§2009aa–5 Distressed Counties and Areas and Nondistressed Counties

Summary

Within 90 days after December 21, 2000, and every year after, the Authority must label counties in the region into three groups: distressed counties (the most badly and long-term underdeveloped places with high poverty or unemployment), nondistressed counties (those not labeled distressed), and isolated areas of distress (poor or high-unemployment pockets inside nondressed counties). The Authority must spend at least 75 percent of the money made available under section 2009aa–12 on programs and projects that help distressed counties and isolated areas of distress. Rules in section 2009aa–3(b) do not limit projects that give transportation or basic public services to people in those distressed places. Normally no funds under this subchapter go to projects located in nondistressed counties, except for: grants to pay local development districts’ administrative costs under section 2009aa–4(b); multicounty projects or other projects if the Authority waives the rule because the project would help other parts of the region; and isolated-area designations must be backed by the most recent Federal data or, if none exists, the latest state data. At least 50 percent of any funds under section 2009aa–12 must go to transportation and basic public infrastructure projects authorized under paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 2009aa–2(a).