I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4874 
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 
establish the Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration and to 
amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish 
the Rural Future Partnership Fund to invest in the rural areas of 
the United States to achieve their preferred future while maximizing 
their contribution to the well-being of the United States, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 28, 2019 
Mr. DELGADO (for himself, Mrs. BUSTOS, Ms. SPANBERGER, and Ms. CRAIG) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ag-
riculture, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and 
Energy and Commerce, 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 amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization 
Act of 1994 to establish the Rural Innovation and Part-
nership Administration and to amend the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the Rural 
Future Partnership Fund to invest in the rural areas 
of the United States to achieve their preferred future 
while maximizing their contribution to the well-being of 
the United States, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rebuild Rural America 
Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to create the scale and capacity that enables 
rural areas to achieve their preferred future while 
maximizing their contribution to the well-being of 
the United States; 
(2) to recognize the significant contributions of 
rural areas of the United States to the success of 
the United States, including the leading role that 
the rural areas play in addressing the critical threat 
of climate change and building a resilient United 
States; 
(3) to make a national commitment to the rural 
communities and regions of the United States to en-
sure that the rural United States benefits from and 
contributes to the prosperity of the United States; 
(4) to establish a partnership with rural areas 
of the United States that provides flexible, long- 
term, and annual Federal investment for comprehen-
sive, collaborative, and locally driven community and 
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economic development that improves quality of life 
and economic competitiveness; 
(5) to strengthen rural population centers 
through collaboration with neighboring rural areas 
that ensures economic integration and regional de-
velopment; 
(6) to strengthen connections between rural and 
urban areas of the United States for mutual success 
and for the benefit of the economy of the United 
States and the quality of life of the people of the 
United States; 
(7) to support asset-based development, maxi-
mizing the cost-effectiveness of existing infrastruc-
ture; 
(8) to ensure economic opportunities that create 
pathways to high-quality, family-sustaining jobs for 
all individuals in rural areas of the United States, 
including efforts to address population loss, to pro-
mote the use of cooperatives and other forms of pub-
lic and employee ownership, and to expand and im-
prove access to training, infrastructure, and invest-
ment to adapt to technological change, such as auto-
mation, for success in the digital economy; 
(9) to provide for the evolution and expansion 
of the role of the Department of Agriculture in en-
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suring that rural communities have a dedicated 
agency and a new delivery system for Federal assist-
ance for disaster recovery and proactive mitigation 
and resiliency efforts; 
(10) to rebuild and modernize infrastructure 
and expand investment to support local and regional 
food systems, sustainable agriculture production, 
and value added agricultural industries; 
(11) to support infill development, preserve un-
developed land, and remediate brownfields and other 
contaminated properties for re-use; and 
(12) to support public health and improve qual-
ity of life in rural communities by delivering— 
(A) universal access to clean air and water; 
(B) healthy foods available through local 
and regional food systems; 
(C) quality, affordable, and accessible 
health care services in the rural communities, 
including access to primary and emergency 
medical services, mental health care, and treat-
ment for substance abuse; 
(D) affordable and reliable clean energy 
systems; and 
(E) quality, affordable, and energy-effi-
cient housing choices in the rural communities. 
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SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF RURAL INNOVATION AND 
PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6941 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 237. RURAL INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP ADMIN-
ISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish in the Department a Rural Innovation and Partner-
ship Administration (referred to in this section as the ‘Ad-
ministration’). 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATOR.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall 
be headed by an Administrator of Rural Innovation 
and Partnerships (referred to in this section as the 
‘Administrator’), who shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(2) REPORTING TO UNDER SECRETARY.—The 
Administrator shall report to the Under Secretary 
for Rural Development. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out 
through the Administration the functions of the Rural Fu-
ture Partnership Fund established under subtitle I of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. 
‘‘(d) REQUIREMENT FOR STATE OFFICES.—In car-
rying out the functions of the Administration, the Sec-
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retary shall ensure that each State office of the rural de-
velopment mission area is staffed with not less than 3 new 
employees to implement the Rural Future Partnership 
Fund established under subtitle I of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act, including providing— 
‘‘(1) technical assistance; 
‘‘(2) support for capacity building; 
‘‘(3) financial controls; and 
‘‘(4) performance oversight. 
