7 U.S.C. § 2662
Section 2662 · Programs authorized
Current version, with additions and removals from the December 13, 1991 version.
Rural development research shall consist of research, investigations, and basic feasibility studies in any field or discipline that may develop principles, facts, scientific and technical knowledge, new technology, and other information that may be useful to agencies of Federal, State, and local government, industries in rural areas, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups, and other organizations involved in community and rural development programs and activities in planning and carrying out such programs and activities or otherwise be practical and useful in achieving the purposes and goals of this subchapter.
Rural development research shall consist of research, investigations, and basic feasibility studies in any field or discipline that may develop principles, facts, scientific and technical knowledge, new technology, and other information that may be useful to agencies of Federal, State, and local government, industries in rural areas, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations or other federally recognized Indian tribal groups, and other organizations involved in community and rural development programs and activities in planning and carrying out such programs and activities or otherwise be practical and useful in achieving the purposes and goals of this subchapter.
Small farm research programs shall consist of programs of research to develop new approaches for initiating and upgrading small farm operations through management techniques, agricultural production techniques, farm machinery technology, new products, new marketing techniques, and small farm finance; to develop new enterprises that can use labor, skills, or natural resources available to the small farm family; or that will help to increase the quality and availability of services and facilities needed by the small farm family.
Small farm research programs shall consist of programs of research to develop new approaches for initiating and upgrading small farm operations through management techniques, agricultural production techniques, farm machinery technology, new products, new marketing techniques, and small farm finance; to develop new enterprises that can use labor, skills, or natural resources available to the small farm family; or that will help to increase the quality and availability of services and facilities needed by the small farm family.
Small farm extension programs shall consist of extension programs to improve small farm operations, including management techniques, agricultural production techniques, farm machinery technology, marketing techniques and small farm finance; to increase use by small farm families of existing services offered by the Department of Agriculture and other public and private agencies and organizations; to assist small farm families in establishing and operating cooperatives for the purpose of improving their family income from farming or other economic activities; to increase the quality and availability of services and facilities needed by small farm families; and to develop new enterprises that can use labor, skills, or natural resources available to the small farm family.
Small farm extension programs shall consist of extension programs to improve small farm operations, including management techniques, agricultural production techniques, farm machinery technology, marketing techniques and small farm finance; to increase use by small farm families of existing services offered by the Department of Agriculture and other public and private agencies and organizations; to assist small farm families in establishing and operating cooperatives for the purpose of improving their family income from farming or other economic activities; to increase the quality and availability of services and facilities needed by small farm families; and to develop new enterprises that can use labor, skills, or natural resources available to the small farm family.
Special grants programs shall consist of extension and research programs to strengthen research and education on national and regional issues in rural development, including the assessment of alternative policies and strategies for rural development and balanced growth; to develop alternative strategies for national and regional investment, and the creation of employment, in rural areas; to develop alternative energy policies to meet rural development needs; and to strengthen rural development programs of agencies of the Department of Agriculture and those in other Federal departments and agencies.
Special grants programs shall consist of extension and research programs to strengthen research and education on national and regional issues in rural development, including the assessment of alternative policies and strategies for rural development and balanced growth; to develop alternative strategies for national and regional investment, and the creation of employment, in rural areas; to develop alternative energy policies to meet rural development needs; and to strengthen rural development programs of agencies of the Department of Agriculture and those in other Federal departments and agencies.
(1) Grant program
(A) Program beneficiaries
The Secretary shall provide competitive grants for programs that meet the criteria specified in subparagraph (B) to develop counseling, retraining, and educational assistance for farmers, dislocated farmers, and rural families, who have been adversely affected by the current farm and rural economic crisis.
(B) Grant criteria
In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an applicant must provide suitable assurances that—
(i) not less than one-half of the grant funds to the applicant will be used for clinical outreach counseling and crisis management assistance, as required by subparagraph (C);
(ii) a significant number of farms within the State have a ratio of debts to assets of 40 percent or more, the State's rural economy has been facing adverse economic conditions for a period of years, or such other conditions exist, as determined by the Secretary, such that the assistance provided under this subsection is necessary or appropriate;
(iii) the planning and implementation of the provision of services under this subsection will be coordinated with the appropriate State agency for mental health, department of health, office of rural health, and any other State agency or department responsible for assisting persons in rural areas of the State; and
(iv) the planning and implementation of the provision of services under this subsection will be coordinated with the appropriate local governments and other public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations located in rural areas and involved in addressing problems related to the mental health of rural residents.
