,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ijcb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #bf1 #bjbf,mrs4 ,mc,iver 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,carson1 ,mr4 ,moulton1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi1 and ,mr4 ,fields7 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 direct the ,secretary of ,commerce to establish a pilot program to award grants to renovate and develop third spaces1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,revitalizing ,equitable ,spaces to ,transform ,our ,regional ,environments and ,third ,spaces ,act of #bjbf or the ,,restore ,third ,spaces ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,third spaces--social environments distinct from home and work--are essential for democratic participation1 mental health1 social trust1 and cultural vitality4 ,they provide opportunities for residents to connect across lines of difference2 reduce social isolation2 and foster emotional well-being1 civic engagement1 and mutual aid4 7#b7 ,third spaces serve as engines for local economic resilience and community wealth-building4 ,they act as vital incubators for local entrepreneurship and innovation by providing low-barrier environments for networking and collaboration4 ,in urban and rural settings1 vibrant social hubs drive foot traffic to surrounding businesses1 increase property values1 and foster a distinct sense of place that attracts sustainable long-term investment4 ,by providing shared-use infrastructure1 third spaces lower the cost of entry for small businesses and cooperative enterprises1 turning social capital into tangible economic opportunity4 7#c7 ,decades of public disinvestment1 segregation1 urban renewal1 and gentrification have disproportionately dismantled shared civic spaces in underserved and marginalized communities4 ,the closure of community centers1 parks1 libraries1 and gathering places has weakened social infrastructure that once supported local organizing1 intergenerational relationships1 and cultural continuity4 7#d7 ,the widespread loss of accessible third spaces in urban and rural areas has reduced opportunities for collective problem-solving1 mutual aid1 and civic participation1 thereby deepening loneliness1 disconnection1 and mistrust4 7#e7 ,social isolation and the decline of communal life have created conditions conducive to online radicalization and misinformation4 ,when residents lack shared public spaces for dialogue1 creativity1 and belonging1 they are more vulnerable to divisive and extremist influences online4 7#f7 ,third spaces also contribute to local economic resilience4 ,by fostering collaboration1 creativity1 and shared-use infrastructure1 these spaces can generate small business growth1 cooperative enterprise1 workforce development1 and community wealth-building while remaining open and accessible to all4 7#g7 ,the ,federal ,government has a vital role in seeding and studying innovative third space models that promote equity1 inclusion1 and sustainability4 ,a national pilot program can catalyze local leadership1 restore social cohesion1 and demonstrate how inclusive1 low- or no-cost shared public life can flourish in the twenty-first century4 #c4 ,pilot grant program to renovate and develop third spaces 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities to renovate and develop third spaces4 7b7 ,grant priorities ,in awarding grants under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall prioritize any eligible entity that seeks to renovate or develop a third space that-- 7#a7 strengthens the local economy2 and 7#b7 mitigates social isolation and the decline of communal life4 7c7 ,application requirements ,an application submitted by an eligible entity for a grant under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 include documentation of the history of the community in which the third space to be renovated or developed is located1 including documentation of historical inequities-- 7,a7 within such community2 and 7,b7 between such community and other communities2 and 7#b7 describe how such eligible entity1 in renovating or developing a third space pursuant to such grant1 plans to-- 7,a7 engage members of such community in the design of such third space2 7,b7 ensure that such renovation or development-- 7i7 benefits members of such community2 and 7ii7 does not exacerbate such historical inequities2 and 7,c7 preserve local-- 7i7 culture2 7ii7 history2 and 7iii7 identity4 7d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity may use a grant under subsection 7a7 to-- 7#a7 plan the renovation or development of a third space1 including through-- 7,a7 community engagement initiatives2 7,b7 feasibility studies2 and 7,c7 other pre-development activities2 and 7#b7 pay construction costs associated with the renovation or development of such third space4 7e7 ,equity and historical justice requirements 7#a7 ,federal requirements ,not less than #fj percent of any amounts awarded under subsection 7a7 for a fiscal year shall be awarded to eligible entities serving low-income and underserved communities4 7#b7 ,accessibility policies ,each eligible entity renovating or developing a third space pursuant to a grant under subsection 7a7 shall establish a policy to ensure that such third space remains free or low-cost to members of the public1 except that an eligible entity may charge a reasonable rent to a business for the use of such third space4 7f7 ,expiration of pilot 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the pilot program shall expire on the date that is #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,optional extension of pilot ,not later than #cj days before the expiration of the #c-year period following the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary may extend the pilot program for an additional period of #b years4 7g7 ,reports 7#a7 ,eligible entity reports ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish reporting requirements for an eligible entity renovating or developing a third space pursuant to a grant under subsection 7a71 which shall-- 7,a7 be responsive to the resources available to such eligible entity to engage in such reporting2 and 7,b7 include required reporting regarding-- 7i7 attendance rates at such third spaces2 7ii7 programs offered at such third spaces2 and 7iii7 social1 cultural1 and direct and indirect economic impacts of such third spaces4 7#b7 ,reports to ,congress ,not later than #c years after the expiration of the pilot program under subsection 7f71 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report-- 7,a7 summarizing metrics of success for third spaces renovated and developed pursuant to grants under subsection 7a71 including-- 7i7 attendance rates at such third spaces2 7ii7 the number of new businesses formed in the communities in which such third spaces are located2 7iii7 the affordability of such third spaces2 and 7iv7 survey-based measures of belonging experienced by attendees at such third spaces2 7,b7 assessing1 based on the metrics established in paragraph 7#a71 the outcomes of the pilot program1 including1 for third spaces renovated and developed pursuant to grants under subsection 7a7-- 7i7 social1 cultural1 and direct and indirect economic impacts of such third spaces2 and 7ii7 the effectiveness of such third spaces in-- 7,i7 reducing social isolation2 and 7,,ii7 supporting community life2 and 7,c7 providing recommendations regarding the expansion of the pilot program4 7h7 ,administrative expense cap ,not more than #e percent of any funds appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year may be expended for ,federal administration of the pilot program4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bjj1jjj1jjj4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a local government2 7,b7 a nonprofit corporation2 7,c7 a ,federally recognized ,indian tribe2 7,d7 a ,native ,hawaiian organization2 7,e7 a public library2 7,f7 a community college2 or 7,g7 a partnership including at least-- 7i7 one nonprofit corporation2 and 7ii7 one local government or an agency thereof4 7#b7 ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#c7 ,the term third space-- 7,a7 means a space open to members of the public that-- 7i7 does not function primarily as a residence or a workplace2 and 7ii7 supports social1 cultural1 and economic life2 and 7,b7 may include-- 7i7 a community athletic field2 7ii7 a community center2 7iii7 a library2 7iv7 a cultural center2 7v7 a makerspace2 7vi7 a nonprofit incubator2 7vii7 a park2 7viii7 a playground2 7ix7 a public market2 7x7 a schoolyard with a shared use agreement2 7xi7 a small business concern 7as described in section #c of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb772 and 7xii7 a combination of two or more spaces listed in clauses 7i7 through 7xi74 7#d7 ,the term underserved community means a community-- 7,a7 that is subject to one or more of the economic distress criteria under section #cja4c7;a77#a7 of title #ac1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation72 and 7,b7 that-- 7i7 is located in a rural area2 or 7ii7 has experienced-- 7,i7 poverty2 7,,ii7 disinvestment2 7,,iii7 racial segregation2 7,,iv7 economic segregation2 or 7,v7 the loss of third spaces due to-- 7aa7 redevelopment2 7bb7 gentrification2 or 7cc7 the construction of new infrastructure4