‘‘(e) COORDINATION WITH COUNCIL ON RURAL COM-
MUNITY INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.— 
In carrying out the functions of the Administration, the 
Administrator shall coordinate with the Council on Rural 
Community Innovation and Economic Development estab-
lished by section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act 
of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b–3).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 296(b) of the Department of Agri-
culture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(11) The authority of the Secretary to estab-
lish and maintain in the Department the Rural In-
novation and Partnership Administration under sec-
tion 237.’’. 
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(2) Section 6306(f) of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b–3(f)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) give priority to coordinating with the Ad-
ministrator of Rural Innovation and Partnerships in 
carrying out the Rural Future Partnership Fund es-
tablished under subtitle I of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act.’’. 
SEC. 4. RURAL FUTURE PARTNERSHIP FUND. 
The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘Subtitle I—Rural Future 
Partnership Fund 
‘‘SEC. 385A. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘Council’ means a 
rural partnership council established under para-
graph (1)(A)(i), (2)(A)(i), or (3)(A)(i), as applicable, 
of section 385C(a). 
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‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
PRO-
VIDER.—The term ‘eligible technical assistance pro-
vider’ means an entity— 
‘‘(A) with a demonstrated national or re-
gional structure or capacity to deliver and sup-
port multiple rural planning activities across 
the United States or within a region of the 
United States; and 
‘‘(B) that is— 
‘‘(i) a federally recognized Indian 
Tribe; 
‘‘(ii) an institution of higher edu-
cation; 
‘‘(iii) a nonprofit organization; or 
‘‘(iv) a private organization. 
‘‘(3) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the Rural 
Future Partnership Fund established under section 
385B. 
‘‘(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘institution 
of higher education’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘institution 
of higher education’ includes— 
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‘‘(i) land-grant colleges and univer-
sities (as defined in section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103)); and 
‘‘(ii) associated cooperative extension 
services. 
‘‘(5) PLAN.—The term ‘Plan’ means a rural 
partnership plan established under section 385E(a). 
‘‘(6) RESERVATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘reservation’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘Indian coun-
try’ in section 1151 of title 18, United States 
Code. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘reservation’ 
includes land held by a Native group, a Re-
gional Corporation, or a Village Corporation (as 
those terms are defined in section 3 of the Alas-
ka Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
1602)). 
‘‘(7) RURAL
PARTNERSHIP
BLOCK
GRANT.— 
The term ‘rural partnership block grant’ means a 
rural partnership block grant awarded under this 
subtitle. 
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‘‘(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of 
Rural Innovation and Partnerships. 
‘‘(9) WORKFORCE HOUSING.—The term ‘work-
force housing’ means, with respect to housing for a 
family, housing the cost of which does not exceed 30 
percent of— 
‘‘(A) subject to subparagraph (B), 120 
percent of the median income in the area in 
which the family lives, as determined by the 
Secretary, with appropriate adjustments for the 
size of the family; or 
‘‘(B) if the Secretary determines that there 
are unusually high- or low-family incomes in the 
area in which the family lives, such other per-
centage, as the Secretary determines to be ap-
propriate, of the median income in the area in 
which the family lives. 
‘‘SEC. 385B. ESTABLISHMENT. 
‘‘The Secretary shall establish a program, to be 
known as the ‘Rural Future Partnership Fund’, under 
which the Secretary shall award rural partnership block 
grants in accordance with this subtitle. 
‘‘SEC. 385C. ELIGIBILITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
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‘‘(1) MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a rural partnership block grant— 
‘‘(i) one or more units of local govern-
ment that govern a micropolitan statistical 
area, as defined by the Director of the Of-
fice of Management and Budget, shall es-
tablish a rural partnership council in ac-
cordance with subsection (b); and 
‘‘(ii) that Council shall submit an ap-
plication to— 
‘‘(I) not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Re-
build Rural America Act of 2019— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) 
the 
applicable 
State; or 
‘‘(BB) the applicable States, 
if the micropolitan statistical 
area spans more than 1 State; 
and 
‘‘(bb) the applicable State 
offices of the rural development 
mission area; or 
‘‘(II) after the date described in 
subclause (I), the Secretary. 
