Sec. 106. Office of Technical and Rural Assistance
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/bill/114/s/1589/is/section-106·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Chief Executive Officer shall create and manage, within IFA, the Office of Technical and Rural Assistance . The OTRA shall— in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer, provide technical assistance to State and local governments and parties in public-private partnerships in the development and financing of eligible infrastructure projects, including rural infrastructure projects; assist the entities described in paragraph
(1)with coordinating loan and loan guarantee programs available through Federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation and other Federal agencies, as appropriate; work with the entities described in paragraph
(1)to identify and develop a pipeline of projects suitable for financing through innovative project financing and performance based project delivery, including those projects with the potential for financing through IFA; and establish a regional infrastructure accelerator demonstration program to assist the entities described in paragraph
(1)in developing improved infrastructure priorities and financing strategies, for the accelerated development of covered infrastructure projects, including those projects with the potential for financing through IFA. In carrying out the program established pursuant to subsection (b)(3), the OTRA is authorized to designate regional infrastructure accelerators that will— serve a defined geographic area; and act as a resource in such area to entities described in subsection (b)(1), in accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for a designation under subsection (c), regional infrastructure accelerators shall submit a proposal to the OTRA at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the OTRA determines is appropriate. In evaluating proposals submitted pursuant to subsection (d), the OTRA shall consider— the need for geographic diversity among regional infrastructure accelerators; and promoting investment in covered infrastructure projects, which shall include a plan— to evaluate and promote innovative financing methods for local projects, including the use of IFA; to build capacity of governments to evaluate and structure projects involving the investment of private capital; to provide technical assistance and information on best practices with respect to financing such projects; to increase transparency with respect to infrastructure project analysis and utilizing innovative financing for public infrastructure projects; to deploy predevelopment capital programs designed to facilitate the creation of a pipeline of infrastructure projects available for investment; to bundle smaller-scale and rural projects into larger proposals that may be more attractive for investment; and to reduce transaction costs for public project sponsors. The OTRA shall submit an annual report to Congress that describes the findings and effectiveness of the infrastructure accelerator demonstration program.