§16254 Regional Bioeconomy Development Grants

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must award competitive grants to eligible groups using the money Congress set aside for the program. Eligible groups are regional bioeconomy development associations, agricultural or energy trade associations, or Land Grant institutions that plan to use the money for regional bioeconomy work and that have not received one of these grants before. Grants must help grow the region’s bioeconomy through coordination, education, outreach, and similar activities. The Secretary will set application and other program rules. Each grant cannot be more than $500,000. Grantees must provide non‑Federal matching funds equal to the grant amount. Matching money must be spent before grant funds are used, so every dollar of grant payment must be matched by one dollar already provided before requesting reimbursement. Congress authorized $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and whatever amounts are needed for fiscal years 2007 through 2015.