(C) Counseling and outreach required
Not less than 50 percent of the grant funds to a State under this subsection shall be used to provide clinical outreach counseling and crisis management assistance.
(D) Other services to be provided
In addition to the counseling and outreach services required under subparagraph (C), the following services may also be provided through programs funded under this section:
(i) Assistance in evaluating individual or family finances, preparing financial plans, and implementing financial plans and management strategies.
(ii) Evaluation of vocational skills and counseling in enhancing such skills.
(iii) Assistance in obtaining training in basic, remedial, and literacy skills.
(iv) Assistance in job search and training in job-seeking skills.
(v) Assistance in obtaining training for operating a business or enterprise.
(vi) Formal on-the-job training to the extent practicable.
(vii) Tuition assistance (including fees, books, and other educational expenses) to the extent practicable.
(viii) Assistance for local officials and groups in developing income and employment alternatives.
(E) Authority of grant recipients to contract for delivery of services
The recipients of a grant under this subsection may contract for the delivery of such services with units of local government, State agencies, accredited educational institutions, and other appropriate public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations.
(F) Development of comprehensive plan
The Agricultural Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture shall work with the appropriate State office of rural health, State department or agency of mental health, and other State agencies, units of local government, and other public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations in developing an annual comprehensive plan for the use of the grant funds and the delivery of services provided for in this subsection. For recipients in a State to be eligible for a grant under this subsection in any fiscal year, the Cooperative Extension Service within the State must develop and sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the appropriate State department or agency of mental health and other State agencies as may be appropriate to carry out the comprehensive plan. Such agreement and plan must emphasize the development and delivery of counseling and outreach programs as provided under subparagraph (B).
(2) Grant period
Grants may be made under paragraph (1) to eligible applicants in any State applying for such grants until December 23, 1995.
(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish an Extension Service rural economic and business development program to enable States or counties to employ specialists as Cooperative Extension Service staff of the State or county to assist individuals in creating new businesses, including cooperatives, or to assist existing businesses, and to assist such businesses regarding advanced telecommunications, computer technologies, technical or management assistance, business and financial planning, and other related matters, and to assist community leaders in community economic analysis and strategic planning.
(2) Function of specialists
Specialists employed under paragraph (1) shall provide economic development information and assistance concerning business creation, business planning and advice, advanced telecommunications, business management, computer operations, and other technical assistance to community leaders and private sector entrepreneurs and cooperatives operating in the State or county that employs such specialists.
(3) Procedures and limitations
The Secretary shall establish policies, procedures, and limitations that shall apply to States and counties that desire to participate in the program established under this subsection. States and counties shall determine the types of rural economic and business development specialists that are needed by such States and counties. In States with land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, such eligible institutions shall determine the types of rural economic and business development specialists needed.
(4) Payment of salary
The Secretary shall make grants to States and counties that participate in the program established under this section in an amount equal to 60 percent of the total amount of the salary paid to any specialists employed under such program, and the State or county shall provide funds for the remaining 40 percent of such salary. Land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, shall be exempt from the 40 percent salary matching requirement.
(5) Limitations on authorization of appropriations
To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 in fiscal year 1991, $10,000,000 in fiscal year 1992, $15,000,000 in fiscal year 1993, and $20,000,000 in fiscal year 1994 and each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended.
(6) Coordination
The Secretary shall ensure that the activities of the Extension Service rural economic and business development program established under this subsection are coordinated with the Small Business Administration to ensure that there is no duplication of activities in any local area, county or region.
(1) National program
(1) National program
(A) beginning businesses through entrepreneurship;
(A) beginning businesses through entrepreneurship;
(B) the procedures necessary to establish new businesses in rural areas;
(B) the procedures necessary to establish new businesses in rural areas;
(C) self-employment opportunities in rural areas;
(C) self-employment opportunities in rural areas;
(D) the uses of modern telecommunications and computer technologies;
(D) the uses of modern telecommunications and computer technologies;
(E) business and financial planning; and
(E) business and financial planning; and
(F) such other training, assistance, and educational opportunities as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the program established under this subsection.
(F) such other training, assistance, and educational opportunities as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the program established under this subsection.
