15 USC 3722 - Distressed area Recompete Pilot Program

View all text of Chapter 63 [§ 3701 - § 3724]

§ 3722b. Distressed area Recompete Pilot Program

(a) In general

(b) Strategy development grants and cooperative agreements

(c) Strategy implementation grants and cooperative agreementsSubject to available appropriations and subsection (f), the Secretary shall award, on the application of an eligible recipient, at least ten strategy implementation grants, in accordance with a recompete plan review and approved by the Secretary, to carry out coordinated and comprehensive economic development programs and activities in an eligible area, consistent with a recompete plan approved by the Secretary. Such activities may include—

(1) workforce development activities of the kind described in section 3722a(f) of this title or other job training and workforce outreach programs oriented to local employer needs, such as—

(A) customized job training programs carried out by local community colleges and other training or educational organizations in partnership with local businesses;

(B) workforce outreach programs located in, and targeted to, lower-income and underemployed neighborhoods; and

(C) programs to embed job placement and training services in neighborhood institutions such as churches, housing projects, and community advocacy programs; and

(D) job retention programs and activities, such as the provision of career coaches;

(2) business and entrepreneur development activities of the kind described in section 3722a(f) of this title, technology development and maturation activities of the kind described in such section, or the provision of business advice and assistance to small and medium-sized local businesses and entrepreneurs. Such advice and assistance may include—

(A) manufacturing extension services;

(B) small business development centers;

(D) entrepreneurial assistance programs that link entrepreneurs with available public and private resources;

(E) legal advice and resources; and

(F) assistance in accessing capital;

(3) infrastructure related activities of the kind described in section 3722a(f) of this title or other land and site development programs, such as brownfield redevelopment, research and technology parks, business incubators, business corridor development, and other infrastructure activities related to supporting job creation and employment for residents, subject to the requirements of section 3722a(f)(6) of this title; and

(4) additional planning, predevelopment, technical assistance, and other administrative activities as may be necessary for the ongoing implementation, administration, and operation of the programs and activities carried out with a grant or cooperative agreement under this section, including but not limited to economic development planning and evaluation.

(d) Term

(1) Initial performance period

(2) Subsequent performance period

(3) Flexible approach

(e) Limitations

(1) Limitation on eligible areas

(2) Limitation on recipients

(f) Award amount

(1) In generalIn determining the amount of a grant that an eligible recipient may be awarded under subsection (c), the Secretary shall—

(A) take into consideration the proposed activities and projected expenditures outlined in an approved recompete plan; and

(B) award not more than the product obtained by multiplying—

(i) the prime-age employment gap of the eligible area;

(ii) the prime-age population of the eligible area; and

(iii) either—(I) $70,585 for local labor markets; or(II) $53,600 for local communities.

(2) Minimum amount

(g) ApplicationsTo be considered for a grant or cooperative agreement under—

(1) subsection (b) of this section, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

(2) subsection (c) of this section, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including a recompete plan approved by the Secretary.

(h) Relation to certain grant awards

(i) Authorization of appropriations

(j) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible areaThe term “eligible area” means either of the following:

(A) A local labor market that—

(i) has a prime-age employment gap equal to not less than 2.5 percent; and

(ii) meets additional criteria as the Secretary may establish.

(B) A local community that—

(i) has a prime-age employment gap equal to not less than 5 percent;

(ii) is not located within an eligible local labor market that meets the criteria described in subparagraph (A);

(iii) has a median annual household income of not more than $75,000; and

(iv) meets additional criteria as the Secretary may establish.

(2) Eligible recipient

(3) Local labor marketThe term “local labor market” means any of the following areas that contains 1 or more specified entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (6) 1

1 So in original. Probably should be paragraph “(7)”.

(A) A metropolitan statistical area or micropolitan statistical area, excluding any area described in subparagraph (C).

(B) A commuting zone, excluding any areas described in subparagraphs (A) and (C).

(4) Local community

(5) Prime-age employment gap

(A) In generalThe term “prime-age employment gap” means the difference (expressed as a percentage) between—

(i) the national 5-year average prime-age employment rate; and

(ii) the 5-year average prime-age employment rate of the eligible area.

(B) Calculation

(6) Recompete planThe term “recompete plan” means a comprehensive multiyear economic development plan that—

(A) includes—

(i) proposed programs and activities to be carried out with a grant awarded under subsection (c) to address the economic challenges of the eligible area in a comprehensive manner that promotes long-term, sustained economic growth, lasting job creation, per capita wage increases, and reduction in the prime-age employment gap of the eligible area;

(ii) projected costs and annual expenditures and proposed disbursement schedule;

(iii) the roles and responsibilities of specified entities that may receive grant funds awarded under subsection (c); and

(iv) other information as the Secretary determines appropriate;

(B) is submitted to the Secretary for approval for an eligible recipient to be considered for a grant described in subsection (c); and

(C) may be modified over the term of the grant by the eligible recipient, subject to the approval of the Secretary or at the direction of the Secretary, if the Secretary determines benchmarking requirements are repeatedly not met or if other circumstances necessitate a modification.

(7) Specified entityThe term “specified entity” means—

(A) a unit of local government;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(D) a Tribal government;

(E) political subdivision of a State or other entity, including a special-purpose entity engaged in economic development activities;

(F) a public entity or nonprofit organization, acting in cooperation with the officials of a political subdivision of a State or other entity described in subparagraph (E);

(G) an economic development district (as defined in section 3122 of title 42); and

(H) a consortium of any of the specified entities described in this paragraph which serve or are contained within the same eligible area.

(8) Tribal landThe term “Tribal land” means any land—

(A) located within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria; or

(B) not located within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria, the title to which is held—

(i) in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe or an individual Indian;

(ii) by an Indian Tribe or an individual Indian, subject to restriction against alienation under laws of the United States; or

(iii) by a dependent Indian community.

(9) Tribal prime-age population

(A) In generalThe term “Tribal prime-age population” shall be equal to the sum obtained by adding—

(i) the product obtained by multiplying—(I) the total number of individuals ages 25 through 54 residing on the Tribal land of the Tribal government; and(II) 0.65; and

(ii) the product obtained by multiplying—(I) the total number of individuals ages 25 through 54 included on the membership roll of the Tribal government; and(II) 0.35 2

2 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.

(B) Use of data

(Pub. L. 96–480, § 29, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VI, § 10621(a)(2), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1655.)