Sec. 4. RECOMPETE grant program
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The Secretary shall establish a formula grant program under which the Secretary shall provide to eligible applicants and lead entities block grants, to be known as RECOMPETE grants , to carry out programs and activities in the applicable areas served by the applicants and lead entities that— create quality jobs; provide resources to help local residents— access opportunities; and attain and retain employment; increase local per capita income and prime-age employment rates; and support long-term, sustained economic growth and opportunity in persistently distressed areas.
To be considered for the provision of a RECOMPETE grant, an eligible applicant or lead entity shall submit to the Secretary an application— at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and that includes a RECOMPETE plan for the applicable area served by the applicant or lead entity, in accordance with subsection (b). In carrying out the RECOMPETE grant program, the Secretary shall establish the periods during which applications may be submitted under subparagraph (A), subject to the conditions that— the initial application period established under this subparagraph shall be not less than 3 years; and for the second application period under this subparagraph and each period thereafter, the Secretary may, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate— extend the period; accept late applications; initiate a new application cycle; and establish additional rules and regulations under this subsection.
Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary may establish a limitation on— the number of applications to be accepted by the Secretary during each fiscal year from each type of applicant; and the total amount of each RECOMPETE grant payment provided for each fiscal year. In establishing any limitation under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure that— each applicant and lead entity that submits to the Secretary an application satisfactory to the Secretary for an application period established under subparagraph
(B)shall be considered for receipt of a RECOMPETE grant during that application period; and the Secretary is able— to review applications and provide technical assistance and expertise to applicants in the development and implementation of RECOMPETE plans; and to conduct benchmark evaluations and meet applicable reporting requirements in accordance with section 5. In selecting recipients of RECOMPETE grants, the Secretary shall give priority consideration to severely distressed, eligible— local labor markets; and Tribal governments. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove each application submitted under this paragraph (including the RECOMPETE plan included in the application) as soon as practicable after the date of receipt of the application. A RECOMPETE grant shall— have a term of 10 fiscal years; and be disbursed over that term in accordance with section 6(d). As a condition of receipt of a RECOMPETE grant, the application of an applicant or lead entity under subsection (a)(2) shall include a RECOMPETE plan for the applicable area served by the applicant or lead entity in accordance with this subsection. A RECOMPETE plan shall include the following information with respect to the applicable area: An identification of— each economic development challenge proposed to be addressed using a RECOMPETE grant; and any past, present, or projected future economic development investments in the applicable area, including, with respect to the investment— each public and private participant; and each source of funding. A comprehensive strategy, for the 10-year period beginning on the proposed date of receipt of a RECOMPETE grant, to address the economic challenges identified under subparagraph (A)(i), in accordance with subsection (d), in a manner that— promotes long-term, sustained economic growth, opportunity, job creation, employment, and increased per capita income; reduces the prime-age employment gap of the applicable area; creates jobs and connects local workers to employment and other economic opportunities; maximizes the effective development and use of the local workforce; and provides accessible resources to support job attainment and retention. The total projected cost to carry out the RECOMPETE plan. The total amount of the RECOMPETE grant requested, and the justification for that amount. The roles and responsibilities of each recipient and subrecipient carrying out an activity under the RECOMPETE plan. The proposed allocation by the recipient to subrecipients of any RECOMPETE grant amounts. An identification of certain benchmark criteria for use in benchmark evaluations under section 5(a), including reducing the prime-age employment gap of the applicable area by certain percentages at periodic intervals, with the goals of— reducing the prime-age employment gap by not less than 50 percent on completion of the term of the RECOMPETE grant provided to the recipient; and achieving compliance with such other criteria as the Secretary may establish. A RECOMPETE plan may include strategies— to address inequality in the applicable area, such as inequality with respect to income, opportunity, or employment on the basis of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation; to support business development and entrepreneurship; and to support innovation and businesses, job creation, and workforce development in industries expected to continue or increase in force in the applicable area. If an applicable area is subject to a cooperation agreement under section 3(b), the RECOMPETE plan for the applicable area shall be— developed in accordance with that cooperation agreement; and consented to by each applicant that is a party to the