(2) Leadership abilities
(2) Leadership abilities
The program established under this subsection shall provide assistance designed to increase the leadership abilities of residents in rural areas. Such assistance shall include—
The program established under this subsection shall provide assistance designed to increase the leadership abilities of residents in rural areas. Such assistance shall include—
(A) information relevant to the development of community goals;
(A) information relevant to the development of community goals;
(B) instruction regarding the methods by which State or Federal funding for rural development projects might be obtained;
(B) instruction regarding the methods by which State or Federal funding for rural development projects might be obtained;
(C) instruction regarding the successful writing of applications for loan or grant funds from government and private sources;
(C) instruction regarding the successful writing of applications for loan or grant funds from government and private sources;
(D) an updated listing of State, Federal, and other economic development programs available to rural areas; and
(D) an updated listing of State, Federal, and other economic development programs available to rural areas; and
(E) such other training, information, and assistance as the Secretary determines necessary to increase the leadership abilities of residents in rural areas.
(E) such other training, information, and assistance as the Secretary determines necessary to increase the leadership abilities of residents in rural areas.
(3) Catalog of programs
(3) Catalog of programs
The National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse of the National Agricultural Library, in cooperation with the Extension Service in each State, should develop, maintain, and provide to each community, and make accessible to any other interested party, a catalog of available State, Federal, or private programs that provide leadership training or other information or services similar or complementary to the training or services required by this subsection. Such catalog should include, at a minimum, the following entities within the State that provide such training or services:
The National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse of the National Agricultural Library, in cooperation with the Extension Service in each State, should develop, maintain, and provide to each community, and make accessible to any other interested party, a catalog of available State, Federal, or private programs that provide leadership training or other information or services similar or complementary to the training or services required by this subsection. Such catalog should include, at a minimum, the following entities within the State that provide such training or services:
(A) Any rural electric cooperative.
(A) Any rural electric cooperative.
(B) Any nonprofit company development corporation.
(B) Any nonprofit company development corporation.
(C) Any economic development district that serves a rural community.
(C) Any economic development district that serves a rural community.
(D) Any nonprofit subsidiary of any private entity.
(D) Any nonprofit subsidiary of any private entity.
(E) Any nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is to promote economic development in rural areas.
(E) Any nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is to promote economic development in rural areas.
(F) Any investor or publicly owned electric utility.
(F) Any investor or publicly owned electric utility.
(G) Any small business development center or small business investment company.
(G) Any small business development center or small business investment company.
(H) Any regional development organization.
(H) Any regional development organization.
(I) Any vocational or technical school.
(I) Any vocational or technical school.
(J) Any Federal, State, or local government agency or department.
(J) Any Federal, State, or local government agency or department.
(K) Any other entity that the Secretary deems appropriate.
(K) Any other entity that the Secretary deems appropriate.
The extension service in each State should include in the catalog information on the specific training or services provided by each entity in the catalog.
The extension service in each State should include in the catalog information on the specific training or services provided by each entity in the catalog.
(4) Employee training
(4) Employee training
(5) Coordination of assistance
(5) Coordination of assistance
The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that assistance provided under this subsection is coordinated with and delivered in cooperation with similar services or assistance provided by other Federal agencies or programs for rural residents.
The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that assistance provided under this subsection is coordinated with and delivered in cooperation with similar services or assistance provided by other Federal agencies or programs for rural residents.
(1) Programs authorized
(1) Programs authorized
(A) Individual and family health education
(A) Individual and family health education
The Secretary may make grants for the establishment of individual and family health education programs that shall provide individuals and families with—
The Secretary may make grants for the establishment of individual and family health education programs that shall provide individuals and families with—
(i) information concerning the value of good health;
(i) information concerning the value of good health;
(ii) information to increase the individual or families motivation to take more responsibility for their own health;
(ii) information to increase the individual or families motivation to take more responsibility for their own health;
(iii) access to health promotion activities; and
(iii) access to health promotion activities; and
(iv) training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services.
(iv) training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services.
