[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4666 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4666
To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to
establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic development
efforts.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 2010
Mr. Owens (for himself, Mr. Welch, and Mr. McIntyre) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to
establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic development
efforts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cluster-Based Economy Enhancement
Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--Title II of the Public Works and Economic
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``SEC. 219. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
``(1) Cluster.--The term `cluster' means a geographic
concentration of business entities that--
``(A) are competing, complementary, or
interdependent firms and industries;
``(B) do business with one another; and
``(C) have common needs for talent, technology, and
infrastructure.
``(2) Eligible applicant.--The term `eligible applicant'
means--
``(A) a State or local government;
``(B) an institution of higher education; or
``(C) a nonprofit economic development
organization.
``(3) Region.--The term `region' means any of the following
regions, if on the date of submission of an application for a
grant under this section the region meets one or more of the
criteria described in section 301(a):
``(A) The Delta Region, as described in section
382A(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa(2)).
``(B) The Northern Great Plains Region, as
described in section 383A(4) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb(4)).
``(C) The Southeast Crescent Region, as described
in section 15731 of title 40, United States Code.
``(D) The Southwest Border Region, as described in
section 15732 of title 40, United States Code.
``(E) The Northern Border Region, as described in
section 15733 of title 40, United States Code.
``(F) The Appalachian Region, as described in
section 14102 of title 40, United States Code.
``(G) Such other region as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(b) Block Grants.--
``(1) In general.--On the application of an eligible
applicant, the Secretary may make a block grant to the
applicant--
``(A) to assess the potential for the development
of clusters and the enhancement of existing clusters in
a region;
``(B) to establish cluster development programs in
a region; and
``(C) to promote cluster development programs in a
region and support the staff who operate such programs.
``(2) Use of grants.--A recipient of grant funds under this
subsection may use the funds to provide assistance for startup
costs, worker training, relocation costs, planning, and other
projects identified by the recipient that are consistent with
the purposes of this section.
``(c) Cost Sharing.--
``(1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project carried out using funds made available under this
section shall be 50 percent.
``(2) In-kind contributions.--Not more than 50 percent of
the non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out
using funds made available under this section may be provided
through in-kind contributions.
``(3) Inapplicability of certain section.--Section 204
shall not apply to this section.
``(d) Reports to Congress.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress
reports on the results of the program established under this
section.
``(2) Frequency of reports.--The Secretary shall submit a
report under this subsection annually for the first 4 years of
the program and biennially thereafter.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000. Such sums shall
remain available until expended.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents contained in
section 1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965
(42 U.S.C. 3121 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 218 the following:
``Sec. 219. Grants for cluster-based economic development.''.
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