II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2464 

To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary 

for Economic Development, to establish a RECOMPETE grant program 

to provide flexible, 10-year block grants for purposes of creating quality 

jobs, providing resources to help local residents access opportunities 

and attain and retain employment, increasing local per capita income 

and employment rates, and supporting long-term, sustained economic 

growth and opportunity in persistently distressed areas, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 22, 2021 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. BENNET, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Ms. ROSEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 

Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, to establish a RECOMPETE grant program to provide flexible, 

10-year block grants for purposes of creating quality 

jobs, providing resources to help local residents access 

opportunities and attain and retain employment, increasing local per capita income and employment rates, and 

supporting long-term, sustained economic growth and opportunity in persistently distressed areas, and for other 

purposes. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rebuilding Economies 

5 and Creating Opportunities for More People to Excel Act’’ 

6 or the ‘‘RECOMPETE Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 

9 (1) APPLICABLE AREA.—The term ‘‘applicable 

10 area’’— 

11 (A) with respect to a local labor market, 

12 local community, or partial local labor market— 

13 (i) means— 

14 (I) the geographical area of the 

15 local labor market, local community, 

16 or partial local labor market; and 

17 (II) each corresponding unit of 

18 local government in the geographical 

19 area described in subclause (I); and 

20 (ii) does not include any Tribal land 

21 in the geographical area described in 

22 clause (i)(I), unless the Tribal government 

23 with jurisdiction over the Tribal land elects 

24 to participate in an applicable cooperation 

25 agreement under section 3(b)(2)(B); and 


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1 (B) with respect to a Tribal government, 

2 means the Tribal land subject to the jurisdic3 tion of the Tribal government. 

4 (2) APPLICANT.—The term ‘‘applicant’’ 

5 means— 

6 (A) a unit of general local government, 

7 such as a county or a county equivalent (includ8 ing a borough in the State of Alaska and a par9 ish in the State of Louisiana), city, town, vil10 lage, or other general-purpose political subdivi11 sion of a State; 

12 (B) the District of Columbia; 

13 (C) a territory or possession of the United 

14 States; 

15 (D) a Tribal government; 

16 (E) a State-authorized political subdivision 

17 or other entity, such as a special-purpose entity 

18 engaged in economic development activities; 

19 (F) a public or private nonprofit organiza20 tion, acting in cooperation with the officials of 

21 a political subdivision or entity described in 

22 subparagraph (E); 

23 (G) an economic development district (as 

24 defined in section 3 of the Public Works and 


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1 Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

2 3122)); and 

3 (H) a consortium of units of general local 

4 government within an applicable area. 

5 (3) COOPERATION AGREEMENT.—The term 

6 ‘‘cooperation agreement’’ means an agreement en7 tered into under section 3(b) relating to the imple8 mentation of a RECOMPETE plan for an applicable 

9 area. 

10 (4) ELIGIBLE.—The term ‘‘eligible’’ means— 

11 (A) with respect to a local labor market, 

12 local community, partial local labor market, or 

13 Tribal government, that the local labor market, 

14 local community, partial local labor market, or 

15 Tribal government meets the applicable distress 

16 eligibility criteria described in section 3(a); and 

17 (B) with respect to an applicant or lead 

18 entity, that the applicant or lead entity has sub19 mitted an application for a RECOMPETE 

20 grant under section 4(a)(2) relating to a local 

21 labor market, local community, partial local 

22 labor market, or Tribal government described in 

23 subparagraph (A). 


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1 (5) LEAD ENTITY.—The term ‘‘lead entity’’ 

2 means an applicant designated to act as a lead enti3 ty pursuant to an applicable cooperation agreement. 

4 (6) LOCAL COMMUNITY.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘local com6 munity’’ means the area served by an applicant 

7 described in paragraph (2)(A) that— 

8 (i)(I) is located within a local labor 

9 market or partial local labor market that is 

10 not eligible; or 

11 (II) is not coexistent with a local labor 

12 market; and 

13 (ii) meets such additional criteria, in14 cluding a minimum population require15 ment, as the Secretary may establish. 

16 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘local com17 munity’’ includes a consortium of 2 or more ap18 plicants described in subparagraph (A)— 

19 (i) all of which are located within the 

20 same local labor market; or 

21 (ii) each of which is directly adjacent 

22 to an area described in subparagraph (A). 

23 (7) LOCAL LABOR MARKET.—The term ‘‘local 

24 labor market’’ means any of the following areas that 


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1 contains 1 or more applicants described in subpara2 graphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (2): 

3 (A) A commuting zone, as defined by the 

4 Economic Research Service of the Department 

5 of Agriculture. 

6 (B) Subject to subparagraph (C), if 1 or 

7 more discrete metropolitan statistical areas or 

8 micropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the 

9 Office of Management and Budget (collectively 

10 referred to as ‘‘core-based statistical areas’’), 

11 exist within a commuting zone described in sub12 paragraph (A), each such core-based statistical 

13 area. 

14 (C) If the remaining area of a commuting 

15 zone described in subparagraph (A), excluding 

16 all core-based statistical areas within the com17 muting zone described in subparagraph (B), 

18 contains 1 or fewer counties and has a popu19 lation of 7,500 or fewer residents, that remain20 ing area combined with an adjacent core-based 

21 statistical area within the commuting zone. 

22 (8) PARTIAL LOCAL LABOR MARKET.—The 

23 term ‘‘partial local labor market’’ means a geo24 graphical area that— 


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1 (A) is located within, but is not coextensive 

2 with, a local labor market; and 

3 (B) contains 1 or more applicants de4 scribed in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of 

5 paragraph (2). 

6 (9) PRIME-AGE.—The term ‘‘prime-age’’ means 

7 individuals between the ages of 25 years and 54 

8 years. 

9 (10) PRIME-AGE EMPLOYMENT GAP.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘prime-age 

11 employment gap’’, with respect to an applicable 

12 area, means the difference (expressed as a per13 centage), calculated in accordance with sub14 paragraph (B), between— 

15 (i) the national 5-year average prime16 age employment rate; and 

17 (ii) the 5-year average prime-age em18 ployment rate of the applicable area. 

19 (B) CALCULATION.—For purposes of cal20 culating the prime-age employment gap under 

21 subparagraph (A), an applicant shall use data 

22 relating to the most recent 5-year period for 

23 which data are available preceding the first date 

24 of the application period established for the ap25 plicant under section 4(a)(2)(B). 


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1 (11) PRIME-AGE EMPLOYMENT RATE.— 

2 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘prime-age 

3 employment rate’’, with respect to an applicable 

4 area, means the quotient (expressed as a per5 centage), calculated in accordance with sub6 paragraph (B), obtained by dividing— 

7 (i) the 5-year average quantity of the 

8 prime-age population of the applicable area 

9 that is employed; by 

10 (ii) the total prime-age population of 

11 the applicable area. 

