1. The rural catalyst committee is created to assist communities in the state with quality of life improvement and economic development projects. The committee includes: a. One individual from each regional council, appointed by the executive boards of the regional councils; b. Two members-at-large from communities eligible for grants under this chapter or organizations that primarily serve communities eligible for grants under this chapter, appointed by the governor; c. One member of the legislative assembly, appointed by the chairman of legislative management; d. The governor or a designee appointed by the governor; and e. The commissioner or a designee appointed by the commissioner. 2. The governor and the commissioner are permanent members of the committee. The term of office of the remaining members is four years. Members may be appointed to additional terms. The governor, or the governor's designee, shall serve as chairman of the committee. The chairman of the committee shall select a vice chairman. 3. The committee shall meet at least semiannually to review and approve grant applications. The committee shall prioritize funding projects that support rural prosperity and quality of life enhancements. 4. The committee shall develop guidelines for the rural catalyst grant program, including eligibility criteria and reporting and matching requirements. Grant recipients must
provide at least one dollar of matching funds from nonstate sources for every one dollar provided from the rural catalyst fund. The committee may consider matching funds in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. 5. The department shall provide administrative support to the committee as needed. 6. Members of the committee are entitled to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in the same manner as other state officials are reimbursed, according to sections 44-08-04 and 54-06-09, to be paid by the state agency employing the member. A member of the committee who is a member of the legislative assembly is entitled to receive reimbursement for allowable travel expenses and compensation at the rate provided under section 54-35-10 for each day the member performs official duties of the committee, to be paid by the legislative council. If not otherwise employed by the state of North Dakota, members of the committee are entitled to receive compensation of one hundred thirty-five dollars for each day of attending meetings and performing other duties relating to official business of the committee, to be paid by the department.
54-40.1-08. Rural catalyst grant program - Eligibility - Use of funds - Postaward monitoring - Report to legislative management and legislative assembly. 1. The department shall administer the rural catalyst grant program to support quality of life improvement and economic development projects for rural communities in the state. 2. Grant funding may be awarded for projects that will address a critical need in the areas of community and economic development, education, health and wellness, or for the purpose of preserving or reopening rural grocery stores in a rural community with a population of four thousand five hundred or fewer individuals. The maximum grant award under the program is five hundred thousand dollars. At least fifty percent of the grant funds must be allocated to communities with populations of fewer than one thousand five hundred individuals. 3. By September first of each even-numbered year, the department shall submit a report to the legislative management regarding the results of the program, including the number of projects requested and supported through the program, information on projects receiving funding, matching funds raised for each project, and how the project has affected local communities. The department shall provide this report to the appropriations committees of the next legislative assembly. 4. The department shall maintain a database on the department's website regarding data and the status of each approved project.