§ 5923. Rural electronic commerce extension program

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Development center

The term “development center” means—

(A) the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development;

(B) the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development or its designee;

(D) the Western Rural Development Center or its designee.

(2) Extension program

The term “extension program” means the rural electronic commerce extension program established under subsection (b) of this section.

(3) Microenterprise

The term “microenterprise” means a commercial enterprise that has 5 or fewer employees, 1 or more of whom own the enterprise.

(4) Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

(5) Small business

The term “small business” has the meaning given the term “small-business concern” by section 632 (a) of title 15.

(b) Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a rural electronic commerce extension program to expand and enhance electronic commerce practices and technology to be used by small businesses and microenterprises in rural areas.

(1) In general

The Secretary shall carry out the program established under subsection (b) of this section by making—

(A) grants to each of the development centers; and

(B) competitive grants to land-grant colleges and universities (or consortia of land-grant colleges and universities) and to colleges and universities (including community colleges) with agricultural or rural development programs—

(i) to develop and facilitate innovative rural electronic commerce business strategies; and

(ii) to assist small businesses and microenterprises in identifying, adapting, implementing, and using electronic commerce business practices and technologies.

(2) Eligibility

The selection criteria established for grants awarded under paragraph (1)(B) shall include—

(A) the ability of an applicant to provide training and education on best practices, technology transfer, adoption, and use of electronic commerce in rural communities by small businesses and microenterprises;

(B) the extent and geographic diversity of the area served by the proposed project or activity under the extension program;

(C) in the case of a land-grant college or university, the extent of participation of the land-grant college or university in the extension program (including any economic benefits that would result from that participation);

(D) the percentage of funding and in-kind commitments from non-Federal sources that would be needed by and available for a proposed project or activity under the extension program; and

(E) the extent of participation of low-income and minority businesses or microenterprises in a proposed project or activity under the extension program.

(3) Non-Federal share

(A) In general

As a condition of the receipt of funds under this section, a development center or grant applicant shall agree to obtain from non-Federal sources (including State, local, nonprofit, or private sector sources) contributions of an amount equal to 50 percent of the grant amount.

(B) Form

The non-Federal share required under subparagraph (A) may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions.

The non-Federal share required under subparagraph (A) may be reduced to 25 percent if the grant recipient serves low-income or minority-owned businesses or microenterprises, as determined by the Secretary.

(d) Report

Not later than 2 years after May 13, 2002, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes—

(1) ^[1] the policies, practices, and procedures used to assist rural communities in efforts to adopt and use electronic commerce techniques; and

(e) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2007, of which not less than 1/3 of the amount made available for each fiscal year shall be used to carry out activities under subsection (c)(1)(A) of this section.

[1] So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.

U.S. Code

§ 5923. Rural electronic commerce extension program