12 (B) CALCULATION.—For purposes of cal13 culating the prime-age employment rate under 

14 subparagraph (A), an applicant shall use data 

15 relating to the most recent 5-year period for 

16 which data are available preceding the first date 

17 of the application period established for the ap18 plicant under section 4(a)(2)(B). 

19 (12) RECIPIENT.—The term ‘‘recipient’’ means, 

20 as applicable— 

21 (A) an applicant to which a RECOMPETE 

22 grant is provided; or 

23 (B) a lead entity designated pursuant to a 

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1 tion 3(b) for an applicable area for which a RE2 COMPETE grant is provided. 

3 (13) RECOMPETE GRANT.—The term ‘‘RE4 COMPETE grant’’ means a grant provided to a re5 cipient under section 4(a). 

6 (14) RECOMPETE PLAN.—The term ‘‘RE7 COMPETE plan’’ means a plan developed by an ap8 plicant under section 4(b). 

9 (15) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

10 means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through 

11 the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development. 

12 (16) SUBRECIPIENT.—The term ‘‘subrecipient’’ 

13 means an applicant located within an applicable area 

14 that— 

15 (A) is not a recipient; but 

16 (B) receives funds provided under a RE17 COMPETE grant in such manner and in such 

18 amounts as may be agreed to in the RECOM19 PETE plan for the applicable area. 

20 (17) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘Tribal 

21 government’’ means the recognized governing body 

22 of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, 

23 pueblo, village, community, component band, or com24 ponent reservation, individually identified (including 

25 parenthetically) in the list published by the Bureau 


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1 of Indian Affairs on January 29, 2021, pursuant to 

2 section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian 

3 Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). 

4 (18) TRIBAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Tribal land’’ 

5 means— 

6 (A) any land located within the boundaries 

7 of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria; 

8 and 

9 (B) any land not located within the bound10 aries of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or 

11 rancheria, the title to which is held— 

12 (i) in trust by the United States for 

13 the benefit of an Indian Tribe or an indi14 vidual Indian; 

15 (ii) by an Indian Tribe or an indi16 vidual Indian, subject to restriction against 

17 alienation under Federal law; or 

18 (iii) by a dependent Indian commu19 nity. 

20 SEC. 3. DISTRESS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND COOPERA21 TION AGREEMENTS. 

22 (a) DISTRESS ELIGIBILITY.— 

23 (1) CRITERIA.—To be eligible for a RECOM24 PETE grant, a local labor market, local community, 

25 partial local labor market, or Tribal government 


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1 shall meet the following criteria, as applicable, as de2 termined by the Secretary: 

3 (A) LOCAL LABOR MARKETS.—A local 

4 labor market shall have a prime-age employ5 ment gap equal to not less than 2.5 percent. 

6 (B) LOCAL COMMUNITIES.—A local com7 munity shall— 

8 (i) meet the applicable requirements 

9 described in section 2(6); and 

10 (ii) have— 

11 (I) a median household income 

12 equal to not more than $75,000; and 

13 (II)(aa) a prime-age employment 

14 gap of not less than 5 percent; or 

15 (bb) as determined by the Sec16 retary, a special need arising from— 

17 (AA) a recent decrease in 

18 the applicable prime-age employ19 ment rate; or 

20 (BB) another severe eco21 nomic disruption that is likely to 

22 reduce the applicable prime-age 

23 employment rate. 

24 (C) PARTIAL LOCAL LABOR MARKETS.—A 

25 partial local labor market shall— 


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1 (i) have a prime-age employment gap 

2 equal to not less than 2.5 percent; and 

3 (ii) receive a waiver under subsection 

4 (b)(3)(A). 

5 (D) TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.— 

6 (i) IN GENERAL.—A Tribal govern7 ment shall have a prime-age employment 

8 gap of not less than 2.5 percent, as cal9 culated under clause (ii). 

10 (ii) CALCULATION.—For purposes of 

11 clause (i), the prime-age employment gap 

12 of a Tribal government shall be calculated, 

13 with respect to the most recent 5-year pe14 riod for which data are available, for all in15 dividuals residing on the Tribal land of the 

16 Tribal government. 

17 (2) LIMITATIONS.— 

18 (A) APPLICABLE AREAS.—A local labor 

19 market, local community, partial local labor 

20 market, or Tribal government shall not be eligi21 ble to receive more than 1 RECOMPETE 

22 grant. 

23 (B) APPLICANTS.—For purposes of the 

24 RECOMPETE grant program, an applicant 

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1 mit an application under section 4(a)(2) on be2 half of, more than 1 eligible local labor market, 

3 local community, partial local labor market, or 

4 Tribal government. 

5 (b) COOPERATION AGREEMENTS.— 

6 (1) REQUIREMENT.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph 

8 (3), if an applicable area contains 2 or more ap9 plicants described in subparagraph (A), (B), or 

10 (C) of section 2(2), each such applicant shall, 

11 as a condition of receiving a RECOMPETE 

12 grant for the applicable area— 

13 (i) enter into a legally binding co14 operation agreement for the applicable 

15 area in accordance with subparagraph (C); 

16 and 

17 (ii) designate 1 applicant as the lead 

18 entity to act in a representative capacity 

19 for purposes of assuming overall responsi20 bility for carrying out the programs and 

21 activities, and achieving compliance with 

22 the applicable requirements, under the RE23 COMPETE grant. 

24 (B) PARTICIPATION BY OTHER APPLI25 CANTS.—An applicant described in subparaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jul 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2464.IS S2464

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1 graph (E), (F), or (G) of section 2(2) that is 

2 located in an applicable area for which a co3 operation agreement is entered into under sub4 paragraph (A) may elect to join the cooperation 

5 agreement, at the discretion of the applicant. 

6 (C) TERMS.—A cooperation agreement 

7 under this subsection shall include— 

8 (i) a written statement that— 

9 (I) is executed by each applicant 

10 that is a party to the cooperation 

11 agreement; and 

12 (II) establishes the consent of the 

13 applicant to be bound by the terms 

14 of— 

15 (aa) the cooperation agree16 ment; and 

17 (bb) the RECOMPETE plan 

18 for the applicable area; and 

19 (ii) a process for redress of any ac20 tion, or failure to act, by the lead entity 

21 that is detrimental to an applicant. 

22 (D) LIMITATION.—An applicable area may 

23 be the subject of only 1 cooperation agreement. 