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‘‘(B) REGIONAL COLLABORATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On receipt of an 
application under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I), 
the 1 or more States, in coordination with 
the applicable State offices of the rural de-
velopment mission area, shall advise the 
applicant on the inclusion in the Council, if 
practicable, of 1 or more contiguous census 
tracts or counties that— 
‘‘(I) fall outside of a micropolitan 
or metropolitan statistical area; and 
‘‘(II) demonstrate evidence of 
economic, social, and cultural coopera-
tion that enhances the potential for 
comprehensive, asset-based regional 
development. 
‘‘(ii) DECISION.—After receipt of ad-
vice under clause (i), the applicant shall— 
‘‘(I) decide whether to include 1 
or more of the applicable contiguous 
census tracts or counties in the Coun-
cil; and 
‘‘(II) modify the application, as 
appropriate. 
‘‘(C) APPROVAL.— 
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‘‘(i) STATES.—The 1 or more States 
that receive an application under subpara-
graph (A)(ii)(I)(aa), in coordination with 
the applicable State offices of the rural de-
velopment mission area, shall approve the 
Council as eligible to receive a rural part-
nership block grant if the requirements 
under subsection (b) for the composition of 
the membership of a Council are satisfied. 
‘‘(ii) 
SECRETARY.—Not 
less 
fre-
quently than once each year, the Secretary, 
in coordination with the applicable State 
offices of the rural development mission 
area, may approve applications received 
under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) if the re-
quirements under subsection (b) for the 
composition of the membership of a Coun-
cil are satisfied. 
‘‘(2) AREAS OUTSIDE OF MICROPOLITAN AND 
METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a rural partnership block grant— 
‘‘(i) 1 or more entities described in 
subsection (b)(1) that are located in, or 
represent, 2 or more contiguous census 
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tracts or counties in an area that is not 
within a micropolitan statistical area or a 
metropolitan statistical area, as defined by 
the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget, and are not represented by a 
Council 
established 
under 
paragraph 
(1)(A)(i) or (3)(A)(i), shall establish a 
rural partnership council in accordance 
with subsection (b); and 
‘‘(ii) that Council shall submit an ap-
plication to— 
‘‘(I) not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Re-
build Rural America Act of 2019— 
‘‘(aa) the 1 or more applica-
ble States; and 
‘‘(bb) the applicable State 
offices of the rural development 
mission area; or 
‘‘(II) after the date described in 
subclause (I), the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(i) STATES.—The 1 or more States 
that receive an application under subpara-
graph (A)(ii)(I)(aa), in coordination with 
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the applicable State offices of the rural de-
velopment mission area, shall approve the 
Council as eligible to receive a rural part-
nership block grant if— 
‘‘(I) the requirements under sub-
section (b) for the composition of the 
membership of a Council are satisfied; 
and 
‘‘(II) the area to be represented 
by the Council— 
‘‘(aa) is of practicable geo-
graphic size; and 
‘‘(bb) demonstrates evidence 
of economic, social, and cultural 
cooperation that enhances the po-
tential for comprehensive, asset- 
based regional development. 
‘‘(ii) 
SECRETARY.—Not 
less 
fre-
quently than once each year, the Secretary, 
in coordination with the applicable State 
offices of the rural development mission 
area, may approve applications received 
under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) if the re-
quirements described in clause (i) are sat-
isfied. 
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‘‘(3) INDIAN RESERVATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a rural partnership block grant— 
‘‘(i) an Indian Tribe that has jurisdic-
tion over a reservation shall establish a 
rural partnership council in accordance 
with subsection (b); and 
‘‘(ii) that Council shall submit an ap-
plication to the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On receipt of an 
application that was submitted under sub-
paragraph (A)(ii) not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Rebuild 
Rural America Act of 2019, the Secretary, 
in coordination with the applicable State 
offices of the rural development mission 
area, shall approve the Council as eligible 
to receive a rural partnership block grant 
if the requirements under subsection (b) 
for the composition of the membership of 
a Council are satisfied. 
