S 2572 — Economic Empowerment Through Predevelopment Act of 2023

(a) Federal share Except as provided in subsection (c), the Federal share of the cost of any project carried out under this subchapter shall not exceed— (1) 60 percent; plus (2) an additional percent that— (A) shall not exceed 30 percent; and (B) is based on the relative needs of the area in which the project will be located, as determined in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary. (b) Non-Federal share (1) In general In determining the amount of the non-Federal share of the cost of a project, the Secretary may provide credit toward the non-Federal share for all contributions both in cash and in-kind, fairly evaluated, including contributions of space, equipment, assumptions of debt, and services. (2) Regional Commission funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds contributed by a Regional Commission for a project under this subchapter may be considered to be part of the non-Federal share of the costs of the project. (c) Increase in Federal share (1) Indian tribes In the case of a grant to an Indian tribe for a project under this subchapter, the Secretary may increase the Federal share above the percentage specified in subsection (a) up to 100 percent of the cost of the project. (2) Certain States, political subdivisions, and nonprofit organizations In the case of a grant to a State, or a political subdivision of a State, that the Secretary determines has exhausted the effective taxing and borrowing capacity of the State or political subdivision or can otherwise document that no local matching funds are reasonably obtainable, or in the case of a grant to a nonprofit organization that the Secretary determines has exhausted the effective borrowing capacity of the nonprofit organization, the Secretary may increase the Federal share above the percentage specified in subsection (a) up to 100 percent of the cost of the project. (3) Training, research, and technical assistance In the case of a grant provided under section 3143 or 3147 of this title, the Secretary may increase the Federal share above the percentage specified in subsection (a) up to 100 percent of the cost of the project. (4) Small communities In the case of a grant to a political subdivision of a State (as described in section 3122(6)(A)(iv) of this title) that has a population of fewer than 10,000 residents and meets 1 or more of the eligibility criteria described in section 3161(a) of this title, the Secretary may increase the Federal share under paragraph (1) up to 100 percent of the total cost of the project.

(a) In general Subject to subsection (b), a recipient of a grant under section 3141, 3143, or 3147 of this title may directly expend the grant funds or may redistribute the funds in the form of a subgrant to other eligible recipients to fund required components of the scope of work approved for the project. (b) Limitation A recipient may not redistribute grant funds received under section 3141 or 3143 of this title to a for-profit entity. (c) Economic adjustment Subject to subsection (d), a recipient of a grant under section 3149 of this title may directly expend the grant funds or may redistribute the funds to public and private entities in the form of a grant, loan, loan guarantee, payment to reduce interest on a loan guarantee, or other appropriate assistance. (d) Limitation Under subsection (c), a recipient may not provide any grant to a private for-profit entity.

(a) In general In carrying out the duties of the Secretary under this chapter, the Secretary may— (1) adopt, alter, and use a seal, which shall be judicially noticed; (2) subject to the civil service and classification laws, select, employ, appoint, and fix the compensation of such personnel as are necessary to carry out this chapter; (3) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, and take such testimony, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; (4) request directly, from any Federal agency, board, commission, office, or independent establishment, such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this chapter (and each Federal agency, board, commission, office, or independent establishment may provide such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Secretary); (5) under regulations promulgated by the Secretary— (A) assign or sell at public or private sale, or otherwise dispose of for cash or credit, in the Secretary’s discretion and on such terms and conditions and for such consideration as the Secretary determines to be reasonable, any evidence of debt, contract, claim, personal property, or security assigned to or held by the Secretary in connection with assistance provided under this chapter; and (B) collect or compromise all obligations assigned to or held by the Secretary in connection with that assistance until such time as the obligations are referred to the Attorney General for suit or collection; (6) deal with, complete, renovate, improve, modernize, insure, rent, or sell for cash or credit, on such terms and conditions and for such consideration as the Secretary determines to be reasonable, any real or personal property conveyed to or otherwise acquired by the Secretary in connection with assistance provided under this chapter; (7) pursue to final collection, by means of compromise or other administrative action, before referral to the Attorney General, all claims against third parties assigned to the Secretary in connection with assistance provided under this chapter; (8) acquire, in any lawful manner, any property (real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible), to the extent appropriate in connection with assistance provided under this chapter; (9) in addition to any powers, functions, privileges, and immunities otherwise vested in the Secretary, take any action, including the procurement of the services of attorneys by contract, determined by the Secretary to be necessary or desirable in making, purchasing, servicing, compromising, modifying, liquidating, or otherwise administratively dealing with assets held in connection with financial assistance provided under this chapter; (10) (A) employ experts and consultants or organizations as authorized by section 3109 of title 5 except that contracts for such employment may be renewed annually; (B) compensate individuals so employed, including compensation for travel time; and (C) allow individuals so employed, while away from their homes or regular places of business, travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for persons employed intermittently in the Federal Government service; (11) establish performance measures for grants and other assistance provided under this chapter, and use the performance measures to evaluate the economic impact of economic development assistance programs under this chapter, which establishment and use of performance measures shall be provided by the Secretary through— (A) officers or employees of the Department; (B) the employment of persons under contracts entered into for such purposes; or (C) grants to persons, using funds made available to carry out this chapter; (12) conduct environmental reviews and incur necessary expenses to evaluate and monitor the environmental impact of economic development assistance provided and proposed to be provided under this chapter, i...