24 (2) ELECTION BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND

25 TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.— 


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1 (A) LOCAL COMMUNITIES.— 

2 (i) IN GENERAL.—A local community 

3 may enter into a cooperation agreement 

4 described in paragraph (1) with any other 

5 local communities located within the same 

6 local labor market, subject to the condition 

7 that 1 or more of those local communities 

8 shall be an eligible local community. 

9 (ii) PARTIES.—A cooperation agree10 ment under clause (i) may be executed be11 tween or among— 

12 (I) an eligible local community; 

13 and 

14 (II) 1 or more— 

15 (aa) other eligible local com16 munities, or applicants within an 

17 eligible local community, located 

18 within the same local labor mar19 ket; or 

20 (bb) applicants that are not 

21 located within an eligible local 

22 community, but are located with23 in the same local labor market as 

24 an eligible local community. 


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1 (iii) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.—On exe2 cution of a cooperation agreement under 

3 this subparagraph involving 1 or more ap4 plicants described in clause (ii)(II)(bb), the 

5 Secretary may award additional amounts 

6 in accordance with subsection (c)(6) of sec7 tion 6, subject to the applicable cost-shar8 ing requirements of subsection (e)(2) of 

9 that section. 

10 (B) TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.— 

11 (i) IN GENERAL.—Regardless of 

12 whether the Tribal government is eligible, 

13 subject to clause (ii), a Tribal government 

14 may elect to enter into a cooperation 

15 agreement described in paragraph (1) with 

16 1 or more applicants from an eligible local 

17 labor market, local community, or partial 

18 local labor market that is adjacent to the 

19 Tribal land of the Tribal government. 

20 (ii) DEADLINE.—An election by a 

21 Tribal government under clause (i) shall be 

22 made by not later than 45 days after the 

23 first date of the application period estab24 lished for the Tribal government under 

25 section 4(a)(2)(B). 


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1 (iii) TREATMENT.—If a Tribal gov2 ernment elects to enter into a cooperation 

3 agreement under clause (i)— 

4 (I) the Tribal land of the Tribal 

5 government shall be— 

6 (aa) considered to be in7 cluded in the applicable area of 

8 the eligible local labor market, 

9 local community, or partial local 

10 labor market that is the subject 

11 of the cooperation agreement; 

12 and 

13 (bb) subject to the RECOM14 PETE plan for the applicable 

15 area described in item (aa); and 

16 (II) the amount of the RECOM17 PETE grant to which the Tribal gov18 ernment is otherwise eligible to re19 ceive, if applicable— 

20 (aa) shall not be decreased; 

21 and 

22 (bb) shall be added to the 

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1 ance with the RECOMPETE 

2 plan. 

3 (iv) ENCOURAGEMENT TO COLLABO4 RATE.—To the maximum extent prac5 ticable, the Secretary shall encourage Trib6 al governments to enter into cooperation 

7 agreements described in clause (i). 

8 (v) EFFECT OF SUBPARAGRAPH.— 

9 Nothing in this subparagraph— 

10 (I) requires a Tribal government 

11 to enter into a cooperation agreement 

12 in order to receive a RECOMPETE 

13 grant; 

14 (II) penalizes a Tribal govern15 ment that does not elect to participate 

16 in a cooperation agreement; or 

17 (III) otherwise affects the 

18 amount of a RECOMPETE grant to 

19 be provided to any Tribal government. 

20 (3) WAIVERS.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 

22 waive the requirement under paragraph (1) 

23 with respect to an applicant acting on behalf of 

24 a partial local labor market that— 


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1 (i) meets the criterion described in 

2 subsection (a)(1)(C)(i); 

3 (ii) is located within an eligible local 

4 labor market with respect to which a co5 operation agreement is unable to be exe6 cuted under paragraph (1), despite reason7 able efforts; and 

8 (iii) submits to the Secretary a re9 quest for a waiver under this paragraph 

10 demonstrating the ability to carry out the 

11 programs and activities, and achieve com12 pliance with the applicable requirements, 

13 under sections 4 and 5 in the applicable 

14 area. 

15 (B) EFFECT.—On receipt of a waiver 

16 under subparagraph (A), a partial local labor 

17 market— 

18 (i) shall be eligible to receive a RE19 COMPETE grant; and 

20 (ii) may elect to carry out the pro21 grams and activities, and achieve compli22 ance with the applicable requirements, in 

23 the applicable area under the RECOM24 PETE grant— 

25 (I) independently; or 


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1 (II) by designating from among 

2 applicants located within the applica3 ble area a lead entity pursuant to a 

4 cooperation agreement described in 

5 paragraph (1), which shall submit to 

6 the Secretary a written notice in ac7 cordance with paragraph (4). 

8 (4) SUBMISSION TO SECRETARY.—On execution 

9 of a cooperation agreement under paragraph (1), 

10 (2), or (3)(B)(ii)(II), the lead entity shall submit to 

11 the Secretary a written notice that— 

12 (A) describes— 

13 (i) the cooperation agreement; 

14 (ii) the date of execution of the co15 operation agreement; 

16 (iii) the authorization of the lead enti17 ty under the cooperation agreement; and 

18 (iv) the formation of a consortium de19 scribed in section 2(2)(H) under the co20 operation agreement, if applicable; and 

21 (B) includes— 

22 (i) a copy of each written statement 

23 under paragraph (1)(C)(i) relating to the 

24 cooperation agreement; and 


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1 (ii) any necessary certifications or 

2 other documentation relating to the co3 operation agreement. 

4 SEC. 4. RECOMPETE GRANT PROGRAM. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

7 a formula grant program under which the Secretary 

8 shall provide to eligible applicants and lead entities 

9 block grants, to be known as ‘‘RECOMPETE 

10 grants’’, to carry out programs and activities in the 

11 applicable areas served by the applicants and lead 

12 entities that— 

13 (A) create quality jobs; 

14 (B) provide resources to help local resi15 dents— 

16 (i) access opportunities; and 

17 (ii) attain and retain employment; 

18 (C) increase local per capita income and 

19 prime-age employment rates; and 

20 (D) support long-term, sustained economic 

21 growth and opportunity in persistently dis22 tressed areas. 

23 (2) APPLICATIONS.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—To be considered for 

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1 gible applicant or lead entity shall submit to the 

2 Secretary an application— 

3 (i) at such time, in such manner, and 

4 containing such information as the Sec5 retary determines to be appropriate; and 

6 (ii) that includes a RECOMPETE 

7 plan for the applicable area served by the 

8 applicant or lead entity, in accordance with 

9 subsection (b). 