‘‘(ii) SUBSEQUENT
APPLICATIONS.— 
Not less frequently than once each year, 
the Secretary, in coordination with the ap-
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plicable State offices of the rural develop-
ment mission area, may approve applica-
tions submitted under subparagraph (A)(ii) 
later than 180 days after the date of en-
actment of the Rebuild Rural America Act 
of 2019 if the requirements under sub-
section (b) for the composition of the mem-
bership of a Council are satisfied. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Each Council— 
‘‘(1) shall include 1 or more representatives 
of— 
‘‘(A) a District Organization (as defined in 
section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal Regu-
lations (or successor regulations)) or a com-
parable regional planning organization if there 
is no applicable District Organization; 
‘‘(B) 1 or more units of local government, 
or 1 or more entities designated by a unit of 
local government, within the applicable area; 
and 
‘‘(C) a public or nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(2) may include 1 or more representatives 
of— 
‘‘(A) an economic development or other 
community or labor organization; 
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‘‘(B) a financial institution, including a 
community development financial institution (as 
defined in section 103 of the Community Devel-
opment Banking and Financial Institutions Act 
of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702)); 
‘‘(C) a philanthropic organization; 
‘‘(D) a rural cooperative; 
‘‘(E) an entity with experience in the de-
velopment of cooperatives; 
‘‘(F) an institution of higher education; 
‘‘(G) elementary or secondary education; 
‘‘(H) a private entity; 
‘‘(I) a Tribal organization; 
‘‘(J) a metropolitan planning organization 
(as defined in section 134(b) of title 23, United 
States Code); 
‘‘(K) any other regional planning organiza-
tion; or 
‘‘(L) any other entity, as determined to be 
appropriate by the Council; and 
‘‘(3) shall be composed of an odd number of 
members. 
‘‘(c) REVISIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not more frequently than 
once every 5 years, a Council may submit to the 1 
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or more applicable States, or to the Secretary in the 
case of a Council established by an Indian Tribe, an 
application to revise the geographic boundary of the 
applicable area represented by the Council. 
‘‘(2) FINAL APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.—An ap-
plication submitted to 1 or more States under para-
graph (1) shall be subject to final approval by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 385D. RURAL PARTNERSHIP BLOCK GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary shall allocate rural partner-
ship block grant funds to Councils proportionately 
based on the population of each area represented by 
a Council. 
‘‘(2) HIGH
POVERTY
RATES.—The Secretary 
shall allocate to a Council an amount equal to 3 
times the applicable amount under paragraph (1) 
with respect to each individual residing in a census 
tract, or a group of contiguous census tracts, that— 
‘‘(A) has a poverty rate of 20 percent or 
greater; and 
‘‘(B) is within or comprises the applicable 
area. 
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‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall distribute 
rural partnership block grant funds annually to each 
Council during the term of the rural partnership block 
grant. 
‘‘(c) TERM.—A rural partnership block grant— 
‘‘(1) shall be for a term of 5 years; and 
‘‘(2) may be renewed. 
‘‘(d) GRANT AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Council shall enter 
into an agreement with the Secretary, under which 
the Council, in coordination with the Secretary, shall 
establish performance measures and reporting re-
quirements that shall be met by the end of each year 
for which the Council receives funds under the 
Fund. 
‘‘(2) VIOLATIONS.—If the Secretary determines 
that a Council has failed to meet any requirements 
of the applicable agreement under paragraph (1), is 
not making reasonable progress towards meeting 
that requirement, or is otherwise in violation of that 
agreement, the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) withhold funds under the Fund until 
the Council remedies the applicable violation; or 
‘‘(B) terminate the agreement. 