(B) Farm safety education
(B) Farm safety education
The Secretary may make grants for the establishment of farm safety education programs that shall provide information and training to farm workers, timber harvesters, and farm families concerning safety in the work place, including information and training concerning—
The Secretary may make grants for the establishment of farm safety education programs that shall provide information and training to farm workers, timber harvesters, and farm families concerning safety in the work place, including information and training concerning—
(i) the reduction of occupational injury and death rates;
(i) the reduction of occupational injury and death rates;
(ii) the reduction and prevention of exposure to farm chemicals;
(ii) the reduction and prevention of exposure to farm chemicals;
(iii) the reduction of agricultural respiratory diseases and dermititis; 1
(iii) the reduction of agricultural respiratory diseases and dermititis; 1
(iv) the reduction and prevention of noise induced hearing loss;
(iv) the reduction and prevention of noise induced hearing loss;
(v) the occupational rehabilitation of farmers and timber harvesters with physical disabilities; and
(v) the occupational rehabilitation of farmers and timber harvesters with physical disabilities; and
(vi) farm accident rescue procedures.
(vi) farm accident rescue procedures.
(C) Rural health leadership development
(C) Rural health leadership development
The Secretary, in consultation with the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, may make grants to academic medical centers or land grant colleges and universities, or any combination thereof, for the establishment of rural health leadership development education programs that shall assist rural communities in developing health care services and facilities that will provide the maximum benefit for the resources invested and assist community leaders and public officials in understanding their roles and responsibilities relative to rural health services and facilities, including—
The Secretary, in consultation with the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, may make grants to academic medical centers or land grant colleges and universities, or any combination thereof, for the establishment of rural health leadership development education programs that shall assist rural communities in developing health care services and facilities that will provide the maximum benefit for the resources invested and assist community leaders and public officials in understanding their roles and responsibilities relative to rural health services and facilities, including—
(i) community decisions regarding funding for and retention of rural hospitals;
(i) community decisions regarding funding for and retention of rural hospitals;
(ii) rural physician and allied health professionals recruitment and retention;
(ii) rural physician and allied health professionals recruitment and retention;
(iii) the aging rural population and senior services required to care for the population;
(iii) the aging rural population and senior services required to care for the population;
(iv) the establishment and maintenance of rural emergency medical services systems; and
(iv) the establishment and maintenance of rural emergency medical services systems; and
(v) the application of computer-assisted capital budgeting decision aids for rural health services and facilities.
(v) the application of computer-assisted capital budgeting decision aids for rural health services and facilities.
(2) Coordination of programs
(2) Coordination of programs
Educational programs conducted with grants awarded under this subsection shall be coordinated with the State offices of rural health and other appropriate programs of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational programs conducted with grants awarded under this subsection shall be coordinated with the State offices of rural health and other appropriate programs of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(3) Dissemination of information
(3) Dissemination of information
Educational programs conducted with grants awarded under this subsection shall provide leadership within the State for the dissemination of appropriate rural health and safety information resources possessed by the Rural Information Center established at the National Agricultural Library.
Educational programs conducted with grants awarded under this subsection shall provide leadership within the State for the dissemination of appropriate rural health and safety information resources possessed by the Rural Information Center established at the National Agricultural Library.
(4) Procedures and limitations
(4) Procedures and limitations
The Secretary shall establish policies, procedures and limitations that shall apply to States or entities described in paragraph (1)(C) that desire to receive a grant under this subsection. In States with land-grant colleges and universities that are eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, and universities which receive Rural Health Research Center grants, such eligible institutions shall mutually determine the type of rural health and safety education program needed in the State within which such institutions reside.
The Secretary shall establish policies, procedures and limitations that shall apply to States or entities described in paragraph (1)(C) that desire to receive a grant under this subsection. In States with land-grant colleges and universities that are eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, and universities which receive Rural Health Research Center grants, such eligible institutions shall mutually determine the type of rural health and safety education program needed in the State within which such institutions reside.
(5) Limitations on authorization of appropriations
(5) Limitations on authorization of appropriations
For grants under this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.
For grants under this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.
(1) In general
In addition to the programs already conducted under this section, the Secretary shall also establish and carry out a program to award competitive research grants to land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations, and centers established by land-grant universities, State agricultural experiment stations, and to all colleges and universities having demonstrable capability in rural development research, as determined by the Secretary, to carry out research to—
(A) determine factors which impact upon rural economic development whether favorably or unfavorably;
(B) estimate the relative impacts of these factors;
(C) develop methodologies to investigate policy options for rural economic development;
(D) evaluate the impact of Federal and State economic development policies and programs designed to improve economic competitiveness and diversification;
(E) support strategic planning for economic investments;
(F) improve human resources; and
(G) improve the data base for rural development decisionmaking in rural areas.
(2) Limitation on authorization of appropriations
To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not to exceed $3,000,000 in each fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.