10 (B) APPLICATION WINDOWS.—In carrying 

11 out the RECOMPETE grant program, the Sec12 retary shall establish the periods during which 

13 applications may be submitted under subpara14 graph (A), subject to the conditions that— 

15 (i) the initial application period estab16 lished under this subparagraph shall be not 

17 less than 3 years; and 

18 (ii) for the second application period 

19 under this subparagraph and each period 

20 thereafter, the Secretary may, as the Sec21 retary determines to be appropriate— 

22 (I) extend the period; 

23 (II) accept late applications; 

24 (III) initiate a new application 

25 cycle; and 


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1 (IV) establish additional rules 

2 and regulations under this subsection. 

3 (C) LIMITATIONS.— 

4 (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 

5 (ii), the Secretary may establish a limita6 tion on— 

7 (I) the number of applications to 

8 be accepted by the Secretary during 

9 each fiscal year from each type of ap10 plicant; and 

11 (II) the total amount of each 

12 RECOMPETE grant payment pro13 vided for each fiscal year. 

14 (ii) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing 

15 any limitation under clause (i), the Sec16 retary shall ensure that— 

17 (I) each applicant and lead entity 

18 that submits to the Secretary an ap19 plication satisfactory to the Secretary 

20 for an application period established 

21 under subparagraph (B) shall be con22 sidered for receipt of a RECOMPETE 

23 grant during that application period; 

24 and 

25 (II) the Secretary is able— 


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1 (aa) to review applications 

2 and provide technical assistance 

3 and expertise to applicants in the 

4 development and implementation 

5 of RECOMPETE plans; and 

6 (bb) to conduct benchmark 

7 evaluations and meet applicable 

8 reporting requirements in accord9 ance with section 5. 

10 (D) PRIORITY.—In selecting recipients of 

11 RECOMPETE grants, the Secretary shall give 

12 priority consideration to severely distressed, eli13 gible— 

14 (i) local labor markets; and 

15 (ii) Tribal governments. 

16 (E) APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall ap17 prove or disapprove each application submitted 

18 under this paragraph (including the RECOM19 PETE plan included in the application) as soon 

20 as practicable after the date of receipt of the 

21 application. 

22 (3) TERM.—A RECOMPETE grant shall— 

23 (A) have a term of 10 fiscal years; and 

24 (B) be disbursed over that term in accord25 ance with section 6(d). 


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1 (b) RECOMPETE PLANS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receipt of 

3 a RECOMPETE grant, the application of an appli4 cant or lead entity under subsection (a)(2) shall in5 clude a RECOMPETE plan for the applicable area 

6 served by the applicant or lead entity in accordance 

7 with this subsection. 

8 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—A RECOMPETE plan 

9 shall include the following information with respect 

10 to the applicable area: 

11 (A) An identification of— 

12 (i) each economic development chal13 lenge proposed to be addressed using a 

14 RECOMPETE grant; and 

15 (ii) any past, present, or projected fu16 ture economic development investments in 

17 the applicable area, including, with respect 

18 to the investment— 

19 (I) each public and private par20 ticipant; and 

21 (II) each source of funding. 

22 (B) A comprehensive strategy, for the 10- 

23 year period beginning on the proposed date of 

24 receipt of a RECOMPETE grant, to address 

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1 paragraph (A)(i), in accordance with subsection 

2 (d), in a manner that— 

3 (i) promotes long-term, sustained eco4 nomic growth, opportunity, job creation, 

5 employment, and increased per capita in6 come; 

7 (ii) reduces the prime-age employment 

8 gap of the applicable area; 

9 (iii) creates jobs and connects local 

10 workers to employment and other economic 

11 opportunities; 

12 (iv) maximizes the effective develop13 ment and use of the local workforce; and 

14 (v) provides accessible resources to 

15 support job attainment and retention. 

16 (C) The total projected cost to carry out 

17 the RECOMPETE plan. 

18 (D) The total amount of the RECOM19 PETE grant requested, and the justification for 

20 that amount. 

21 (E) The roles and responsibilities of each 

22 recipient and subrecipient carrying out an activ23 ity under the RECOMPETE plan. 


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1 (F) The proposed allocation by the recipi2 ent to subrecipients of any RECOMPETE 

3 grant amounts. 

4 (G) An identification of certain benchmark 

5 criteria for use in benchmark evaluations under 

6 section 5(a), including reducing the prime-age 

7 employment gap of the applicable area by cer8 tain percentages at periodic intervals, with the 

9 goals of— 

10 (i) reducing the prime-age employ11 ment gap by not less than 50 percent on 

12 completion of the term of the RECOM13 PETE grant provided to the recipient; and 

14 (ii) achieving compliance with such 

15 other criteria as the Secretary may estab16 lish. 

17 (3) OPTIONAL INCLUSIONS.—A RECOMPETE 

18 plan may include strategies— 

19 (A) to address inequality in the applicable 

20 area, such as inequality with respect to income, 

21 opportunity, or employment on the basis of 

22 race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation; 

23 (B) to support business development and 

24 entrepreneurship; and 


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1 (C) to support innovation and businesses, 

2 job creation, and workforce development in in3 dustries expected to continue or increase in 

4 force in the applicable area. 

5 (4) CONSENT OF PARTIES TO COOPERATION

6 AGREEMENT.—If an applicable area is subject to a 

7 cooperation agreement under section 3(b), the RE8 COMPETE plan for the applicable area shall be— 

9 (A) developed in accordance with that co10 operation agreement; and 

11 (B) consented to by each applicant that is 

12 a party to the cooperation agreement. 

13 (5) INTEGRATION WITH COMPREHENSIVE ECO14 NOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.—If an applicable 

15 area is subject to a comprehensive economic develop16 ment strategy approved by the Secretary under sec17 tion 302 of the Public Works and Economic Devel18 opment Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3162), the RECOM19 PETE plan for the applicable area— 

20 (A) shall be integrated with that strategy, 

21 to the maximum extent practicable; and 

22 (B) may be developed and included as a 

23 supplemental portion of that strategy, rather 

24 than as an independent plan. 


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1 (6) APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary 

2 shall approve a RECOMPETE plan that the Sec3 retary determines meets the applicable requirements 

4 of this subsection. 

5 (c) PLANNING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

6 (1) PLANNING ASSISTANCE.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of assist8 ing a recipient in developing a RECOMPETE 

9 plan, the Secretary may make an advance pay10 ment of a RECOMPETE grant in accordance 

11 with subparagraph (B), if the Secretary deter12 mines that— 

13 (i) the recipient requires such an ad14 vance; and 

15 (ii) the advance will be used— 

16 (I) effectively; and 

17 (II) for planning purposes. 

