ticable, public participation in the development, revi-
sion, and implementation of all plans and programs 
under this subtitle. 
‘‘(2) GUIDELINES.—A Commission shall de-
velop guidelines for providing public participation, 
including public hearings. 
‘‘§ 15503. Approval of applications for assistance 
‘‘(a) EVALUATION BY STATE MEMBER.—An applica-
tion to a Commission for a grant or any other assistance 
for a project under this subtitle shall be made through, 
and evaluated for approval by, the State member of the 
Commission representing the applicant. 
‘‘(b) CERTIFICATION.—An application to a Commis-
sion for a grant or other assistance for a project under 
this subtitle shall be eligible for assistance only on certifi-
cation by the State member of the Commission rep-
resenting the applicant that the application for the 
project— 
‘‘(1) describes ways in which the project com-
plies with any applicable State economic and infra-
structure development plan; 
‘‘(2) meets applicable criteria under section 
15504;
‘‘(3) adequately ensures that the project will be 
properly administered, operated, and maintained; 
and 
‘‘(4) otherwise meets the requirements for as-
sistance under this subtitle. 
‘‘(c) VOTES FOR DECISIONS.—On certification by a 
State member of a Commission of an application for a 
grant or other assistance for a specific project under this 
section, an affirmative vote of the Commission under sec-
tion 15302 shall be required for approval of the applica-
tion. 
‘‘§ 15504. Program development criteria 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In considering programs and 
projects to be provided assistance by a Commission under 
this subtitle, and in establishing a priority ranking of the 
requests for assistance provided to the Commission, the 
Commission shall follow procedures that ensure, to the 
maximum extent practicable, consideration of— 
‘‘(1) the relationship of the project or class of 
projects to overall regional development; 
‘‘(2) the per capita income and poverty and un-
employment and outmigration rates in an area; 
‘‘(3) the financial resources available to the ap-
plicants for assistance seeking to carry out the 
project, with emphasis on ensuring that projects are
adequately financed to maximize the probability of 
successful economic development; 
‘‘(4) the importance of the project or class of 
projects in relation to the other projects or classes 
of projects that may be in competition for the same 
funds; 
‘‘(5) the prospects that the project for which as-
sistance is sought will improve, on a continuing rath-
er than a temporary basis, the opportunities for em-
ployment, the average level of income, or the eco-
nomic development of the area to be served by the 
project; and 
‘‘(6) the extent to which the project design pro-
vides for detailed outcome measurements by which 
grant expenditures and the results of the expendi-
tures may be evaluated. 
‘‘§ 15505. Local development districts and organiza-
tions 
‘‘(a) GRANTS
TO
LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT
DIS-
TRICTS.—Subject to the requirements of this section, a 
Commission may make grants to a local development dis-
trict to assist in the payment of development planning and 
administrative expenses. 
‘‘(b) CONDITIONS FOR GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT.—The amount of a 
grant awarded under this section may not exceed 80 
percent of the administrative and planning expenses 
of the local development district receiving the grant. 
‘‘(2) MAXIMUM
PERIOD
FOR
STATE
AGEN-
CIES.—In the case of a State agency certified as a 
local development district, a grant may not be 
awarded to the agency under this section for more 
than 3 fiscal years. 
‘‘(3) LOCAL
SHARE.—The contributions of a 
local development district for administrative ex-
penses may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, 
including space, equipment, and services. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES
OF
LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT
DIS-
TRICTS.—A local development district shall— 
‘‘(1) operate as a lead organization serving 
multicounty areas in the region at the local level; 
‘‘(2) assist the Commission in carrying out out-
reach activities for local governments, community 
development groups, the business community, and 
the public; 
‘‘(3) serve as a liaison between State and local 
governments, 
nonprofit 
organizations 
(including 
community-based groups and educational institu-
tions), the business community, and citizens; and
‘‘(4) assist the individuals and entities described 
in paragraph (3) in identifying, assessing, and facili-
tating projects and programs to promote the eco-
nomic development of the region. 
‘‘§ 15506. Supplements to Federal grant programs 
‘‘(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that certain States 
and local communities of the region, including local devel-
opment districts, may be unable to take maximum advan-
tage of Federal grant programs for which the States and 
communities are eligible because— 
‘‘(1) they lack the economic resources to pro-
vide the required matching share; or 
‘‘(2) there are insufficient funds available under 
the applicable Federal law with respect to a project 
to be carried out in the region. 
‘‘(b) FEDERAL
GRANT
PROGRAM
FUNDING.—A 
Commission, with the approval of the Federal Cochair-
person, may use amounts made available to carry out this 
subtitle— 
‘‘(1) for any part of the basic Federal contribu-
tion to projects or activities under the Federal grant 
programs authorized by Federal laws; and 
‘‘(2) to increase the Federal contribution to 
projects and activities under the programs above the
fixed maximum part of the cost of the projects or 
activities otherwise authorized by the applicable law. 
‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—For a program, 
project, or activity for which any part of the basic Federal 
contribution to the project or activity under a Federal 
grant program is proposed to be made under subsection 
(b), the Federal contribution shall not be made until the 
responsible Federal official administering the Federal law 
authorizing the Federal contribution certifies that the pro-
gram, project, or activity meets the applicable require-
ments of the Federal law and could be approved for Fed-
eral contribution under that law if amounts were available 
under the law for the program, project, or activity. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS
IN
OTHER
LAWS
INAPPLI-
CABLE.—Amounts provided pursuant to this subtitle are 
available without regard to any limitations on areas eligi-
ble for assistance or authorizations for appropriation in 
any other law. 
‘‘(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the 
cost of a project or activity receiving assistance under this 
section shall not exceed 80 percent. 
‘‘(f) MAXIMUM COMMISSION CONTRIBUTION.—Sec-
tion 15501(d), relating to limitations on Commission con-
tributions, shall apply to a program, project, or activity 
receiving assistance under this section.