42 U.S.C. § 3147 — Grants for training, research, and tech-

Page 5854 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 3146 Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Feb. 11, 1999, see section 105 of Pub. L. 105–393, set out as a note under section 3121 of this title. § 3146. Regulations on relative needs and alloca- tions In promulgating rules, regulations, and proce- dures for assistance under this subchapter, the Secretary shall ensure that— (1) the relative needs of eligible areas are given adequate consideration by the Sec- retary, as determined based on, among other relevant factors— (A) the severity of the rates of unemploy- ment in the eligible areas and the duration of the unemployment; (B) the per capita income levels, the labor force participation rate, and the extent of underemployment in eligible areas; and (C) the outmigration of population from eligible areas and the extent to which the outmigration is causing economic injury in the eligible areas; (2) allocations of assistance under this sub- chapter are prioritized to ensure that the level of economic distress of an area, rather than a preference for a geographic area or a specific type of economic distress, is the primary fac- tor in allocating the assistance; (3)(A) rural and urban economically dis- tressed areas are not harmed by the establish- ment or implementation by the Secretary of a private sector leveraging goal for a project under this subchapter; (B) any private sector leveraging goal estab- lished by the Secretary does not prohibit or discourage grant applicants under this sub- chapter from public works in, or economic de- velopment of, rural or urban economically dis- tressed areas; and (C) the relevant Committees of Congress are notified prior to making any changes to any private sector leveraging goal; and (4) grants made under this subchapter pro- mote job creation and retention and will have a high probability of meeting or exceeding ap- plicable performance requirements established in connection with the grants. (Pub. L. 89–136, title II, § 206, as added Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3604; amended Pub. L. 108–373, title II, § 204, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1761; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, § 2216, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3181.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2025—Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2216(1), added sub- par. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: ‘‘the income levels and the extent of under- employment in eligible areas; and’’. Par. (4). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2216(2), inserted ‘‘and reten- tion’’ after ‘‘creation’’. 2004—Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 108–373 added pars. (3) and (4). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Feb. 11, 1999, see section 105 of Pub. L. 105–393, set out as a note under section 3121 of this title. § 3147. Grants for training, research, and tech- nical assistance (a) In general (1) Grants On the application of an eligible recipient, the Secretary may make grants for training, research, and technical assistance, including grants for program evaluation and economic impact analyses, that would be useful in alle- viating or preventing conditions of excessive unemployment or underemployment. (2) Types of assistance Grants under paragraph (1) may be used for— (A) project planning, project predevelopment, and feasibility studies; (B) demonstrations of innovative activities or strategic economic development invest- ments; (C) management and operational assist- ance; (D) establishment of university centers; (E) establishment of business outreach centers; (F) studies evaluating the needs of, and de- velopment potential for, economic growth of areas that the Secretary determines have substantial need for the assistance; (G) studies that evaluate the effectiveness of coordinating projects funded under this chapter with projects funded under other Acts; (H) assessment, marketing, and establish- ment of business clusters; and (I) other activities determined by the Sec- retary to be appropriate. (3) Cooperation requirement In the case of a project assisted under this section that is national or regional in scope, the Secretary may waive the provision in sec- tion 3122(6)(A)(vi) of this title requiring a non- profit organization or association to act in co- operation with officials of a political subdivi- sion of a State. (b) Methods of provision of assistance In providing research and technical assistance under this section, the Secretary, in addition to making grants under subsection (a), may— (1) provide research and technical assistance through officers or employees of the Depart- ment; (2) pay funds made available to carry out this section to Federal agencies; or (3) employ private individuals, partnerships, businesses, corporations, or appropriate insti- tutions under contracts entered into for that purpose. (c) University centers (1) Establishment In accordance with subsection (a)(2)(D), the Secretary may make grants to institutions of Page 5855 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 3148 higher education to serve as university cen- ters. (2) Geographic coverage The Secretary shall ensure that the network of university centers established under this subsection provides services in each State. (3) Duties To the maximum extent practicable, a uni- versity center established under this sub- section shall— (A) collaborate with other university cen- ters; (B) collaborate with economic develop- ment districts and other relevant Federal economic development technical assistance and service providers to provide expertise and technical assistance to develop, imple- ment, and support comprehensive economic development strategies and other economic development planning at the local, regional, and State levels, with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regional economic development; (C) provide technical assistance, business development, and technology transfer serv- ices to businesses in the area served by the university center; (D) establish partnerships with 1 or more commercialization intermediaries that are public or nonprofit technology transfer orga- nizations eligible to receive a grant under section 1862s–9 of this title; (E) promote local and regional capacity building; and (F) provide to communities and regions as- sistance relating to data collection and anal- ysis and other research relating to economic conditions and vulnerabilities that can in- form economic development and adjustment strategies. (4) Consideration In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider— (A) the significant role of regional public universities in supporting economic develop- ment in distressed communities through the planning and the implementation of eco- nomic development projects and initiatives; and (B) the location of the university center in or near a distressed community. (Pub. L. 89–136, title II, § 207, as added Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3604; amended Pub. L. 108–373, title II, § 205, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1761; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, §§ 2211(b), 2217, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3178, 3181.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2025—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2217(1), in- serted ‘‘, project predevelopment,’’ after ‘‘planning’’. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2211(b), substituted ‘‘section 3122(4)(A)(vi) of this title’’ for ‘‘section 3122(6)(A)(vi) of this title’’. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2217(2), added subsec. (c). 2004—Subsec. (a)(2)(G) to (I). Pub. L. 108–373, § 205(a), added subpars. (G) and (H) and redesignated former sub- par. (G) as (I). Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–373, § 205(b), added par. (3) and struck out heading and text of former par. (3). Text read as follows: ‘‘In the case of a project assisted under this section, the Secretary may reduce or waive the non-Federal share, without regard to section 3144 or 3145 of this title, if the Secretary finds that the project is not feasible without, and merits, such a reduction or waiver.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Feb. 11, 1999, see section 105 of Pub. L. 105–393, set out as a note under section 3121 of this title. § 3148. Investment priorities (a) In general Subject to subsection (b), for a project to be eligible for assistance under this subchapter, the project shall be consistent with 1 or more of the following investment priorities: (1) Critical infrastructure Economic development planning or imple- mentation projects that support development of public facilities, including basic public in- frastructure, transportation infrastructure, or telecommunications infrastructure. (2) Workforce Economic development planning or imple- mentation projects that— (A) support job skills training to meet the hiring needs of the area in which the project is to be carried out and that result in well- paying jobs; or (B) otherwise promote labor force partici- pation. (3) Innovation and entrepreneurship Economic development planning or imple- mentation projects that— (A) support the development of innovation and entrepreneurship-related infrastructure; (B) promote business development and lending; or (C) foster the commercialization of new technologies that are creating technology- driven businesses and high-skilled, well-pay- ing jobs of the future. (4) Economic recovery resilience Economic development planning or imple- mentation projects that enhance the ability of an area to withstand and recover from adverse short-term or long-term changes in economic conditions, including effects from industry contractions or economic impacts from nat- ural disasters. (5) Manufacturing Economic development planning or imple- mentation projects that encourage job cre- ation, business expansion, technology and cap- ital upgrades, and productivity growth in manufacturing, including efforts that con- tribute to the competitiveness and growth of domestic suppliers or the domestic production of innovative, high-value products and produc- tion technologies. (b) Conditions If the Secretary plans to use an investment priority that is not described in subsection (a),