Sec. 8. Comprehensive regional technology strategy grant program
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The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( Public Law 96–480 ; 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), as amended by section 7, is further amended, by inserting after section 28, as added by such section, the following: In this section: The term labor organization has the meaning given such term in section 8A(a) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950. The term regional technology hub means a consortium designated as a regional technology hub under section 28(b)(1)(A). The terms small and rural communities , mid-sized metropolitan communities , and large metropolitan communities have the meanings given such terms in section 28(a).
The term technology and innovation sectors critical to national and economic security means technology and innovation sectors that the Secretary determines are critical to national and economic security. The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants to eligible consortia to carry out projects— to coordinate locally defined planning processes, across jurisdictions and agencies, relating to developing a comprehensive regional technology strategy; to identify regional partnerships for developing and implementing a comprehensive regional technology strategy; to conduct or update assessments to determine regional needs and promote economic and community development related to the resiliency of a domestic supply chains, competitiveness of the region, and domestic job creation in technology and innovation sectors critical to national and economic security; to develop or update goals and strategies to implement an existing comprehensive regional plan related to enhancing the resiliency of domestic supply chains, competitiveness of the region, and domestic job creation in technology and innovation sectors critical to national and economic security; and to identify local zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a comprehensive regional technology strategy, including promoting sustainable development within the identified region.
For purposes of this section, an eligible consortium is any consortium described by section 28(c). In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure geographic diversity among, and adequate representation from, each of the following: Small and rural communities. Mid-sized metropolitan communities. Large metropolitan communities. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall— award not less than 25 percent of the funds under this section to eligible consortia that represent all or part of a small and rural community; and ensure diversity among the geographic regions and the size of the population of the communities served by recipients of grants that are eligible consortia that represent all or part of a small and rural community.
If the Secretary determines that an insufficient number of sufficient quality applications for grants under this section have been submitted by eligible consortia that represent all or part of a small and rural community, the Secretary may reduce the percentage threshold set forth in subparagraph (A)(i). Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant awarded under this section may not exceed 80 percent. In the case of an eligible consortium that represents all or part of a small and rural community, the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant awarded under this section may be up to 90 percent of the total cost of the project.
In the case of an eligible consortium that is led by a Tribal government, the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under the grant awarded under this section may be up to 100 percent of the total cost of the project. For the purposes of this paragraph, in-kind contributions may be used for all or part of the non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant awarded under this section. Federal funding from sources other than a grant awarded under this section may not be used for the non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under this section.
An eligible consortium that receives a grant under this section shall, as a condition on receipt of grant amounts— obligate any grant amounts received under this section not later than 1 year after the date on which the eligible consortium enters into an agreement under subsection (g); and expend any grant amounts received under this section not later than 2 years after the date on which the eligible consortium enters into an agreement under subsection (g). After the date described in subparagraph (A)(i), any amounts awarded to an eligible consortium under this section that remain unobligated by the eligible consortium shall be returned to the Secretary and made available to the Secretary for the award of grants to other eligible consortia under this section.
