MORE USDA Grants Act

To improve the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture to certain counties in which the majority of land is owned or managed by the Federal Government and to other units of local government and Tribal governments in those counties, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act MORE USDA Grants Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) High-Density Public Land County The term High-Density Public Land County (A) that has a population of not more than 100,000 people, according to the most recent annual estimates of population by the Bureau of the Census; and (B) in which more than 50 percent of the land is owned or managed by the Federal Government. (2) Qualifying grant program The term qualifying grant program (A) the Rural Business Development grant program established under section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1932(c) (B) the community facilities grant program established under section 306(a)(19) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19) (C) the Economic Impact Initiative grant program established under section 306(a)(20)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(20)(B) (D) the Telemedicine and Distance Learning Services grant program established under chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXIII of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq. (E) the Community Connect Grant Program established under section 604 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb–3 (F) the broadband loan and grant pilot program known as the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program ReConnect Program Public Law 115–141 (G) any discretionary grant program of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Utilities Service, or any other rural development agency of the Department of Agriculture under which grants are awarded to— (i) counties; (ii) other units of local government; or (iii) Tribal governments; and (H) any other discretionary grant program of the Department of Agriculture under which grants for rural development or energy are awarded to— (i) counties; (ii) other units of local government; or (iii) Tribal governments. (3) Secretary The term Secretary (4) Tribal government The term Tribal government 25 U.S.C. 5131 3. Grants (a) Reduction in local matching requirements Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to a High-Density Public Land County and any unit of local government or Tribal government within a High-Density Public Land County, any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program shall be reduced by 50 percent. (b) Technical assistance On request of a High-Density Public Land County or any unit of local government or Tribal government within a High-Density Public Land County, the Secretary shall provide additional technical assistance to the High-Density Public Land County, unit of local government, or Tribal government before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program. (c) Priority (1) Application approval In approving applications for a qualifying grant program, the Secretary shall give priority to an application from a High-Density Public Land County, unit of local government within a High-Density Public Land County, or Tribal government within a High-Density Public Land County that has not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application. (2) Technical assistance and other support In carrying out subsections (b) and (d), the Secretary may give priority to a Tribal government within a High-Density Public Land County. (d) Other support The Secretary may provide additional support, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, for a High-Density Public Land County or a unit of local government or Tribal government within a High-Density Public Land County, including by considering and, if appropriate, offering flexibility with respect to any requirement of, or barrier to applying for or receiving assistance under, a qualifying grant program if the requirement or barrier relates to— (1) scoring criteria relating to numerical size and impact, such as the number of jobs created or the number of people served, which disadvantage small and isolated communities; (2) any requirement that an applicant for a qualifying grant program partner with other institutions, such as community colleges or foundations, which may not operate in the jurisdiction of the High-Density Public Land County, unit of local government, or Tribal government seeking assistance under the qualifying grant program; (3) any financial or cash-on-hand requirement that a High-Density Public Land County or a unit of local government or Tribal government within a High-Density Public Land County cannot meet for reasons other than any financial constraints to which the High-Density Public Land County, unit of local government, or Tribal government is subject; or (4) an overly complicated or overly technical application for a qualifying grant program that deters High-Density Public Land Counties or units of local government or Tribal governments within High-Density Public Land Counties from applying for the qualifying grant program.

Summary: More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act or the MORE USDA Grants Act This bill revises the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal or local governments within such counties. A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which more than 50% of the land is owned or managed by the federal government. Any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50% with respect to such jurisdictions. On request, USDA must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program. USDA must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.