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‘‘SEC. 385E. RURAL PARTNERSHIP PLANS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Each Council shall estab-
lish, maintain, evaluate, and report to the Secretary 
progress on a rural partnership plan in accordance with 
this section. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In developing a Plan under 
this section, a Council is encouraged to utilize exist-
ing Federal plans, and existing State, regional, or 
Tribal plans, so as to reduce duplicative efforts and 
align Federal investment. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL PLANS.—Existing Federal plans 
referred to in paragraph (1) include— 
‘‘(A) the Comprehensive Economic Devel-
opment Strategy of the Economic Development 
Administration; 
‘‘(B) a local plan, as defined in section 3 
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102); 
‘‘(C) the Consolidated Plan of the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development; 
‘‘(D) plans developed by metropolitan plan-
ning organizations under section 134 of title 
23, United States Code; 
‘‘(E) plans developed by regional transpor-
tation planning organizations designated under 
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section 135(m) of title 23, United States Code, 
or section 5304(l) of title 49, United States 
Code (commonly known as a ‘rural transpor-
tation planning organization’); 
‘‘(F) emergency preparedness and hazard 
mitigation plans required by the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency; 
‘‘(G) the Drinking Water Action Plan of 
the Environmental Protection Agency; 
‘‘(H) a good neighbor agreement (as de-
fined in section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(a))); and 
‘‘(I) strategic plans developed by Federal 
regional commissions, including— 
‘‘(i) the Appalachian Regional Com-
mission established by section 14301(a) of 
title 40, United States Code; 
‘‘(ii) the Delta Regional Authority es-
tablished under subtitle F of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) the Denali Commission estab-
lished under the Denali Commission Act of 
1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; title III of di-
vision C of Public Law 105–277); 
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‘‘(iv) the Northern Border Regional 
Commission 
established 
by 
section 
15301(a)(3) of title 40, United States 
Code; 
‘‘(v) the Northern Great Plains Re-
gional Authority established under subtitle 
G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2009bb et seq.); 
‘‘(vi) the Southeast Crescent Regional 
Commission 
established 
by 
section 
15301(a)(1) of title 40, United States 
Code; and 
‘‘(vii) the Southwest Border Regional 
Commission 
established 
by 
section 
15301(a)(2) of title 40, United States 
Code. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, a Plan shall include— 
‘‘(1) a plan to coordinate and build capacity 
across jurisdictions in the applicable area to develop 
and implement the Plan, including by targeting as-
sistance to high-poverty and other struggling areas 
within that region; 
‘‘(2) a plan that outlines feasible steps and 
achievable goals, timelines, and strategies for imple-
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menting the Plan, including making interjurisdic-
tional agreements that provide for cooperative and 
coordinated approaches to achieving the goals of the 
Plan; 
‘‘(3) a prioritization of projects for funding and 
implementation, when practicable, including by pro-
viding— 
‘‘(A) a description of each prioritized 
project proposed to be carried out; and 
‘‘(B) a budget for each project described in 
subparagraph (A) that includes— 
‘‘(i) preliminary actions that have 
been or must be taken at the local or re-
gional level to implement the project; 
‘‘(ii) the anticipated Federal share of 
the cost of the project; and 
‘‘(iii) a description of the source of 
the non-Federal share of funds or in-kind 
contributions for the project; 
‘‘(4) an assessment of current and future 
trends in the applicable area, which may include— 
‘‘(A) population growth or loss, and demo-
graphic changes, in the region; 
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‘‘(B) accessibility of job centers within the 
region to public transportation facilities and 
housing; 
‘‘(C) infrastructure needs in the region, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) 
projected 
water 
needs 
and 
sources; 
‘‘(ii) any need for sewer infrastruc-
ture; 
‘‘(iii) the existence of flood plains; 
‘‘(iv) the needs of local and regional 
food systems, agricultural producers, and 
value-added agricultural industries; and 
‘‘(v) any need for affordable, high- 
speed internet, including new technologies 
for mobile internet services and for afford-
able, reliable cellular phone coverage; 
‘‘(D) challenges in basic services within the 
region, including pressing health challenges; 
‘‘(E) skills and education for in-demand, 
quality jobs and for regional economic develop-
ment, which may include retraining and edu-
cation of incumbent or displaced workers; and 
‘‘(F) access to private debt and investment 
capital; 
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‘‘(5) a plan to develop opportunities for eco-
