Economic Development Information Act of 1997

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Economic Development Information Act 
of 1997''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the availability of accurate and timely information on 
        economic development programs of the Federal Government, 
        States, and political subdivisions of States, and of other data 
        of use to public officials, economic development practitioners, 
        business and community leaders, academia, and the general 
        public in their pursuit of sound economic development, is 
        essential to the maintenance of the national economy at a high 
        level and to the relief of those regions, counties, and 
        communities suffering substantial and persistent unemployment 
        and underemployment; and
            (2) previous efforts of the Economic Development 
        Administration to provide such information, through an Office 
        of Economic Conversion Information, have achieved success, 
        primarily in assisting communities impacted by the closing or 
        realignment of military or Department of Energy installations, 
        or the closing or downsizing of defense-related industries.
    (b) Declaration.--Congress declares that, in furtherance of 
maintaining the national economy at a high level--
            (1) the provision of economic development information 
        should be expanded so that such information is available to 
        assist all areas suffering from economic distress or long-term 
        economic deterioration; and
            (2) such information should provide access to various 
        Governmentwide and other economic development resources in such 
        format as to be readily useful to those who may have occasion 
        to employ the information for economic development purposes.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION.

    Title VI of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 
(42 U.S.C. 3201-3204) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 605. OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the Economic 
Development Administration an Office of Economic Development 
Information (hereinafter in this section referred to as the `Office').
    ``(b) Duties.--The Office shall--
            ``(1) serve as a central information clearinghouse on 
        matters relating to economic development programs and 
        activities of the Federal Government and State governments, 
        including political subdivisions of States;
            ``(2) help potential and actual applicants for economic 
        development assistance under Federal, State, and local laws in 
        locating and applying for such assistance, including financial 
        and technical assistance; and
            ``(3) develop electronic links or other connections to 
        information databases provided by Federal departments and 
        agencies, State and local governmental agencies, public and 
        private entities, and individuals to assist other such 
        agencies, entities, and individuals in the process of 
        identifying and applying for assistance and resources under 
        economic development programs and activities of the Federal, 
        State, and local governments.
    ``(c) Electronic Links and Connections.--The databases to which the 
Office shall develop electronic links or other connections shall 
include the following kinds of information:
            ``(1) Relevant information concerning available economic 
        development programs of the Federal Government, including key 
        contact personnel, descriptions of the application process, 
        eligibility requirements and criteria, selection and followup 
        procedures, and other such relevant information.
            ``(2) Relevant information concerning major State and local 
        governmental economic development programs, including lists of 
        appropriate offices, officers, and contact personnel connected 
        with, or involved in, such programs.
            ``(3) Relevant and available economic data and trends, 
        including information about the national, regional, and local 
        impacts of trade agreements, defense spending and downsizing, 
        technological change, and other sources of substantial economic 
        dislocation.
            ``(4) Case studies and best practices in economic 
        development, adjustment, and reinvestment.
            ``(5) Technology utilization programs, assistance, and 
        resources.
            ``(6) Compilations of published works (including books, 
        reports, articles, videos, and tapes), and selected texts of 
        such works, related to all facets of economic development.
            ``(7) Information concerning current revolving loan fund 
        programs and finance programs directly related to economic 
        development objectives.
            ``(8) Resources that assist in identifying potential 
        sources of capital for businesses, including revolving loan 
        funds, venture capital, and other capital tools.
            ``(9) Resources that assist economic developers in 
        understanding and pursuing sustainable development and 
        initiatives.
    ``(d) Public Access to Data Services.--The Office shall establish 
the means to ensure easy access by the public to the Office's 
information clearinghouse, and shall take all appropriate steps to 
ensure that the clearinghouse and its resources are as accessible, 
user-friendly, and culturally neutral as possible. As soon as 
practicable, and until replaced by a means determined by the Secretary 
to be more effective in accomplishing the purposes of this section, 
access to the data services of the Office shall include each of the 
following means:
            ``(1) An Internet web site, with sorted key locations by 
        economic development related topics for users to access lists 
        of various Governmentwide and other economic development web 
        site resources.
            ``(2) A toll-free nationwide telephone number to provide 
        direct phone access to the public.
            ``(3) On-line electronic access through existing computer 
        network services and publicly available computer database 
        access facilities.
            ``(4) Printed manuals and orientation materials.
            ``(5) Periodic orientation workshops available to the 
        public.
            ``(6) On-call information specialists to address special 
        problems requiring person-to-person assistance.
    ``(e) Coordination With Other Federal Departments and Agencies.--
The Secretary shall enter into such agreements and understandings as 
may be necessary with other Federal departments and agencies to 
coordinate the accomplishment of the objectives of this section.
    ``(f) Economic Development Defined.--In this section, the term 
``economic development'' includes economic adjustment, disaster 
recovery, industrial retention, and defense reinvestment.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be 
necessary.''.

Summary: Economic Development Information Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish in the Economic Development Administration an Office of Economic Development Information (the Office) to:  (1) serve as a central information clearinghouse on matters relating to Federal, State, and municipal economic development programs and activities; (2) help applicants locate economic development assistance programs; and (3) develop electronic links or other connections to information databases, both public and private, and to other individuals in the process of identifying and applying for such economic development programs.  Prescribes database contents. 
Requires the Office to establish the means to ensure easy public access to its database service. 
Authorizes appropriations.