18 (B) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of 

19 an advance payment under subparagraph (A) 

20 shall be equal to not more than the lesser of— 

21 (i) an amount equal to 5 percent of 

22 the maximum RECOMPETE grant 

23 amount to be provided to the applicable re24 cipient; and 

25 (ii) $300,000. 


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1 (C) NO COST SHARE.—An advance pay2 ment made under this paragraph shall not be 

3 subject to any cost-sharing requirement. 

4 (2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 

5 shall provide technical assistance, if necessary, in 

6 each applicable area relating to— 

7 (A) the development of a RECOMPETE 

8 plan that meets the applicable requirements of 

9 this subsection with respect to the applicable 

10 area; and 

11 (B) implementation of the programs and 

12 activities included in the RECOMPETE plan 

13 for the applicable area. 

14 (d) USE OF FUNDS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 

16 and (3), a recipient or subrecipient may use a RE17 COMPETE grant to carry out programs and activi18 ties in the applicable area, in accordance with the 

19 RECOMPETE plan, including— 

20 (A) the provision of business advice and 

21 assistance to small and medium-sized local busi22 nesses and entrepreneurs, including— 

23 (i) manufacturing extension services; 

24 (ii) small business development cen25 ters; 


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1 (iii) centers to help businesses bid for 

2 Federal procurement contracts; 

3 (iv) entrepreneurial assistance pro4 grams that link entrepreneurs with avail5 able public and private resources; 

6 (v) legal advice and resources; and 

7 (vi) assistance in accessing capital; 

8 (B) land and site development programs, 

9 such as brownfield redevelopment, research and 

10 technology parks, business incubators, business 

11 corridor development, and Main Street redevel12 opment programs; 

13 (C) infrastructure and housing activities 

14 that are directly related to supporting job cre15 ation and employment for residents, such as— 

16 (i) improvements to transit, roads, 

17 and broadband access; 

18 (ii) affordable housing development; 

19 (iii) land-use and zoning reforms; and 

20 (iv) transit-oriented development ac21 tivities; 

22 (D) job training oriented to local employer 

23 needs, such as customized job training pro24 grams carried out by local community colleges 

25 in partnership with local businesses; 


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1 (E) workforce outreach programs, such 

2 as— 

3 (i) programs located in, and targeted 

4 to, lower-income and underemployed neigh5 borhoods; and 

6 (ii) embedding job placement and 

7 training services in neighborhood institu8 tions such as churches, housing projects, 

9 and community advocacy programs; 

10 (F) job retention programs and activities, 

11 such as the provision of— 

12 (i) job coaches, including at locations 

13 of employment; 

14 (ii) child care services, including sub15 sidizing the construction, operation, main16 tenance, and labor costs of child care cen17 ters; and 

18 (iii) transportation support, such as 

19 support for vehicle repairs to assist in the 

20 transit of workers to jobs; and 

21 (G) such other programs and activities as 

22 the Secretary determines to be appropriate, in23 cluding any proposed programs or activities 

24 that the recipient demonstrates clearly and sub25 stantially, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, 


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1 will directly advance the goals of the RECOM2 PETE grant program. 

3 (2) METHOD.—In carrying out programs and 

4 activities described in paragraph (1), a recipient or 

5 subrecipient may— 

6 (A) use amounts provided under a RE7 COMPETE grant to carry out such a program 

8 or activity directly; or 

9 (B) enter into a contract or other agree10 ment with a subcontractor or vendor (including 

11 nongovernmental, nonprofit organizations and 

12 for-profit entities) to carry out such a program 

13 or activity. 

14 (3) OUTSIDE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.—A 

15 recipient acting on behalf of an eligible local commu16 nity that enters into a cooperation agreement under 

17 section 3(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II) with a local community 

18 that is not eligible, but is located within the same 

19 local labor market, may use amounts provided under 

20 a RECOMPETE grant to carry out a program or 

21 activity described in paragraph (1) in the ineligible 

22 local community, if the program or activity would 

23 provide a benefit to residents of the eligible local 

24 community. 

25 (e) REGIONAL COMMISSIONS.— 


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1 (1) DEFINITION OF REGIONAL COMMISSION.— 

2 In this subsection, the term ‘‘Regional Commission’’ 

3 means— 

4 (A) any of the Regional Commissions (as 

5 defined in section 3 of the Public Works and 

6 Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

7 3122)); 

8 (B) the Northern Border Regional Com9 mission; 

10 (C) the Southeast Crescent Regional Com11 mission; 

12 (D) the Southwest Border Regional Com13 mission; and 

14 (E) any other regional commission estab15 lished under Federal law, subject to the ap16 proval of the Secretary. 

17 (2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.—If 

18 an applicant (or any portion of the service area of 

19 an applicant) is located in a region covered by a Re20 gional Commission, the Regional Commission is en21 couraged to provide technical assistance and other 

22 support relating to applying for a RECOMPETE 

23 grant and developing and carrying out a RECOM24 PETE plan to— 

25 (A) the applicant; 


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1 (B) the lead entity, if applicable; and 

2 (C) any other relevant entities. 

3 (3) ACTION BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary 

4 shall— 

5 (A) encourage each recipient to coordinate 

6 the implementation of a RECOMPETE plan 

7 with the activities of each Regional Commission 

8 serving the region in which the applicable area 

9 is located; and 

10 (B) ensure that a copy of the RECOM11 PETE plan for each applicable area is provided 

12 to each affected Regional Commission. 

13 SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION, REPORTING, AND OVERSIGHT. 

14 (a) BENCHMARK EVALUATIONS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

16 a process under which the Secretary shall conduct 

17 periodic benchmark evaluations of each recipient to 

18 ensure that the recipient successfully carries out the 

19 programs and activities described in the RECOM20 PETE plan of the recipient. 

21 (2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall conduct a 

22 benchmark evaluation of a recipient under this sub23 section— 

24 (A) for a recipient of a RECOMPETE 

25 grant provided during the initial application peVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jul 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2464.IS S2464

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1 riod under section 4(a)(2)(B)(i), by not later 

2 than 3 years after the date of the initial award 

3 of the RECOMPETE grant; and 

4 (B) not less frequently than once every 2 

5 years thereafter during the term of the RE6 COMPETE grant provided to the recipient. 

7 (3) CRITERIA.—In conducting a benchmark 

8 evaluation of a recipient under this subsection, the 

9 Secretary shall determine whether the recipient 

10 has— 

11 (A) adhered to the timelines and require12 ments of the programs and activities identified 

13 in the RECOMPETE plan of the recipient; 

14 (B) made sufficient progress toward 

15 achieving the benchmarks and objectives de16 scribed in that RECOMPETE plan; 

17 (C) increased the overall employment rate, 

18 the prime-age employment rate, median house19 hold income, and per capita income in the ap20 plicable area; and 

21 (D) achieved compliance with such other 

22 criteria as the Secretary determines to be rel23 evant. 

