Sec. 5. Restoration and resilience project grant program
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/bill/116/s/5015/is/section-5A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
There is established a restoration and resilience project grant program (referred to in this section as the grant program ), to be administered by the Council in conjunction with a regional entity under subsection (b), to provide grants from the Fund to eligible entities for eligible projects. The Council shall coordinate with not less than 1 existing regional entity, or a regional entity established by the Council, in a specific geographic region to assist with the grant program under this section.
A regional entity shall include representatives, who have a strong understanding of the economic and environmental challenges in the geographic region, from— Federal and State agencies; Tribal governments; resource-dependent industries; economic development organizations; and conservation organizations. A regional entity shall— act as an advisor and intermediary between the Council and an eligible entity; assist with the development of competitive funding applications made to the Council; provide advice, resources, and best practice recommendations to any eligible entity that is interested in applying for a grant; review an application made by an eligible entity under this section; recommend eligible projects to the Council for priority funding; and assist with data collection to develop the report to Congress made by the Council under section 4(c).
Subject to appropriations, the Council shall use amounts in the Fund to provide capacity grants under paragraph
(2)and implementation grants under paragraph (3). Grants shall be made available to an eligible entity for the planning and monitoring of eligible projects. A grant under this paragraph may only be made to an eligible entity that submits to the Council an application at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Council, in consultation with a regional entity, may require. An application shall— contain— a clear and concise expression of interest; an explanation for how the funds would advance State actions plans or regional conservation projects; an explanation for how funds would complement existing Federal funds; and an estimate of the number and duration of jobs that would be created, or sustained, with the funds; and be consistent with applications for other Federal funding opportunities for eligible entities. The Council, in consultation with a regional entity, in approving applications under this paragraph, shall give priority to eligible entities— with demonstrated restoration needs; whose funded projects would create or sustain jobs; whose funded projects would have the greatest community benefit; and in a location with a significant Federal interest. Grants shall be made available to an eligible entity for the implementation of eligible projects. A grant under this paragraph may be made only to an eligible entity that submits to the Council an application at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Council, in consultation with a regional entity, may require. An application shall be consistent with applications for other Federal funding opportunities for eligible entities. The Council, in consultation with a regional entity, in approving applications under this paragraph, shall give priority to eligible projects that— employ local or regional labor, or expand the outdoor workforce through training and education programs; are developed through a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders representing diverse interests; would address shared conservation and restoration priorities for Federal and non-Federal partners; advance State plans related to water, wildlife, or forests; or improve long-term economic security or viability in the geographic region, particularly in geographic regions transitioning from fossil-fuel extraction.