I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 826 
To establish a grant program to support cluster-based economic development 
efforts. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 3, 2009 
Mr. MCHUGH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services, 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 establish a grant program to support cluster-based 
economic development efforts. 
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 ‘‘Cluster-Based Econ-
omy Enhancement Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 219. GRANTS FOR CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMIC DE-
VELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) CLUSTER.—The term ‘cluster’ means a ge-
ographic concentration of business entities that— 
‘‘(A) are in competing, complementary, or 
interdependent firms and industries; 
‘‘(B) do business with one another; and 
‘‘(C) have common needs for talent, tech-
nology, and infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—The term ‘eligible 
applicant’ means— 
‘‘(A) a State or local government; 
‘‘(B) an institution of higher education; or 
‘‘(C) a nonprofit economic development or-
ganization. 
‘‘(3) REGION.—The term ‘region’ means an 
area that on the date of submission of an application 
for a grant under this section, meets 1 or more of 
the criteria described in section 301(a), and— 
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‘‘(A) is determined by the Secretary to 
qualify for a grant under this section; or 
‘‘(B) has been designated by the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act and 
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008, as an area in which a regional develop-
ment commission has been established, includ-
ing: 
‘‘(i) THE DELTA REGION.—The term 
‘Delta Region’ means the region defined in 
section 382A(2) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
2009aa(2)). 
‘‘(ii) THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS 
REGION.—The 
term 
‘Northern 
Great 
Plains Region’ means the region defined in 
section 383A(4) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
2009bb(4)). 
‘‘(iii) THE SOUTHEAST CRESCENT RE-
GION.—The term ‘Southeast Crescent Re-
gion’ means the region defined in section 
15731 of title 40, United States Code (as 
amended by the Food, Conservation, and 
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Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110– 
234)). 
‘‘(iv) THE SOUTHWEST BORDER RE-
GION.—The term ‘Southwest Border Re-
gion’ means the region defined in section 
15732 of title 40, United States Code (as 
amended by the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110– 
234)). 
‘‘(v) THE
NORTHERN
BORDER
RE-
GION.—The term ‘Northern Border Re-
gion’ means the region defined in section 
15733 of title 40, United States Code (as 
amended by the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110– 
234)). 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—On the application of an eligible ap-
plicant, the Secretary may make a grant— 
‘‘(1) to assess the potential for the development 
of clusters and the enhancement of existing clusters; 
‘‘(2) to establish cluster development programs 
in a region; and 
‘‘(3) to promote cluster development programs 
in a region and support the staff who operate such 
programs. 
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