24 (b) MODIFICATION OF PLANS.— 


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1 (1) REQUIREMENT FOR RECIPIENTS.—A recipi2 ent shall modify the RECOMPETE plan of the re3 cipient, or any program or activity conducted under 

4 that RECOMPETE plan, if the Secretary— 

5 (A) determines that— 

6 (i) such a program or activity is inef7 fective or underperforming; or 

8 (ii) with respect to the RECOMPETE 

9 plan, program, or activity— 

10 (I) an applicable performance 

11 metric or criterion has not been met; 

12 or 

13 (II) funds have been misused; 

14 and 

15 (B) directs the recipient to modify the RE16 COMPETE plan, program, or activity. 

17 (2) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.— 

18 (A) ADJUSTMENTS AND INCREASES IN

19 FUNDING.—The Secretary may increase the 

20 amount of the RECOMPETE grant provided to 

21 the recipient as the Secretary determines to be 

22 appropriate, taking into consideration any 

23 modifications made to the RECOMPETE plan 

24 under paragraph (1), in an amount equal to not 

25 more than the maximum amount available on 


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1 the date of approval of the RECOMPETE 

2 grant application for the applicable area and 

3 subject to the availability of funds, if the Sec4 retary determines that— 

5 (i) events or other factors beyond the 

6 control of the recipient significantly— 

7 (I) altered applicable project cir8 cumstances; or 

9 (II) prevented the recipient from 

10 meeting the objectives and bench11 marks of the RECOMPETE plan; or 

12 (ii) a labor market, economic, busi13 ness, or technology shift, or any other 

14 major factor, warrants such a modification 

15 and increase in funding. 

16 (B) WITHHOLDING AND TERMINATING

17 FUNDING.—The Secretary may temporarily 

18 withhold or terminate any amount scheduled to 

19 be provided under a RECOMPETE grant if the 

20 Secretary determines that— 

21 (i) after a reasonable effort, an agree22 ment cannot be reached with respect to a 

23 modification to a RECOMPETE plan rec24 ommended or required by the Secretary 

25 under this subsection; or 


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1 (ii)(I) a gross, intentional misuse of 

2 RECOMPETE grant funds (including any 

3 activity subject to a penalty under section 

4 605 of the Public Works and Economic 

5 Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

6 3215)) has occurred; and 

7 (II) the individual or entity respon8 sible for the misuse is not removed from all 

9 programs and activities carried out under 

10 the RECOMPETE plan. 

11 (c) RECIPIENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Each 

12 recipient shall be subject to— 

13 (1) the grant reporting requirements under part 

14 200 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc15 cessor regulations); and 

16 (2) such additional, clear, annual reporting re17 quirements as the Secretary may establish to gather 

18 any information necessary to conduct the benchmark 

19 and final evaluations under this section. 

20 (d) FINAL EVALUATION.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

22 the final disbursement of a RECOMPETE grant is 

23 provided to each recipient, the Secretary, in coopera24 tion with the recipient and each applicable sub25 recipient, shall conduct a final evaluation of the sucVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jul 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2464.IS S2464

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1 cess of the programs and activities carried out under 

2 the RECOMPETE plan of the recipient. 

3 (2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall establish 

4 criteria for use in conducting final evaluations under 

5 this subsection— 

6 (A) in addition to the criteria established 

7 under subsection (a)(3); and 

8 (B) taking into consideration the goal of 

9 reducing the prime-age employment gap of each 

10 applicable area by 50 percent. 

11 (3) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECIPIENTS.—Each 

12 recipient and subrecipient shall— 

13 (A) cooperate with the Secretary in con14 ducting a final evaluation under this subsection; 

15 and 

16 (B) provide to the Secretary any informa17 tion necessary for that evaluation. 

18 (e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 

19 submit to Congress comprehensive and detailed annual re20 ports describing the implementation of this Act, including, 

21 with respect to the period covered by the report— 

22 (1)(A) a summary assessment of the overall 

23 progress of the RECOMPETE grant program; and 

24 (B) as data become available, an analysis of the 

25 effectiveness of that program; 


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1 (2) labor market and economic metrics to de2 scribe the impact of the RECOMPETE grant pro3 gram, including any progress made toward— 

4 (A) decreasing prime-age employment 

5 gaps; or 

6 (B) increasing local per capita income; 

7 (3) detailed demographic analyses of— 

8 (A) the populations served by recipients; 

9 and 

10 (B) relevant labor market statistics; 

11 (4) a summary of the benchmark evaluations 

12 conducted under subsection (a), as available; 

13 (5) an identification of, and reasons for reject14 ing or deferring, as applicable, each application sub15 mitted under section 4(a)(2), including the applica16 ble annual RECOMPETE grant amount limitation 

17 established by the Secretary under subparagraph 

18 (C)(i)(II) of that section, if any; and 

19 (6) such other details as the Secretary deter20 mines to be appropriate. 

21 (f) APPLICABILITY OF PWEDA.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The following sections of the 

23 Public Works and Economic Development Act of 

24 1965 shall apply to this Act (including the RECOM25 PETE grant program): 


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1 (A) Section 211 (42 U.S.C. 3151). 

2 (B) Section 503 (42 U.S.C. 3193). 

3 (C) Section 504 (42 U.S.C. 3194). 

4 (D) Section 602 (42 U.S.C. 3212). 

5 (E) Section 604 (42 U.S.C. 3214). 

6 (F) Section 605 (42 U.S.C. 3215). 

7 (G) Section 608 (42 U.S.C. 3218). 

8 (H) Section 610 (42 U.S.C. 3220). 

9 (2) AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF SEC10 RETARY.—The Secretary shall have the authorities 

11 and duties provided by the sections of the Public 

12 Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 

13 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) referred to in paragraph (1) in 

14 administering and enforcing this Act (including the 

15 RECOMPETE grant program). 

16 SEC. 6. FUNDING. 

17 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

18 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

19 out this Act $175,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, to re20 main available until expended. 

21 (b) ALLOCATION.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), of 

23 the amounts made available under subsection (a), 

24 the Secretary shall allocate— 


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1 (A) not less than 70 percent to recipients 

2 acting on behalf of local labor markets or par3 tial local labor markets; 

4 (B) not more than 20 percent to recipients 

5 acting on behalf of local communities; and 

6 (C) not less than 10 percent to eligible 

7 Tribal governments. 

8 (2) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS.—The 

9 amounts allocated pursuant to paragraphs (5) and 

10 (6)(B) of subsection (c) shall not be taken into con11 sideration for purposes of calculations under para12 graph (1). 

