§ 2009dd-3. Regional Rural Investment Boards

(a) In general

A Regional Rural Investment Board shall be a multijurisdictional and multisectoral group that—

(1) represents the long-term economic, community, and cultural interests of a region;

(2) is certified by the Secretary to establish a rural investment strategy and compete for regional innovation grants;

(3) is composed of residents of a region that are broadly representative of diverse public, nonprofit, and private sector interests in investment in the region, including (to the maximum extent practicable) representatives of—

(A) units of local, multijurisdictional, or State government, including not more than 1 representative from each State in the region;

(B) nonprofit community-based development organizations, including community development financial institutions and community development corporations;

(D) in the case of regions with federally recognized Indian tribes, Indian tribes;

(E) regional development organizations;

(F) private business organizations, including chambers of commerce;

(G)

(i) institutions of higher education (as defined in section 1001 (a) of title 20);

(ii) tribally controlled colleges or universities (as defined in section 1801 (a) of title 25); and

(iii) tribal technical institutions;

(H) workforce and job training organizations;

(I) other entities and organizations, as determined by the Regional Board;

(J) cooperatives; and

(K) consortia of entities and organizations described in subparagraphs (A) through (J);

(4) represents a region inhabited by—

(A) more than 25,000 individuals, as determined in the latest available decennial census conducted under section 141 (a) of title 13; or

(B) in the case of a region with a population density of less than 2 individuals per square mile, at least 10,000 individuals, as determined in that latest available decennial census;

(5) has a membership of which not less than 25 percent, nor more than 40 percent, represents—

(A) units of local government and Indian tribes described in subparagraphs (A) and (D) of paragraph (3);

(B) nonprofit community and economic development organizations and institutions of higher education described in subparagraphs (B) and (G) of paragraph (3); or

(C) private business (including chambers of commerce and cooperatives) and agricultural, natural resource, and other asset-based related industries described in subparagraphs (C) and (F) of paragraph (3);

(6) has a membership that may include an officer or employee of a Federal agency, serving as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Regional Board to represent the agency; and

(7) has organizational documents that demonstrate that the Regional Board will—

(A) create a collaborative public-private strategy process;

(B) develop, and submit to the Secretary for approval, a regional investment strategy that meets the requirements of section 2009dd–4 of this title, with benchmarks—

(i) to promote investment in rural areas through the use of grants made available under this subchapter; and

(ii) to provide financial and technical assistance to promote a broad-based regional development program aimed at increasing and diversifying economic growth, improved community facilities, and improved quality of life;

(D) provide annual reports to the Secretary and the National Board on progress made in achieving the benchmarks of the regional investment strategy, including an annual financial statement; and

(E) select a non-Federal organization (such as a regional development organization) in the local area served by the Regional Board that has previous experience in the management of Federal funds to serve as fiscal manager of any funds of the Regional Board.

(b) Urban areas

A resident of an urban area may serve as an ex-officio member of a Regional Board.

A Regional Board shall—

(1) create a collaborative planning process for public-private investment within a region;

(2) develop, and submit to the Secretary for approval, a regional investment strategy;

(3) develop approaches that will create permanent resources for philanthropic giving in the region, to the maximum extent practicable;

(4) implement an approved strategy; and

(5) provide annual reports to the Secretary and the National Board on progress made in achieving the strategy, including an annual financial statement.

U.S. Code

§ 2009dd-3. Regional Rural Investment Boards