cooperation agreement. If an applicable area is subject to a comprehensive economic development strategy approved by the Secretary under section 302 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3162 ), the RECOMPETE plan for the applicable area— shall be integrated with that strategy, to the maximum extent practicable; and may be developed and included as a supplemental portion of that strategy, rather than as an independent plan. The Secretary shall approve a RECOMPETE plan that the Secretary determines meets the applicable requirements of this subsection. For purposes of assisting a recipient in developing a RECOMPETE plan, the Secretary may make an advance payment of a RECOMPETE grant in accordance with subparagraph (B), if the Secretary determines that— the recipient requires such an advance; and the advance will be used— effectively; and for planning purposes. The amount of an advance payment under subparagraph
(A)shall be equal to not more than the lesser of— an amount equal to 5 percent of the maximum RECOMPETE grant amount to be provided to the applicable recipient; and $300,000. An advance payment made under this paragraph shall not be subject to any cost-sharing requirement. The Secretary shall provide technical assistance, if necessary, in each applicable area relating to— the development of a RECOMPETE plan that meets the applicable requirements of this subsection with respect to the applicable area; and implementation of the programs and activities included in the RECOMPETE plan for the applicable area. Subject to paragraphs
(2)and (3), a recipient or subrecipient may use a RECOMPETE grant to carry out programs and activities in the applicable area, in accordance with the RECOMPETE plan, including— the provision of business advice and assistance to small and medium-sized local businesses and entrepreneurs, including— manufacturing extension services; small business development centers; centers to help businesses bid for Federal procurement contracts; entrepreneurial assistance programs that link entrepreneurs with available public and private resources; legal advice and resources; and assistance in accessing capital; land and site development programs, such as brownfield redevelopment, research and technology parks, business incubators, business corridor development, and Main Street redevelopment programs; infrastructure and housing activities that are directly related to supporting job creation and employment for residents, such as— improvements to transit, roads, and broadband access; affordable housing development; land-use and zoning reforms; and transit-oriented development activities; job training oriented to local employer needs, such as customized job training programs carried out by local community colleges in partnership with local businesses; workforce outreach programs, such as— programs located in, and targeted to, lower-income and underemployed neighborhoods; and embedding job placement and training services in neighborhood institutions such as churches, housing projects, and community advocacy programs; job retention programs and activities, such as the provision of— job coaches, including at locations of employment; child care services, including subsidizing the construction, operation, maintenance, and labor costs of child care centers; and transportation support, such as support for vehicle repairs to assist in the transit of workers to jobs; and such other programs and activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including any proposed programs or activities that the recipient demonstrates clearly and substantially, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, will directly advance the goals of the RECOMPETE grant program. In carrying out programs and activities described in paragraph (1), a recipient or subrecipient may— use amounts provided under a RECOMPETE grant to carry out such a program or activity directly; or enter into a contract or other agreement with a subcontractor or vendor (including nongovernmental, nonprofit organizations and for-profit entities) to carry out such a program or activity. A recipient acting on behalf of an eligible local community that enters into a cooperation agreement under section 3(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II) with a local community that is not eligible, but is located within the same local labor market, may use amounts provided under a RECOMPETE grant to carry out a program or activity described in paragraph
(1)in the ineligible local community, if the program or activity would provide a benefit to residents of the eligible local community. In this subsection, the term Regional Commission means— any of the Regional Commissions (as defined in section 3 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3122 )); the Northern Border Regional Commission; the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission; the Southwest Border Regional Commission; and any other regional commission established under Federal law, subject to the approval of the Secretary. If an applicant (or any portion of the service area of an applicant) is located in a region covered by a Regional Commission, the Regional Commission is encouraged to provide technical assistance and other support relating to applying for a RECOMPETE grant and developing and carrying out a RECOMPETE plan to— the applicant; the lead entity, if applicable; and any other relevant entities. The Secretary shall— encourage each recipient to coordinate the implementation of a RECOMPETE plan with the activities of each Regional Commission serving the region in which the applicable area is located; and ensure that a copy of the RECOMPETE plan for each applicable area is provided to each affected Regional Commission.
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