,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #agh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #c1 #bjai,mr4 ,griffith 7for himself and ,mr4 ,ryan7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act to authorize the ,secretary of ,agriculture to award grants to benefit the ,appalachia region1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,appalachia ,opportunity ,grants ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,appalachia innovation grants ,subtitle ,d of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cgi;,i4 ,appalachia innovation grants 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a unit of local government in the region4 7#b7 ,region ,the term region means the ,appalachian region 7as defined in section #adajb7;a7 of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code74 7b7 ,grants ,the ,secretary may award grants to eligible entities to convene groups of public and private entities to collaborate in carrying out regional projects to accomplish positive economic and community impacts in the region4 7c7 ,collaborative groups 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7b71 an eligible entity-- 7,a7 shall convene as part of the collaborative group representatives of each of-- 7i7 a local economic development board or office in the region2 7ii7 a private company or association2 and 7iii7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja77 in the region2 and 7,b7 may convene as part of the collaborative group representatives of other entities 7such as venture capital firms1 nonprofit organizations1 and philanthropic organizations7 that the eligible entity determines are important to the goal of the regional project described in subsection 7d77#b74 7#b7 ,referral process 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may assist in the formation of a collaborative group under paragraph 7#a7 by establishing a referral process under which a private company or association seeking to invest in a particular area in the region is matched with an eligible entity located in that area4 7,b7 ,database of potential investors ,in carrying out subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary may-- 7i7 establish and maintain a database of private companies and associations seeking to invest in the region2 and 7ii7 coordinate with other ,federal agencies1 including the ,department of ,commerce1 to register inquiries-- 7,i7 that are made to those agencies by private companies and associations seeking to invest in the region2 and 7,,ii7 in the database described in clause 7i74 7d7 ,project requirements ,a regional project carried out by a collaborative group under subsection 7b7 shall-- 7#a7 involve not fewer than #b municipalities that share a border2 and 7#b7 complete a specific activity that has as a goal-- 7,a7 job creation in the region2 7,b7 expansion of the capacity of post-secondary education in the region2 7,c7 growth of tourism in the region2 7,d7 improving public health in the region2 or 7,e7 upgrading regional infrastructure4 7e7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that has convened a collaborative group described in subsection 7c77#a7 and identified an activity for a regional project described in subsection 7d77#b7 may submit to the ,secretary an application that includes-- 7,a7 a detailed description of-- 7i7 a timeline for the completion of the regional project2 and 7ii7 the responsibilities of each member of the collaborative group in carrying out the regional project2 7,b7 evidence that the collaborative group is a public-private partnership2 7,c7 evidence that the collaborative group will maintain intermunicipality cooperation2 7,d7 a description of the reasons that the eligible entity requires ,federal funds2 7,e7 evidence that the eligible entity has previously sought funding from ,state1 local1 or private programs2 7,f7 a description of the source of non-,federal funds for the regional project2 7,g7 a description of the positive economic or community impact 7including relating to education7 of the regional project2 7,h7 an assessment of the assets and weaknesses of the community in which the regional project will be implemented2 7,i7 a regional strategic plan that-- 7i7 takes into account the assessment described in subparagraph 7,h72 and 7ii7 includes an analysis of the alignment of the regional project with the regional strategic plan2 and 7,j7 evidence1 with full transparency and credibility1 of minimal obstruction to the completion of the project design phase described in subsection 7f77#b77;,a7 by not later than #a year after the date on which the eligible entity receives the grant4 7#b7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority to applications submitted under paragraph 7#a7 that describe a positive1 measurable economic impact4 7f7 ,grant funds 7#a7 ,limitation on grant amount ,a grant for a regional project under subsection 7b7 shall be not more than #b1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,phases ,a grant under subsection 7b7 shall be awarded in the following #b phases3 7,a7 ,project design ,an eligible entity may use #ej percent of the grant during the period beginning on the date on which the eligible entity receives the grant and ending not later than #a year after that date to continue the planning and design of the regional project1 including activities such as-- 7i7 workforce training2 7ii7 building design2 7iii7 permit approvals2 and 7iv7 real estate arrangements4 7,b7 ,project development ,an eligible entity that completes the planning and design of the regional project under subparagraph 7,a7 may use the remaining grant funds for the completion of the construction and implementation of the regional project4 7#c7 ,matching funds requirement ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection 7b7 shall provide non-,federal funding equal to not less than #aj percent of the amount of the grant4 7#d7 ,reservation of grant funds ,the ,secretary shall reserve #bj percent of the funds made available under subsection 7h7 for each fiscal year to award grants to eligible entities that convene collaborative groups that include a representative of a private company or association that is located in the region4 7g7 ,review of grant program 7#a7 ,government ,accountability ,office review ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a review of the implementation of this section for-- 7,a7 the #b-year period beginning on the date on which the ,secretary begins to accept applications for grants under this section2 and 7,b7 each #d-year period thereafter4 7#b7 ,reports to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress an annual report describing-- 7,a7 funding decisions under this section2 7,b7 a justification for each grant awarded under this section2 and 7,c7 with respect to each regional project that has received a grant under this section1 the extent to which-- 7i7 benchmarks for the project have been met in accordance with the timeline for the project2 and 7ii7 the project may be considered an example to other municipalities desiring a grant under this section4 7h7 ,funding ,of amounts made available for the ,dislocated ,worker ,national ,reserve fund under section #acb7;a77#b77;,a7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagb7;a77#b77;,a771 #ajj1jjj1jjj shall be used to carry out this section for each of fiscal years #bjai through #bjbh4 4