137 
‘‘SEC. 385I. RURAL REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF RURAL ENTREPRENEUR.—The 
term ‘rural entrepreneur’ means a microentrepreneur, or 
prospective microentrepreneur— 
‘‘(1) the principal place of business of which is 
in an eligible area; and 
‘‘(2) that is unable to obtain sufficient training, 
technical assistance, or microcredit elsewhere, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish a 
rural regional entrepreneurship program under which the 
Secretary shall provide grants to stimulate rural entrepre-
neurship and provide technical assistance, research, and 
evaluation to rural entrepreneurs. 
‘‘(c) BLOCK GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail-
able under subsection (f), the Secretary shall use 
$15,000,000 for each fiscal year to make block 
grants to States in accordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—A grant to a State 
under this subsection for any fiscal year shall be in 
an amount that is, as determined by the National 
Board— 
‘‘(A) not more than $400,000; and 
‘‘(B) not less than $200,000. 
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138 
‘‘(3) COST SHARE.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this subsection, a State shall match any 
grant funds received under this subsection with an 
equal or greater amount of non-Federal funds. 
‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.—A State shall use funds 
received under this subsection to support multi-coun-
ty entrepreneurship development systems focused on 
eligible areas in consultation with the RUPRI Cen-
ter for Rural Entrepreneurship. 
‘‘(d) COMPETITIVE REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP 
GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail-
able under subsection (f), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) transfer $15,000,000 for each fiscal 
year to the National Board to make regional 
entrepreneurship grants to rural entrepreneurs 
through a competitive application process; and 
‘‘(B) use at least $10,000,000 to make 
grants to successful applicants identified as re-
gional intermediaries under subsection (e)(3). 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The Under Secretary 
for Rural Development shall administer grants 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(e) CENTER FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP.— 
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139 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail-
able under subsection (f), the Secretary shall trans-
fer $10,000,000 for each fiscal year to the RUPRI 
Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (referred to in 
this subsection as the ‘Center’) for use in accordance 
with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND DATA COL-
LECTION AND ANALYSIS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amount trans-
ferred to the Center under paragraph (1), the 
Center shall use $5,000,000 for each fiscal year 
to carry out research, evaluation, and data col-
lection and analysis programs, of which not less 
than $500,000 for each fiscal year shall be used 
to enter into contracts, in accordance with a na-
tional research agenda approved by the Na-
tional Board, with each of— 
‘‘(i) the regional rural development 
centers described in section 1670(a) of the 
Food, 
Agriculture, 
Conservation, 
and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5923(a)); 
and 
‘‘(ii) the Economic Research Service. 
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140 
‘‘(B) COORDINATION AND FOCUS OF PRO-
GRAMS.—The programs carried out under this 
paragraph shall— 
‘‘(i) be coordinated by the Center 
across a broad range of higher education 
institutions and research organizations; 
and 
‘‘(ii) focus on providing insights and 
creating opportunities for sustained entre-
preneurship development in rural areas of 
the United States. 
‘‘(3) 
REGIONAL
INTERMEDIARIES.—Of 
the 
amount transferred to the Center under paragraph 
(1), the Center shall use $4,000,000 for each fiscal 
year to establish and maintain a nationwide network 
of regional intermediaries with the capacity and 
tools— 
‘‘(A) to provide effective entrepreneurship 
development information, training, and tech-
nical assistance to rural regions and commu-
nities in the United States; and 
‘‘(B) to enhance the effectiveness of orga-
nizations that provide direct technical assist-
ance and training services to rural entre-
preneurs. 
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141 
‘‘(4) 
MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES
AND
RE-
PORTS.—Of the amount transferred to the Center 
under 
paragraph 
(1), 
the 
Center 
shall 
use 
$1,000,000 for each fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) to enhance and sustain the capacity 
and ability of the Center to direct and manage 
the programs and activities described in para-
graphs (1), (2), and (3); and 
‘‘(B) to submit— 
‘‘(i) to the National Board, an annual 
report that describes those programs and 
activities carried out during the year cov-
ered by the report; and 
‘‘(ii) to the Secretary, an annual re-
port that describes the state of entrepre-
neurship in the United States during the 
year covered by the report. 
‘‘(5) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS; CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Funds 
made available under this subsection shall re-
main available until expended, including for any 
purpose under this section. 
‘‘(B) CONTRACTS.—Each contract entered 
into by the Center and an individual or entity 
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