nomic diversification and innovation within the ap-
plicable area, with particular attention to— 
‘‘(A) agricultural diversification and supply 
chain development; 
‘‘(B) the conversion of existing businesses 
to employee or local ownership, such as a coop-
erative; 
‘‘(C) entrepreneurial support; 
‘‘(D) clean energy; 
‘‘(E) manufacturing; and 
‘‘(F) technological innovation; 
‘‘(6) a plan for improving environmental resil-
iency, efficient land use, remediation of brownfields 
and other contaminated properties for re-use, mixed- 
use development, and the preservation of agricul-
tural, green, and open space, including— 
‘‘(A) an assessment of projected loss of ag-
ricultural and rural land and other green space 
to development; and 
‘‘(B) a description of methods to minimize 
loss described in subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(7) a plan for ensuring that no community or 
county in the applicable area is excluded from re-
ceiving assistance through the rural partnership 
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block grant, including timelines and goals for tar-
geting assistance to high-poverty census tracts in-
cluded in the area; 
‘‘(8) a plan for building greater collaboration 
between— 
‘‘(A) rural population centers and neigh-
boring rural areas of the applicable area; and 
‘‘(B) the applicable area and neighboring 
urban areas; 
‘‘(9) a plan for the creation and preservation of 
workforce housing and affordable, energy-efficient 
housing for all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities, 
including— 
‘‘(A) cooperative housing; and 
‘‘(B) limited equity cooperative housing; 
‘‘(10) a plan to develop opportunities to revi-
talize existing communities, including infill develop-
ment and utilizing existing assets, such as natural 
assets and public infrastructure; and 
‘‘(11) such other information or plans as a 
Council or the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate. 
‘‘(d) APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than 
annually, each Council shall approve a Plan by a 
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majority vote of the members of the Council for sub-
mission to the Secretary for final approval under 
paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.—On receipt of 
a Plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary may ap-
prove or disapprove the Plan. 
‘‘SEC. 385F. USE OF GRANT FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) PLANNING.—During the first 2 years of the 
term of a rural partnership block grant, a Council may 
use the funds for comprehensive planning and capacity 
building to implement a Plan. 
‘‘(b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A Council shall use funds 
under a rural partnership block grant to implement 
a Plan. 
‘‘(2) PERMISSIBLE
USES.—In using funds to 
implement a Plan under paragraph (1), a Council 
may use the funds— 
‘‘(A) to support the development of critical 
infrastructure necessary to facilitate economic 
development in the applicable area, including 
high-speed internet, including new technologies 
for mobile internet services and for affordable, 
reliable cellular phone coverage; 
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‘‘(B) to support activities to achieve great-
er economic and environmental resiliency, in-
cluding for emergency preparedness, disaster 
recovery, and hazard mitigation; 
‘‘(C) to provide assistance to entities with-
in the applicable area that provide basic public 
services, such as— 
‘‘(i) child care centers; 
‘‘(ii) nonprofit health care, including 
community health centers, primary and 
emergency medical care, mental health, 
and substance abuse treatment providers; 
‘‘(iii) public libraries; 
‘‘(iv) community centers; 
‘‘(v) public schools; and 
‘‘(vi) nonprofit technology centers, in-
cluding business incubators and business 
accelerators; 
‘‘(D) to provide assistance with education, 
job training, workforce development, or other 
needs relating to the development and mainte-
nance of a strong workforce and support of 
youth, unemployed, underemployed, dislocated, 
disabled, adult, and incumbent workers and in-
dividuals with a barrier to employment; 
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‘‘(E) to provide assistance in the develop-
ment of innovative collaborations that link pub-
lic, private, and philanthropic resources to 
achieve collaboratively designed regional ad-
vancement; 
‘‘(F) to promote and use employee owner-
ship, cooperatives, and local ownership in the 
development of infrastructure, businesses, and 
community services; 
‘‘(G) to acquire, or demolish improvements 
on, real property; 
‘‘(H) to construct or rehabilitate residen-
tial or nonresidential structures; 
‘‘(I) to develop new affordable low-income 
and workforce housing options that ensure 
mixed-income development; 
‘‘(J) to construct public facilities and im-
provements, such as water and sewer facilities, 
streets, community centers, and the conversion 
of school buildings for other purposes that are 
eligible for funding under this subsection; 
‘‘(K) to establish new connections between 
