Collapse to view only § 3161. Eligibility of areas
§ 3161. Eligibility of areas
(a) In general
For a project to be eligible for assistance under section 3141 or 3149 of this title, the project shall be located in an area that, on the date of submission of the application, meets 1 or more of the following criteria:
(1) Low per capita income
(2) Unemployment rate above national average
(3) Unemployment, underemployment, or economic adjustment problems
(4) Low median household income
(5) Workforce participation
The area has—
(A) a labor force participation rate of 90 percent or less of the national average; or
(B) a prime-age employment gap of 5 percent or more.
(6) Expected economic dislocation and distress from energy industry transitions
(b) Political boundaries of areas
(c) Documentation
(1) In general
(2) Acceptance by Secretary
(d) Prior designations
(e) Transparency
(Pub. L. 89–136, title III, § 301, as added Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3607; amended Pub. L. 108–373, title III, § 301, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1767; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, § 2225, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3191.)
§ 3162. Comprehensive economic development strategies
(a) In general
The Secretary may provide assistance under section 3141 or 3149 of this title (except for planning assistance under section 3149 of this title) to an eligible recipient for a project only if the eligible recipient submits to the Secretary, as part of an application for the assistance—
(1) an identification of the economic development problems to be addressed using the assistance;
(2) an identification of the past, present, and projected future economic development investments in the area receiving the assistance and public and private participants and sources of funding for the investments; and
(3)
(A) a comprehensive economic development strategy for addressing the economic problems identified under paragraph (1) in a manner that promotes economic development and opportunity, fosters effective transportation access, maximizes effective development and use of the workforce consistent with any applicable State or local workforce investment strategy, promotes the use of technology in economic development (including access to high-speed telecommunications), enhances and protects the environment, including to mitigate and adapt to the economic impacts of extreme weather, and balances resources through sound management of development; and
(B) a description of how the strategy will solve the problems.
(b) Approval of comprehensive economic development strategy
(c) Approval of other plan
(1) In general
(2) Existing strategy
(d) Exception
(Pub. L. 89–136, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3608; amended Pub. L. 108–373, title III, § 302, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1767; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, § 2226, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3191.)