of the projects or activities otherwise authorized by the applicable law. (c) Certification Required.—For a program, project, or activity for which any part of the basic Federal contribution to the project or activity under a Federal grant program is proposed to be made under subsection (b), the Federal contribution shall not be made until the responsible Federal official administering the Federal law authorizing the Federal contribution certifies that the program, project, or activity meets the applicable requirements of the Federal law and could be approved for Federal contribution under that law if amounts were available under the law for the program, project, or activity. (d) Limitations in Other Laws Inapplicable.—Amounts provided pursuant to this subtitle are available without regard to any limitations on areas eligible for assistance or authorizations for appropriation in any other law. (e) Federal Share.—The Federal share of the cost of a project or activity receiving assistance under this section shall not exceed 80 percent. (f) Maximum Commission Contribution.—Section 15501(d), relating to limitations on Commission contributions, shall apply to a program, project, or activity receiving assistance under this section.

40 U.S.C. § 15507 Payment of non-Federal share for certain Federal grant programs

Amounts made available to carry out this subtitle shall be available for the payment of the non-Federal share for any project carried out under another Federal grant program— (1) for which a Commission is not the sole or primary funding source; and (2) that is consistent with the authorities of the applicable Commission.

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