§2009bb–4 Multistate and Local Development Districts and Organizations and Northern Great Plains Inc.

Summary

The Authority may give grants to certain multistate, local, and regional development districts and organizations and sets rules for which groups can get them. A qualifying organization is either a planning district that existed and was recognized by the Economic Development Administration on May 13, 2002, or a nonprofit or public multijurisdictional group organized to include broad community participation (examples: nonprofit corporations, state or local agencies, public planning organizations, or combinations of these). An organization must not have improperly used federal grant money, and the Authority (after consulting the Federal cochairperson or the Secretary) must certify that it hasn’t. Grants can cover up to 80% of administrative costs, run for no more than 3 years, and local matches may be cash or in-kind (like space, equipment, or services). Local development districts must act as lead organizations for multicounty areas, unless the Federal cochairperson decides an Indian tribe or other multijurisdictional group should lead. Northern Great Plains Inc., a Minnesota nonprofit tied to the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission, must serve as an independent, primary resource for the Authority on regional concerns, advise on international trade, and may provide research, training, education, and other support or carry out other activities for itself or others.