§2009bb–4 Multistate and local development districts and organizations and Northern Great Plains Inc.

Summary

Allows the Authority to give grants to multistate, local, and regional development districts and organizations to help pay administrative costs. A qualifying organization is either a planning district that existed on May 13, 2002 and is recognized by the Economic Development Administration, or a nonprofit/public group that meets community participation and organizational rules (examples include state-chartered nonprofits, nonprofit agencies or instrumentalities, public multijurisdictional planning organizations created before May 13, 2002, groups formed to help multistate cooperation, or combinations of these). The group must not have misused federal grant money or put an officer in charge who was an officer of an entity that misused federal funds, as certified by the Authority after consulting the Federal cochairperson or Secretary. Grants may cover up to 80 percent of administrative costs, last no more than 3 years, and the local match can be cash or fairly valued in-kind contributions like space, equipment, or services. A local development district normally must act as the lead organization for multicounty areas unless the Federal cochairperson names an Indian tribe or other multijurisdictional group. Northern Great Plains Inc., a Minnesota nonprofit created to carry out recommendations of the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission, must serve as a primary, independent resource to the Authority on regional issues, advise on international trade, and may provide research, education, training, other support, and carry out other activities for itself or others.