,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gdea ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #g1 #bjbb,mr4 ,carter of ,louisiana 7for himself and ,mr4 ,guest7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 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 establish a competitive grant program to provide assistance to support small businesses and business district revitalization in low-income1 rural1 and minority communities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,revitalizing ,small and ,local ,businesses ,act4 #b4 ,revitalizing business districts program 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,ii of the ,public ,works and ,economic ,development ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cada et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #bai4 ,revitalizing business districts program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,national nonprofit organization ,the term national nonprofit organization means a nonprofit organization that-- 7,a7 operates1 including through affiliates1 membership networks or partnerships with third party entities1 in each geographic area served by a regional office of the ,economic ,development ,administration2 and 7,b7 has experience and expertise in providing technical assistance and capacity building programs in support of community-based organizations that focus on revitalizing business districts and commercial corridors1 including through support of underserved small businesses4 7#b7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means an organization that is-- 7,a7 described in paragraph 7#c71 7#d71 7#e71 or 7#f7 of section #eja7;c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7,b7 exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of that ,code4 7b7 ,program ,the ,secretary shall establish a national program under which the ,secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to national nonprofit organizations to carry out place-based programs1 in partnership with locally-based nonprofit or public community and economic development partners1 to provide specialized technical assistance1 capacity building1 and related services that support small businesses and business district revitalization in low-income1 rural1 and minority communities4 7c7 ,use of funds ,the ,secretary shall establish reasonable caps on administrative costs and activities necessary for awardees to implement activities funded under the program established under subsection 7b74 7d7 ,application ,a national nonprofit organization seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,applications shall include a strategy for distributions of grant funds to local business district organizations or similar place-based business or economic development organizations4 7e7 ,partnerships ,in order to receive a grant under this section1 a national nonprofit organization shall demonstrate a track record of supporting local business district organizations or similar place-based business or economic development organizations and serving disadvantaged businesses or communities that are socially and economically disadvantaged1 including rural communities4 7f7 ,prioritization ,notwithstanding section #bjf in selecting grant recipients under this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure a broad geographic distribution of award activities1 and give priority to an applicant-- 7#a7 that would serve communities that are socially and economically disadvantaged1 including rural communities2 and 7#b7 that has the demonstrated capacity to serve multiple ,states or multiple geographies within a ,state4 7g7 ,reporting ,awardees must submit to the ,secretary 7at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may prescribe1 but no more frequently than annually7 a report specifying-- 7#a7 the names and addresses of the local business development or economic development organizations funded by the awardee2 7#b7 the use of funds1 both by the awardee and by each funded entity2 7#c7 the total number of small businesses receiving direct or indirect assistance through the funding and the number of employees at those business2 7#d7 the total number of such small businesses that qualify as disadvantaged businesses or are in communities that are socially or economically disadvantaged1 including rural communities1 and the number of employees at such businesses2 and 7#e7 such other information as the ,secretary may require4 7h7 ,administration ,the ,secretary shall carry out this section through the headquarters office of the ,economic ,development ,administration4 7i7 ,federal share 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 and notwithstanding section #bjd or any other provision of law1 the ,federal share of the cost of a project carried out with assistance under this section shall be not more than #hj percent4 7#b7 ,use of other ,federal funds ,a grant recipient may use other ,federal funds provided to the grant recipient to increase the ,federal share under paragraph 7#a7 up to #ajj percent1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#c7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may increase the ,federal share under paragraph 7#a7 up to #ajj percent if the ,secretary determines that the grant recipient is unable to pay1 or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay1 the non-,federal share4 7j7 ,administrative costs ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary may use not more than #b percent for the administrative costs of carrying out this section4 7k7 ,funding ,out of any unobligated funds provided to the ,economic ,development ,administration1 the ,secretary may expend up to #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf1 to remain available until expended1 to carry out this section4 4 7b7 ,direct expenditure or redistribution by recipient ,section #bag7;a7 of the ,public ,works and ,economic ,development ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #caed;c7a77 is amended by striking or #bjg and inserting #bjg1 or #bai4 7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,public ,works and ,economic ,development ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #caba note7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bah the following new item3 ,sec4 #bai4 ,revitalizing business districts program4 4