Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/435

 PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 116 STAT. 409 "(D) the Regional Board agrees to achieve, to the maximum extent practicable, the performance-based benchmarks of the regional plan. "(2) RELATIONSHIP TO PLANNING GRANTS. — A Regional Board that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) shall be eligible to receive an innovation grant, regardless of whether the Regional Board receives a planning grant. "(c) SELECTION. — Subject to subsection (d), of the applications submitted by Regional Boards for innovation grants, the National Board shall, to the maximum extent practicable, select not fewer than 30 regional boards to receive innovation grants. "(d) PREFERENCES.— In awarding innovation grants, the National Board shall give a preference (in order of priority) to Regional Boards that— "(1) exhibit collaborative innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly within a public-private partnership; "(2) represent a broad coalition of interests described in section 385C(b)(2)(A); "(3) demonstrate a plan to leverage public (Federal and non-federal) and private funds and existing assets, including natural assets and public infrastructure; "(4) address gaps in existing basic services within a region; "(5) address economic diversification, including agricultural and non-agriculturally based economies, within a regional framework; "(6) demonstrate a plan to achieve multijurisdictional regional planning and development, with particular evidence of economic development successes within diverse stakeholder frameworks; or "(7) meet other community development needs identified by a Regional Board. "(e) USES.— "(1) LEVERAGE.—^A Regional Board shall prioritize projects, in part, on the degree to which the Regional Board is able to leverage additional funds for the implementation of the projects. "(2) PURPOSES. —^A Regional Board may use an innovation grant provided for a region— "(A) to support the development of critical infrastructure necessary to facilitate economic development in the region; "(B) to provide assistance to entities within the region that provide basic public services; "(C) to assist with job training, workforce development, or other needs related to the development and maintenance of strong local and regional economies; "(D) to assist in the development of unique new collaborations that link public, private, and philanthropic resources to achieve collaboratively designed regional advancement; and "(E) to provide support to business investment. "(3) OTHER DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS.—^A Regional Board may not use an innovation grant provided for a region for any purpose for which funding may be obtained under any other rural development program of the Department of Agriculture unless— "(A) the Regional Board—

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