An eligible consortium seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe. Each application submitted under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: A description of the boundaries of the region served by the eligible consortium. A description of the research, technology development, or manufacturing concentration of the eligible consortium. A general assessment of the local industrial ecosystem of the region described in subparagraph (A), which may include assessment of workforce and training, including partnerships with labor organizations, supplier network, research and innovation, infrastructure and site development, trade and international investment, operational improvements, and capital access components needed for manufacturing activities in such region. A description of how a grant under this section may assist in developing components of such local industrial ecosystem (selected by the consortium), including descriptions of— investments to address gaps in such ecosystem; and how to make the research, technology development, and manufacturing of the region of the consortium uniquely competitive. A description of the process by which a comprehensive regional technology strategy will be developed by the eligible consortium to address gaps in such local industrial ecosystem and to strengthen the resiliency of supply chains, competitiveness of the identified region, and domestic job creation in technology and innovation sectors critical to national and economic security. A budget for the projects that the eligible consortium plans to carry out using grant amounts awarded under this section, including the anticipated Federal share of the cost of each project and a description of the sources of the non-Federal share. The designation of a lead agency or organization, which may be the eligible consortium, to receive and manage any funds received by the eligible consortium under this section. A signed copy of a memorandum of understanding among members of the eligible consortium that demonstrates— the creation of an eligible consortium; a description of the nature and extent of planned collaboration between members of the eligible consortium; and a commitment to develop a comprehensive regional technology strategy. Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary shall evaluate each application received under paragraph
(1)to determine whether the applicant demonstrates— a significant level of regional cooperation in their proposal; a focus on building a regional ecosystem to attract and build upon research investment to develop, deploy, and manufacture domestically critical technologies that improve the resiliency of supply chains, competitiveness of the identified region, and the creation of quality jobs; the extent to which the consortium has developed partnerships throughout an entire region, including, as appropriate, partnerships with federally funded research and development centers, National Laboratories, Federal laboratories, Manufacturing USA institutes described in section 34(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s(d) ), university technology centers established under paragraph
(6)of section 8A(d) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the program established under paragraph
(7)of such section 8A(d), test beds established and operated under paragraph
(8)of such section 8A(d), or other Federal research entities; integration with local efforts in inclusive economic development and job creation; a plan for implementing a comprehensive regional technology strategy through regional infrastructure, workforce, and supply chain investment plans and local land use plans; diversity among the geographic regions and the size of the population of the communities served by recipients of grants under this section; a commitment to seeking substantial public input during the planning process and public participation in the development of the comprehensive regional plan; a plan to support the creation and growth of new companies; and such other qualities as the Secretary considers appropriate. An eligible consortium that receives a grant under this section shall use the amount of such grant to carry out a project that includes 1 or more of the following activities: Coordinating locally defined planning processes across jurisdictions and agencies. Identifying potential regional partnerships for developing and implementing a comprehensive regional technology strategy. Conducting or updating assessments to determine regional needs, which may include— workforce development; supply chain development; increasing innovation readiness, including expanding research and technology development facilities and developing the local science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce; site preparation; community and economic development to start new companies and to attract and support workers and firms; and and other such needs as determined by the consortium. Developing or updating— a comprehensive regional plan; or goals and strategies to implement an existing comprehensive regional plan for the purposes of strengthening domestic supply chain resiliency, competitiveness, and job creation in critical technology and innovation sectors for national and economic security. Implementing local zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a comprehensive regional plan and promote sustainable development. Each eligible consortium that receives a grant under this section shall, as a condition on receipt of grant amounts, agree to establish, in coordination with the Secretary, performance measures, reporting requirements, and such other requirements as the Secretary determines are necessary, that must be met at the end of each year in which the eligible consortium receives funds under this section. Not later than 90 days after the date on which a grant agreement into which an eligible consortium entered under subsection
(g)expires, the eligible consortium shall submit to the Secretary a final report on the project the eligible consortium carried out under subsection
(f)using the amounts of the grant awarded to the eligible consortium under this section. Each report submitted under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: A detailed explanation of the activities undertaken using the grant, including an explanation of how the comprehensive regional technology strategy of the eligible consortium may achieve specific improvements in domestic supply chain resiliency, research, development, and deployment of critical technologies, workforce development, domestic job creation, and entrepreneurship goals within the region served by the eligible consortium. A discussion of any obstacles encountered in the planning process of the eligible consortium and how the eligible consortium overcame the obstacles. An evaluation of the success of the project using the performance standards and measures established under subsection (g), including an evaluation of the planning process and how the project contributes to carrying out the comprehensive regional technology strategy. The progress of the region identified by the consortium toward becoming a regional technology hub. The effectiveness of the region identified by the consortium in ensuring that growth in innovation sectors produces broadly shared opportunity in the region. Such other information as the Secretary may require. The Secretary may require, as a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, an eligible consortium to submit an interim report, before the date on which a project for which a grant is awarded under this section is completed. The Secretary may— coordinate with other Federal agencies to establish interagency and multidisciplinary teams to provide technical assistance to recipients of, and prospective applicants for, grants under this section; by Federal interagency agreement, transfer funds to another Federal agency to facilitate and support the provision of such technical assistance; and enter into contracts with third parties to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and prospective applicants for grants under this section. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the award of grants under this section, to remain available until expended, amounts as follows: $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023. $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. The Secretary may use not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available under this subsection for a fiscal year for technical assistance under subsection (i). .
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- Pub. L. 96-480
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Sec. 8
Comprehensive regional technology strategy grant program
Pub. L.Pub. L. 96-480
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