§2009aa–4 Local development districts; certification and administrative expenses

Summary

Pays grants to help cover the administrative costs of local development districts. A local development district is a regional planning group that either existed on December 21, 2000 and was recognized by the Economic Development Administration, or is a state-certified nonprofit or public multi-county planning body with broad community participation and a board mostly made up of elected local officials. The group also must be certified by the Governor or the state official who has that power, and must not have misused federal grant money or put an officer in place who was tied to such misuse, as certified by the Federal cochairperson. Grants can pay up to 80 percent of a district’s administrative expenses. If a State agency is certified as a district, it cannot get these grants for more than 3 years. Districts must provide the remaining funds themselves, in cash or in-kind (for example space, equipment, or services). A district must lead local work across multiple counties and act as a bridge between State and local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and citizens by doing regional planning, giving technical help, and supporting leadership and civic development.