To establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic development efforts.

Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make grants in support of cluster-based economic development efforts in regions with low per capita income, high unemployment, or economic adjustment problems.

Limits the maximum assistance for any one region to $1 million.

Sets Federal cost sharing for projects carried out using funds authorized by this Act at 50 percent. Authorizes in-kind contributions for the non-Federal share of project costs.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 145 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 145

    To establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic 
                          development efforts.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 2005

  Mr. McHugh introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
   Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic 
                          development efforts.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 219. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
            ``(1) Cluster.--The term `cluster' means a cluster of 
        entities that are engaged--
                    ``(A) in similar industries; and
                    ``(B) in joint activities to boost competitiveness 
                and growth.
            ``(2) Eligible applicant.--The term `eligible applicant' 
        means--
                    ``(A) a State or local government;
                    ``(B) an institution of higher education; or
                    ``(C) a nonprofit economic development 
                organization.
            ``(3) Region.--The term `region' means an area--
                    ``(A) that is determined by the Secretary to 
                qualify for grants under this section; and
                    ``(B) that, on the date of submission of an 
                application for a grant under this section, meets 1 or 
                more of the criteria described in section 301(a).
    ``(b) Grants.--On the application of an eligible applicant, the 
Secretary may make grants--
            ``(1) to assess clusters in a region;
            ``(2) to assess the needs of entities involved in a region;
            ``(3) to market cluster development programs in a region; 
        and
            ``(4) to support staff to operate cluster programs in a 
        region.
    ``(c) Maximum Assistance for Each Region.--Not more than $1,000,000 
of the amounts made available to carry out this section may be expended 
in any 1 region.
    ``(d) Cost Sharing.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
        project carried out using funds made available under this 
        section shall be 50 percent.
            ``(2) In-kind contributions.--Not more than 50 percent of 
        the non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out 
        using funds made available under this section may be provided 
        through in-kind contributions.
            ``(3) Inapplicability of certain section.--Section 204 
        shall not apply to this section.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000, to remain available 
until expended.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents contained in 
section 1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 
(42 U.S.C. 3121 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 218 the following:

``Sec. 219. Grants for cluster-based economic development.''.
                                 <all>