Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/726

 104 STAT. 4048 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 7 USC 6614. SEC. 2376. ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. (a) IN GENERAL.— Action plans shall be implemented, insofar as practicable, to upgrade existing industries to use forest resources more efficiently and to expand the economic base of rural communities so as to alleviate or reduce their dependence on national forest resources. (b) ASSISTANCE. — To implement action plans, the Secretary may make grants and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts to provide necessary technical and related assistance. Such grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts may be with the srffected rural community. State and local governments, universities, corporations, and other persons. (c) LIMITATION.—The Federal contribution to the overall implementation of an action plan shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the plan, including administrative and other costs. In calculating the Federal contribution, the Secretary shall take into account the fair market value of equipment, personnel, and services provided. (d) AVAILABLE AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may use the Secretary's authority under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) and other Federal, State, and local governmental authorities in implementing action plans. (e) CONSISTENCY WITH FOREST PLANS.— The implementation of action plans shall be consistent with land and resource management plans. 7 USC 6615. SEC. 2377. TRAINING AND EDUCATION. (a) PROGRAMS.— In furtherance of an action plan, the Secretary may use the Extension Service and other appropriate agencies of the Department of Agriculture to develop and conduct education programs that assist businesses, elected or appointed officials, and individuals in rural communities to deal with the effects of a transition from being economically disadvantaged to economic diversification. These programs may include— (1) community economic analysis and strategic planning; (2) methods for improving and retooling enterprises now dependent on national forest resources; (3) methods for expanding enterprises and creating new economic opportunities by emphasizing economic opportunities in other industries or services not dependent on national forest resources; and (4) assistance in the evaluation, counseling, and enhancement of vocational skills, training in basic and remedial literacy skills, assistance in job seeking skills, and training in starting or operating a business enterprise. (b) EXISTING EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.— Insofar as practicable, the Secretary shall use existing Federal, State, and private education resources in carrying out these programs. 7 USC 6616. SEC. 2378. LOANS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED RURAL COMMU- NITIES. (a) IN GENERAL,—The Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary shall establish, may make loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities for the purposes of securing technical assistance and services to aid in the development and implementation of action plans, including planning for—

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