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42 U.S.C. § 3121

Section 3121 · Findings and declarations

Current version, with additions and removals from the November 13, 1998 version.

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Current — October 27, 2004
As of November 13, 1998
(a) Findings
(a) Findings

Congress finds that—

Congress finds that—

(1) while the economy of the United States is undergoing a sustained period of economic growth resulting in low unemployment and increasing incomes, there continue to be areas suffering economic distress in the form of high unemployment, low incomes, underemployment, and outmigration as well as areas facing sudden economic dislocations due to industrial restructuring and relocation, defense base closures and procurement cutbacks, certain Federal actions (including environmental requirements that result in the removal of economic activities from a locality), and natural disasters;
(1) there continue to be areas of the United States experiencing chronic high unemployment, underemployment, outmigration, and low per capita incomes, as well as areas facing sudden and severe economic dislocations because of structural economic changes, changing trade patterns, certain Federal actions (including environmental requirements that result in the removal of economic activities from a locality), and natural disasters;

(2) as the economy of the United States continues to grow, those distressed areas contain significant human and infrastructure resources that are underused;

(3) expanding international trade and the increasing pace of technological innovation offer both a challenge and an opportunity to the distressed communities of the United States;

(2) economic growth in the States, cities, and rural areas of the United States is produced by expanding economic opportunities, expanding free enterprise through trade, developing and strengthening public infrastructure, and creating a climate for job creation and business development;

(3) the goal of Federal economic development programs is to raise the standard of living for all citizens and increase the wealth and overall rate of growth of the economy by encouraging communities to develop a more competitive and diversified economic base by—

(A) creating an environment that promotes economic activity by improving and expanding public infrastructure;

(B) promoting job creation through increased innovation, productivity, and entrepreneurship; and

(C) empowering local and regional communities experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income to develop private sector business and attract increased private sector capital investment;

(4) while economic development is an inherently local process, the Federal Government should work in partnership with public and private local, regional, and State organizations to ensure that existing resources are not wasted and all Americans have an opportunity to participate in the economic growth of the United States;
(4) while economic development is an inherently local process, the Federal Government should work in partnership with public and private State, regional, tribal, and local organizations to maximize the impact of existing resources and enable regions, communities, and citizens to participate more fully in the American dream and national prosperity;
(5) in order to avoid wasteful duplication of effort and to limit the burden on distressed communities, Federal, State, and local economic development activities should be better planned and coordinated and Federal program requirements should be simplified and made more consistent;
(5) in order to avoid duplication of effort and achieve meaningful, long-lasting results, Federal, State, tribal, and local economic development activities should have a clear focus, improved coordination, a comprehensive approach, and simplified and consistent requirements; and

(6) the goal of Federal economic development activities should be to work in partnership with local, regional, and State public and private organizations to support the development of private sector businesses and jobs in distressed communities;

(7) Federal economic development efforts will be more effective if they are coordinated with, and build upon, the trade and technology programs of the United States; and
(6) Federal economic development efforts will be more effective if the efforts are coordinated with, and build upon, the trade, workforce investment, transportation, and technology programs of the United States.

(8) under this chapter, new employment opportunities should be created by developing and expanding new and existing public works and other facilities and resources rather than by merely transferring jobs from one area of the United States to another.

(b) Declarations
(b) Declarations
Congress declares that, in order to promote a strong and growing economy throughout the United States—
In order to promote a strong and growing economy throughout the United States, Congress declares that—
(1) assistance under this chapter should be made available to both rural and urban distressed communities;
(1) assistance under this chapter should be made available to both rural- and urban-distressed communities;
(2) local communities should work in partnership with neighboring communities, the States, and the Federal Government to increase their capacity to develop and implement comprehensive economic development strategies to address existing, or deter impending, economic distress; and
(2) local communities should work in partnership with neighboring communities, the States, Indian tribes, and the Federal Government to increase the capacity of the local communities to develop and implement comprehensive economic development strategies to alleviate economic distress and enhance competitiveness in the global economy;
(3) whether suffering from long-term distress or a sudden dislocation, distressed communities should be encouraged to take advantage of the development opportunities afforded by technological innovation and expanding and newly opened global markets.
(3) whether suffering from long-term distress or a sudden dislocation, distressed communities should be encouraged to support entrepreneurship to take advantage of the development opportunities afforded by technological innovation and expanding newly opened global markets; and

(4) assistance under this chapter should be made available to promote the productive reuse of abandoned industrial facilities and the redevelopment of brownfields.

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