I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 145 

To establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic development 

efforts. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 4, 2005 

Mr. MCHUGH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish a grant program to support cluster-based 

economic development efforts. 

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

3 SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DE4 VELOPMENT. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Public Works and 

6 Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et 

7 seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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1 ‘‘SEC. 219. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DE2 VELOPMENT. 

3 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 

4 definitions apply: 

5 ‘‘(1) CLUSTER.—The term ‘cluster’ means a 

6 cluster of entities that are engaged— 

7 ‘‘(A) in similar industries; and 

8 ‘‘(B) in joint activities to boost competi9 tiveness and growth. 

10 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—The term ‘eligible 

11 applicant’ means— 

12 ‘‘(A) a State or local government; 

13 ‘‘(B) an institution of higher education; or 

14 ‘‘(C) a nonprofit economic development or15 ganization. 

16 ‘‘(3) REGION.—The term ‘region’ means an 

17 area— 

18 ‘‘(A) that is determined by the Secretary 

19 to qualify for grants under this section; and 

20 ‘‘(B) that, on the date of submission of an 

21 application for a grant under this section, meets 

22 1 or more of the criteria described in section 

23 301(a). 

24 ‘‘(b) GRANTS.—On the application of an eligible ap25 plicant, the Secretary may make grants— 

26 ‘‘(1) to assess clusters in a region; 
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1 ‘‘(2) to assess the needs of entities involved in 

2 a region; 

3 ‘‘(3) to market cluster development programs in 

4 a region; and 

5 ‘‘(4) to support staff to operate cluster pro6 grams in a region. 

7 ‘‘(c) MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE FOR EACH REGION.— 

8 Not more than $1,000,000 of the amounts made available 

9 to carry out this section may be expended in any 1 region. 

10 ‘‘(d) COST SHARING.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 

12 cost of a project carried out using funds made avail13 able under this section shall be 50 percent. 

14 ‘‘(2) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—Not more than 

15 50 percent of the non-Federal share of the cost of 

16 a project carried out using funds made available 

17 under this section may be provided through in-kind 

18 contributions. 

19 ‘‘(3) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN SECTION.— 

20 Section 204 shall not apply to this section. 

21 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

22 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

23 $50,000,000, to remain available until expended.’’. 

24 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con25 tents contained in section 1(b) of the Public Works and 
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1 Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 

2 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

3 section 218 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 219. Grants for cluster-based economic development.’’. 

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