rural population centers and neighboring rural 
areas within the applicable area, and between 
the applicable area and urban areas, relating to 
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systems such as the supply of clean energy, 
workforce sheds, food systems, supply chains, 
commuting patterns, and outdoor recreation; 
‘‘(L) to carry out activities relating to— 
‘‘(i) energy conservation; 
‘‘(ii) the development, storage, and 
use of clean energy resources; and 
‘‘(iii) bio-based manufacturing; 
‘‘(M) to rebuild and modernize infrastruc-
ture and expand investment to support agricul-
tural diversification and supply chain develop-
ment; 
‘‘(N) to promote integrated transportation, 
housing, energy, and economic development ac-
tivities carried out across policy areas and gov-
ernmental jurisdictions; 
‘‘(O) to coordinate business development, 
land use, housing, transportation, and infra-
structure planning processes across jurisdictions 
and agencies; 
‘‘(P) to address public health needs, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) access to mental health and sub-
stance abuse services; and 
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‘‘(ii) access to healthy, locally, and re-
gionally grown foods; 
‘‘(Q) to encourage entrepreneurship and 
the scale-up of existing business operations 
by— 
‘‘(i) improving access to capital, in-
cluding market-based financing, such as 
angel, venture, equity, and equity-like cap-
ital; 
‘‘(ii) facilitating collaboration between 
entrepreneurs and institutions of higher 
education and applied research institutions 
for the purposes of commercialization of 
research or adoption of technology or proc-
esses; 
‘‘(iii) assisting with integration into a 
supply chain; and 
‘‘(iv) providing mentor, networking, 
and support services for entrepreneurs, in-
cluding establishing business incubators or 
accelerators; 
‘‘(R) to develop innovative public and pri-
vate collaborations for investments in the appli-
cable area; 
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‘‘(S) to use arts and culture for improve-
ments in economic development, education, 
training, and quality of life; 
‘‘(T) to revitalize downtown corridors and 
other community centers to create vibrant, 
mixed-use neighborhoods; 
‘‘(U) to expand access to domestic and 
international markets for businesses and agri-
cultural producers; 
‘‘(V) to lead development programming for 
organizations or cohorts of organizations in-
cluded in the Plan; 
‘‘(W) to provide matching funds for other 
Federal funding if that other Federal funding is 
for a project that is in accordance with the 
goals of the Plan; 
‘‘(X) to promote the use of energy effi-
ciency in applicable projects; and 
‘‘(Y) to provide technical assistance for co-
operative conversions, startups, and expansions, 
including education on cooperative governance. 
‘‘SEC. 385G. ACCESS TO FEDERAL PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM.—In this section, the term ‘rural development pro-
gram’ means— 
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‘‘(1) community facility direct and guaranteed 
loans under section 306(a); 
‘‘(2) water or waste disposal grants or direct or 
guaranteed loans under paragraph (1) or (2) of sec-
tion 306(a); 
‘‘(3) community facility grants under paragraph 
(19), (20), or (21) of section 306(a); 
‘‘(4) the rural cooperative development grant 
program established under section 310B(e); 
‘‘(5) business and industry guaranteed loans 
under section 310B(g); 
‘‘(6) the rural microentrepreneur assistance 
program established under section 379E; 
‘‘(7) the rural broadband access program estab-
lished under title VI of the Rural Electrification Act 
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq.); 
‘‘(8) value-added producer grants under section 
210A(d)(5) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(d)(5)); 
‘‘(9) the Healthy Food Financing Initiative es-
tablished under section 243 of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6953); 
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‘‘(10) the Rural Energy for America Program 
established under section 9007 of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107); 
‘‘(11) the rural energy savings program under 
section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a); 
‘‘(12) rural rental housing direct loans under 
section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1485); 
‘‘(13) the housing preservation grant program 
under section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
U.S.C. 1490m); 
‘‘(14) loan guarantees for multifamily rental 
housing in rural areas under section 538 of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490p–2); 
‘‘(15) housing preservation and revitalization 
demonstration loans and grants provided by the 
Rural Housing Service; and 
‘‘(16) multifamily housing transfer and prepay-
ment technical assistance grants provided by the 
Rural Housing Service. 
‘‘(b) WAIVER
OF
MATCHING
FUNDS
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall waive any matching funds 
requirement under a rural development program for a 
project that is carried out in an applicable area that is 
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