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‘‘(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, 
recreation, and preservation of open space in a man-
ner consistent with economic development goals; 
‘‘(7) to promote the development of renewable 
and alternative energy sources; and 
‘‘(8) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 
subtitle. 
‘‘(b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—A Commission shall 
allocate at least 40 percent of any grant amounts provided 
by the Commission in a fiscal year for projects described 
in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) SOURCES OF GRANTS.—Grant amounts may be 
provided entirely from appropriations to carry out this 
subtitle, in combination with amounts available under 
other Federal grant programs, or from any other source. 
‘‘(d) MAXIMUM COMMISSION CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 
and (3), the Commission may contribute not more 
than 50 percent of a project or activity cost eligible 
for financial assistance under this section from 
amounts appropriated to carry out this subtitle. 
‘‘(2) DISTRESSED
COUNTIES.—The maximum 
Commission contribution for a project or activity to 
be carried out in a county for which a distressed 
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county designation is in effect under section 15702 
may be increased to 80 percent. 
‘‘(3) 
SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
REGIONAL 
PROJECTS.—A Commission may increase to 60 per-
cent under paragraph (1) and 90 percent under 
paragraph (2) the maximum Commission contribu-
tion for a project or activity if— 
‘‘(A) the project or activity involves 3 or 
more counties or more than one State; and 
‘‘(B) the Commission determines in ac-
cordance with section 15302(a) that the project 
or activity will bring significant interstate or 
multicounty benefits to a region. 
‘‘(e) MAINTENANCE
OF EFFORT.—Funds may be 
provided by a Commission for a program or project in a 
State under this section only if the Commission deter-
mines that the level of Federal or State financial assist-
ance provided under a law other than this subtitle, for the 
same type of program or project in the same area of the 
State within region, will not be reduced as a result of 
funds made available by this subtitle. 
‘‘(f) NO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.—Financial as-
sistance authorized by this section may not be used to as-
sist a person or entity in relocating from one area to an-
other. 
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‘‘§ 15502. Comprehensive economic and infrastruc-
ture development plans 
‘‘(a) STATE PLANS.—In accordance with policies es-
tablished by a Commission, each State member of the 
Commission shall submit a comprehensive economic and 
infrastructure development plan for the area of the region 
represented by the State member. 
‘‘(b) CONTENT OF PLAN.—A State economic and in-
frastructure development plan shall reflect the goals, ob-
jectives, and priorities identified in any applicable eco-
nomic and infrastructure development plan developed by 
a Commission under section 15303. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION WITH INTERESTED LOCAL PAR-
TIES.—In carrying out the development planning process 
(including the selection of programs and projects for as-
sistance), a State shall— 
‘‘(1) consult with local development districts, 
local units of government, and local colleges and uni-
versities; and 
‘‘(2) take into consideration the goals, objec-
tives, priorities, and recommendations of the entities 
described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A Commission and applica-
ble State and local development districts shall en-
courage and assist, to the maximum extent prac-
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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; 
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‘‘(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 
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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.— 
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