SEC. 2. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR BIOENERGY TECHNI-
CIAN EDUCATION AND TRAINING THROUGH 
COMMUNITY 
COLLEGES 
AND 
ADVANCED 
TECHNOLOGY 
EDUCATION 
CENTERS 
PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES. 
(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make competitive grants to community col-
leges and advanced technology education centers described 
in subsection (b) to support the education and training 
of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agri-
culture-based, renewable energy resources. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Grants may be made 
under this section only to a community college or advanced 
technology education center that— 
(1) is in existence as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and located in the State of Iowa 
or other Midwestern States selected by the Sec-
retary; 
(2) the Secretary determines has a proven 
record of development and implementation of pro-
grams to meet the needs of students, educators, and 
business and industry to supply the agriculture- 
based, renewable energy field with qualified and 
trained technicians; and 
(3) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Sec-
retary the ability to leverage existing partnerships 
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and develop educational and occupational outreach 
and training programs with secondary schools, four- 
year institutions of higher education, and the agri-
cultural extension system to fill the next generation 
of emerging technician positions in the fields of bio-
energy and other agriculture-based, renewable en-
ergy resources. 
(c) EDUCATION AND TRAINING PRIORITIES.—In se-
lecting grant recipients under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to the following occupational education 
and training initiatives: 
(1) Improving the capacity of bioenergy service 
industry technicians to meet the needs of the agri-
cultural-based bioenergy sector, particularly among 
small- and medium-sized businesses. 
(2) Enhancement of training of instructors at 
community colleges and other instructors in the 
areas of agriculture-based bioenergy research, effi-
ciency, and conservation. 
(3) Identification of agricultural-based bio-
energy employment opportunities in the renewable 
energy areas of biomass and other renewable energy 
areas within the private sector, particularly among 
small- and medium-sized businesses. 
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(4) Advancement of agriculture-based bioenergy 
advanced environmental technology education and 
training through curriculum development, profes-
sional development, and program improvements at 
community colleges, in partnership with other insti-
tutions of higher education and secondary schools. 
(5) Development of working partnerships be-
tween community colleges and nonprofit organiza-
tions dedicated to bioenergy education and training 
for future bioenergy services career opportunities in 
the agriculture-based renewable energy field. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall consult with the National Science 
Foundation, the Small Business Administration, and other 
appropriate Federal agencies. 
(e) EVALUATION COMPONENT.—An application for a 
grant under this section shall include a comprehensive 
evaluation component to ensure the quality and achieve-
ment of project bioenergy technician education and train-
ing goals and objectives. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘commu-
nity college’’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation— 
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(A) that admits as regular students per-
sons who are beyond the age of compulsory 
school attendance in the State in which the in-
stitution is located and who have the ability to 
benefit from the training offered by the institu-
tion; 
(B) that does not provide an educational 
program for which it awards a bachelor’s de-
gree, or an equivalent degree; and 
(C) that— 
(i) provides an educational program of 
not less than two years that is acceptable 
for full credit toward such a degree; or 
(ii) offers a two-year program in engi-
neering, mathematics, or the physical or 
biological sciences, designed to prepare a 
student to work as a technician or at the 
semiprofessional level in engineering, sci-
entific, or other technological fields requir-
ing the understanding and application of 
basic engineering, scientific, or mathe-
matical principles of knowledge. 
(2) ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CEN-
TER.—The term ‘‘advanced technology education 
center’’ means an educational entity that features a 
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community college partnering with other institutions 
of higher education and with direct linkages with 
private industry involved in the agriculture-based 
bioenergy economy of the United States. 
Æ 
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