13 (3) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND PER14 SONNEL.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—Of any amounts made 

16 available to carry out this Act, the Secretary 

17 shall transfer not less than 1 percent to the 

18 Salary and Expenses Account of the Secretary 

19 for the costs of administration and oversight of 

20 this Act. 

21 (B) PERSONNEL.—The Secretary may— 

22 (i) appoint and fix the compensation 

23 of such temporary personnel as may be 

24 necessary to carry out this Act; and 


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1 (ii) effective beginning on the date on 

2 which an individual appointed under clause 

3 (i) has served continuously in that appoint4 ment for 2 years, appoint the individual to 

5 a position in the Economic Development 

6 Administration in the same manner in 

7 which competitive service employees with 

8 competitive status are considered for trans9 fer, reassignment, or promotion to such a 

10 position, at which time the individual shall 

11 become a career-conditional employee, un12 less the individual has completed the serv13 ice requirements for career tenure. 

14 (c) GRANT FORMULAS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (e), 

16 based on the information relating to projected costs 

17 contained in applicable RECOMPETE plans under 

18 subparagraph (C) of section 4(b)(2), and the jus19 tifications described in subparagraph (D) of that 

20 section, the amount of a RECOMPETE grant pro21 vided to a recipient shall be determined in accord22 ance with this subsection. 

23 (2) LOCAL LABOR MARKETS.—An eligible local 

24 labor market may receive not more than the amount 

25 equal to the product obtained by multiplying— 


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1 (A) the prime-age employment gap of the 

2 local labor market; 

3 (B) the prime-age population of the local 

4 labor market; and 

5 (C) $70,585. 

6 (3) LOCAL COMMUNITIES.—Subject to para7 graph (6), an eligible local community may receive 

8 not more than the amount equal to the product ob9 tained by multiplying— 

10 (A) the prime-age employment gap of the 

11 local community; 

12 (B) the prime-age population of the local 

13 community; and 

14 (C) $53,600. 

15 (4) PARTIAL LOCAL LABOR MARKETS.—An eli16 gible partial local labor market may receive not more 

17 than the amount equal to the product obtained by 

18 multiplying— 

19 (A) the population of the partial local labor 

20 market; 

21 (B) the lesser of— 

22 (i) the prime-age employment gap of 

23 the local labor market within which the 

24 partial local labor market is located; and 


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1 (ii) the prime-age employment gap of 

2 the partial local labor market; and 

3 (C) $70,585. 

4 (5) TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible Tribal gov6 ernment may receive not more than the amount 

7 equal to the product obtained by multiplying, 

8 subject to subparagraph (B)— 

9 (i) the prime-age employment gap of 

10 the Tribal government; 

11 (ii) the prime-age population of the 

12 Tribal government; and 

13 (iii) $70,585. 

14 (B) CALCULATION OF POPULATION.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 

16 (ii), for purposes of subparagraph (A), the 

17 population of a Tribal government shall be 

18 equal to the sum obtained by adding— 

19 (I) the product obtained by mul20 tiplying— 

21 (aa) the total number of in22 dividuals residing on the Tribal 

23 land of the Tribal government; 

24 and 

25 (bb) 0.65; and 


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1 (II) the product obtained by mul2 tiplying— 

3 (aa) the total number of in4 dividuals included on the mem5 bership roll of the Tribal govern6 ment; and 

7 (bb) 0.35. 

8 (ii) USE OF DATA.—Each calculation 

9 under clause (i) shall be determined based 

10 on data provided by the applicable Tribal 

11 government to the Department of the 

12 Treasury under the Coronavirus State and 

13 Local Fiscal Recovery Fund programs 

14 under title VI of the Social Security Act 

15 (42 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) (as amended by 

16 subtitle M of title IX of the American Res17 cue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 

18 135 Stat. 4)). 

19 (6) LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH COOPERATION

20 AGREEMENTS.—If an eligible local community elects 

21 to enter into a cooperation agreement under section 

22 3(b)(2)(A) with 1 or more local communities that 

23 are not eligible— 

24 (A) each eligible local community that is a 

25 party to the cooperation agreement may receive 


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1 the maximum amount available to the eligible 

2 local community, as determined under para3 graph (3); and 

4 (B) the Secretary may award to the lead 

5 entity an additional amount equal to not more 

6 than 10 percent of the total amount provided 

7 under subparagraph (A), for distribution by the 

8 lead entity to any local community or other ap9 plicant that is a party to the cooperation agree10 ment, regardless of whether the local commu11 nity or other applicant is eligible, for use in ac12 cordance with the applicable RECOMPETE 

13 plan. 

14 (d) OBLIGATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—On approval by the Sec16 retary of an application under section 4(a)(2)(E), 

17 the Secretary shall— 

18 (A) obligate the entire amount of the RE19 COMPETE grant for the applicable recipient; 

20 and 

21 (B) disburse that amount to the recipient 

22 annually for each of the 10 fiscal years begin23 ning after the date of obligation, in accordance 

24 with this subsection. 


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1 (2) PROPOSALS.—To receive an annual dis2 bursement under paragraph (1), a recipient shall 

3 submit to the Secretary a proposal describing the in4 tended use by the recipient of the disbursement dur5 ing the applicable fiscal year (including the pro6 grams and activities proposed to be carried out and 

7 any subcontractor or vendor proposed to be used for 

8 those purposes), in accordance with the RECOM9 PETE plan of the recipient. 

10 (3) PROVISION OF FUNDING.—On approval by 

11 the Secretary of a proposal submitted by a recipient 

12 under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall disburse to 

13 the recipient the amount of the RECOMPETE 

14 grant due to the recipient for the fiscal year, for use 

15 in accordance with— 

16 (A) the proposal; and 

17 (B) the RECOMPETE plan of the recipi18 ent. 

19 (e) COST SHARING.— 

20 (1) FEDERAL SHARE.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of 

22 the cost of each program and activity carried 

23 out using a RECOMPETE grant shall be the 

24 cost share described in subparagraph (B) for 


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1 the applicable recipient, subject to subpara2 graph (C) and paragraphs (2) through (4). 

3 (B) DESCRIPTIONS OF COST SHARES.— 

4 (i) LOCAL LABOR MARKETS.—For an 

5 eligible local labor market, the cost share 

6 referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be— 

7 (I) 50 percent for an eligible 

8 local labor market with a prime-age 

9 employment gap equal to— 

10 (aa) not less than 2.5 per11 cent; but 

12 (bb) less than 3 percent; and 

13 (II) an additional 6.25 percent 

14 for each prime-age employment gap 

15 percentage point of 3 percent or more, 

16 as determined in accordance with the 

17 following table: 

Local labor market prime-age employment gap Federal 

share 

3 percent to less than 4 percent ..................................................... 56.25 

percent

4 percent to less than 5 percent ..................................................... 62.5 

percent

5 percent to less than 6 percent ..................................................... 68.75 

percent

6 percent to less than 7 percent ..................................................... 75 percent

7 percent to less than 8 percent ..................................................... 81.25 

percent

8 percent to less than 9 percent ..................................................... 87.5 

percent

9 percent to less than 10 percent ................................................... 93.75 

percent

10 percent or greater ...................................................................... 100 percent. 


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1 (ii) LOCAL COMMUNITIES.—For an el2 igible local community, the cost share re3 ferred to in subparagraph (A) shall be— 

4 (I) 68.75 percent for an eligible 

5 local community with a prime-age em6 ployment gap equal to— 

7 (aa) not less than 5 percent; 

8 but 

9 (bb) less than 6 percent; and 

10 (II) an additional 6.25 percent 

11 for each prime-age employment gap 

12 percentage point of 6 percent or more, 

13 up to 100 percent, as determined in 

14 accordance with the following table: 

Local community prime-age employment gap Federal 

share 

6 percent to less than 7 percent ..................................................... 75 percent

7 percent to less than 8 percent ..................................................... 81.25 

percent

8 percent to less than 9 percent ..................................................... 87.5 

percent

9 percent to less than 10 percent ................................................... 93.75 

percent

10 percent or greater ...................................................................... 100 percent. 

15 (iii) PARTIAL LOCAL LABOR MAR16 KETS.— 

17 (I) IN GENERAL.—Subject to 

18 subclause (II), for an eligible partial 

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1 ferred to in subparagraph (A) shall 

2 be— 

3 (aa) 50 percent for an eligi4 ble partial local labor market 

5 with a prime-age employment 

6 gap equal to— 

7 (AA) not less than 2.5 

8 percent; but 

9 (BB) less than 3 per10 cent; and 

11 (bb) an additional 6.25 per12 cent for each prime-age employ13 ment gap percentage point of 3 

14 percent or more, as determined 

15 in accordance with the following 

16 table: 

Lesser of partial local labor market, and local labor market, 

prime-age employment gaps 

Federal 

share 

3 percent to less than 4 percent ..................................................... 56.25 

percent

4 percent to less than 5 percent ..................................................... 62.5 

percent

5 percent to less than 6 percent ..................................................... 68.75 

percent

6 percent to less than 7 percent ..................................................... 75 percent

7 percent to less than 8 percent ..................................................... 81.25 

percent

8 percent to less than 9 percent ..................................................... 87.5 

percent

9 percent to less than 10 percent ................................................... 93.75 

percent

10 percent or greater ...................................................................... 100 percent. 


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53 

•S 2464 IS

1 (II) CERTAIN LOCAL LABOR MAR2 KETS.—If an eligible partial local 

3 labor market is located within a local 

4 labor market with a prime-age em5 ployment gap that is less than the 

6 prime-age employment gap of the par7 tial local labor market, the prime-age 

8 employment gap of the local labor 

9 market shall be used for purposes of 

10 calculating the Federal share of the 

11 partial local labor market under sub12 clause (I). 

13 (iv) TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.—For an 

14 eligible Tribal government, the cost share 

15 referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be 

16 100 percent. 

17 (C) AVAILABLE INCREASES.— 

18 (i) RELATIVE NEED.—The Federal 

19 share determined for a recipient under 

20 clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (B) 

21 may be increased, based on the relative 

22 need of each applicable area and recipient 

23 and in accordance with such regulations as 

24 the Secretary may promulgate, to not more 

25 than 80 percent of the total estimated cost 


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54 

•S 2464 IS

1 of the programs and activities included in 

2 the RECOMPETE Plan for the applicable 

3 area. 

4 (ii) SEVERE ECONOMIC NEED.—The 

5 Federal share determined for a recipient 

6 under subparagraph (B) may be increased 

7 to not more than 100 percent of the total 

8 estimated cost of the programs and activi9 ties included in the RECOMPETE Plan 

10 for the applicable area in any case in 

11 which the Secretary determines that the 

12 recipient or a subrecipient has— 

13 (I) exhausted all other reasonable 

14 financing and funding options; and 

15 (II) demonstrated severe eco16 nomic need. 

17 (2) SPECIAL RULE.— 

18 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

19 subparagraph (B), the Federal share calculated 

20 for an eligible local community under paragraph 

21 (1) shall not be reduced due to an election by 

22 the eligible local community to enter into a co23 operation agreement under section 3(b)(2)(A). 

24 (B) EXCEPTION.—If additional amounts 

25 are provided for an eligible local community for 


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55 

•S 2464 IS

1 distribution to subrecipients under section 

2 3(b)(2)(A)(iii), the Federal share calculated 

3 under paragraph (1) for the eligible local com4 munity shall be not more than 50 percent, sub5 ject to any increase in accordance with clause 

6 (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(C), as applicable. 

7 (3) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.—In calcu8 lating the non-Federal share of the cost of a pro9 gram or activity carried out under a RECOMPETE 

10 plan, the Secretary may provide a credit toward the 

11 non-Federal share for any non-Federal contribution 

12 to the program or activity— 

13 (A) in cash or in-kind; 

14 (B) fairly evaluated; and 

15 (C) including any contribution of space, 

16 equipment, assumption of debt, or service. 

17 (4) REASSESSMENT.— 

18 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share and 

19 non-Federal share determined for a recipient 

20 under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply dur21 ing the period beginning on the date of enact22 ment of this Act and ending on the date on 

23 which the initial benchmark evaluation relating 

24 to the recipient is conducted under section 5(a). 


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•S 2464 IS

1 (B) PERIODIC REEVALUATION.—As soon 

2 as practicable after the date on which each 

3 benchmark evaluation relating to a recipient is 

4 conducted under section 5(a), the Secretary 

5 shall— 

6 (i) reevaluate the Federal share and 

7 non-Federal share determined for the re8 cipient under this subsection; and 

9 (ii) determine whether such a cost 

10 share should be adjusted, subject to sub11 paragraph (C). 

12 (C) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL SHARE.— 

13 The Federal share determined for a recipient 

14 under this subsection— 

15 (i) shall not be decreased by more 

16 than— 

17 (I) 10 percent, as compared to 

18 the Federal share determined for the 

19 recipient under this subsection for the 

20 preceding period; or 

21 (II) 30 percent, in total; and 

22 (ii) shall be not less than 50 percent. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS