The Economic Development Reauthorization Act of 2024 outlines various sections aimed at promoting economic growth through public works, infrastructure development, and support for different regions and communities. It includes provisions for grants, establishment of offices for tribal and disaster recovery, adjustments in grant criteria, and modernization of environmental reviews, emphasizing coordination and support across federal agencies and regions.

Congress identifies several ongoing economic challenges in the United States, including unemployment, economic shifts, and infrastructure needs. To address these, they propose partnerships across government levels and emphasize community development, aiming to create jobs, modernize facilities, and support resilient and sustainable economic growth.

Congress identifies ongoing economic challenges such as high unemployment and changing industries in certain U.S. areas, and emphasizes the importance of partnerships between the federal government, local communities, and other stakeholders to foster economic growth through infrastructure improvements, job creation, and community empowerment. To support a resilient and competitive economy, it advocates for federal assistance to both urban and rural distressed areas, encouraging collaboration and innovation, and aims to modernize facilities and boost travel and tourism.

In this section of the bill, certain terms used in the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 are updated. It introduces new definitions such as "blue economy" for sustainable use of water resources, "capacity building" for community project planning activities, and "outdoor recreation" for nature-based recreational activities. It also defines various regional commissions and updates existing language to clarify roles in travel and tourism.

The amended Section 103 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 allows the Secretary of Commerce to organize meetings with various government and economic groups to enhance coordination on economic development activities. It specifically requires regular meetings with Regional Commissions to share strategies, minimize duplicate efforts, and plan future actions, with a report on these efforts made public within a year after each meeting.

The section amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to improve waste management, increase economic resilience, and support rural areas. It adds new considerations for grants, such as addressing extreme weather impacts, improving broadband access, boosting outdoor recreation, and promoting the blue economy.

The section amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act to allow grant funds to be used for various administrative expenses, such as planning, project predevelopment, and hiring professional staff to help communities with economic development tasks. It also revises the criteria for grant use to include measures addressing the impacts of extreme weather and expanding broadband services.

The section amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to increase the federal share of project costs from 50% to 60%, allows funds from a Regional Commission to count as the non-federal share, and permits the Secretary to cover 100% of project costs for certain small communities and for projects related to major disasters. Additionally, it updates authorization for disaster economic recovery activities.

The section authorizes funding for activities aimed at helping economic recovery after disasters.

The section modifies the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to update the criteria considered for economic growth plans by replacing one subparagraph with a new one that focuses on per capita income, labor force participation, and underemployment in eligible areas, and by adding "retention" to the focus on job creation.

The section amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act to allow grants for creating university centers that offer technical and business development support across all states. These centers will work with other institutions and agencies to foster economic strategies, support local businesses, assist with data and research, and promote economic growth, especially in distressed communities.

The section outlines the investment priorities necessary for a project to receive assistance under the Public Works and Economic Development Act. The priorities include supporting critical infrastructure, workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, economic recovery resilience, and manufacturing, while allowing the Secretary to propose additional priorities with notification to specific Congressional committees.

The section outlines that for projects to receive assistance, they must align with specific investment priorities such as developing critical infrastructure, boosting workforce skills, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, enhancing economic resilience, or expanding manufacturing. If the Secretary wishes to use an investment priority not listed, they must notify relevant Congressional committees in writing.

The section describes amendments to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, focusing on grants for areas affected by economic dislocation in the steel industry, as well as coal and nuclear host communities. It outlines eligibility criteria and the process for granting financial assistance to communities impacted by industry contractions, closures, or decommissioning activities.

The section amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act to redefine a “renewable energy site” as a brownfield area using renewable energy technologies like solar and wind. It also changes the name from "brightfields demonstration" to "renewable energy," updates terminology throughout the section, and removes subsection (d).

The proposed section would allow the Secretary to give grants to support innovative workforce training programs, including developing facilities and purchasing equipment. It also introduces a program for States to offer career scholarships for jobs in high-demand industries that do not require a college degree, with the Federal government covering no more than 70% of the costs.

The section describes a program where the Secretary can give grants to help create and grow innovative workforce training programs through partnerships. These grants can be used by states for building facilities, buying equipment, designing programs, or even offering scholarships to individuals pursuing high-demand jobs that don't require a college degree. States must follow certain guidelines to apply for these grants, and the Federal government will cover up to 70% of the costs.

In this section, the Secretary must notify certain Congressional committees at least 3 business days before awarding a large grant (over $100,000) to any project. The notification must include details like the project name, applicant, location, grant amount, and a description, and it must be made publicly available within 60 days.

In this section, the Secretary is required to inform certain Congressional committees at least three days before awarding a grant of $100,000 or more for projects picked by the Economic Development Administration. This notification must include details like the project name, applicant, location, grant amount, and a project description, and must be made publicly available within 60 days.

The section describes a new initiative to boost high-speed broadband deployment by allowing grants for projects that expand or improve internet access, especially in underserved areas. It outlines who can receive these grants, such as public-private partnerships, and details how the property involved in these projects will be managed. It also ensures that those who help design projects are not disqualified from competing to provide related services and allows for credit towards the local share of project costs.

The section describes a federal initiative to support high-speed broadband deployment, where grants may be given to eligible recipients, like public-private partnerships, to help plan, develop, or improve broadband services. It outlines the application process, property ownership rules, and conditions for sharing the costs with non-federal contributions.

The section establishes the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Grant Program, which allows the Secretary to provide grants to develop or expand sites for manufacturing purposes. When awarding these grants, preference is given to projects that support economic development and workforce training, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas, and have financial backing from other sources.

The Critical Supply Chain Site Development Grant Program allows the Secretary to provide grants to eligible recipients for developing or expanding sites to prepare them for manufacturing projects. When selecting grant recipients, the Secretary considers factors like economic improvement in rural or tribal areas, alignment with regional plans, workforce development efforts, and support for strategically important industries. Priority is given to projects with additional funding sources and those likely to attract business interest. The grants can be used for activities such as improving site utilities, land preparation, environmental assessments, and job training, but recipients are not required to have a specific company committed to using the site.

The proposed changes to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 update the criteria for determining if an area needs economic assistance. New conditions include facing severe unemployment or economic problems, having a low median household income, low labor force participation, significant prime-age employment gaps, or experiencing economic distress due to transitions in energy industries.

Section 117 of the bill amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 by highlighting the need to consider extreme weather in economic development strategies, and it establishes that this section does not apply to certain regional grants.

The section establishes the Office of Tribal Economic Development within the Economic Development Administration to coordinate and assist with Tribal economic development activities. It outlines purposes like helping Tribal communities access aid, ensuring coordination with other Federal agencies, creating a strategic economic plan, implementing outreach via a website, and ensuring dedicated staff for these initiatives.

There is a new Office of Tribal Economic Development being set up within the Economic Development Administration to help Tribal communities access economic assistance and coordinate strategies with other federal agencies. This Office will create and update a strategic plan for Tribal economic development every three years and will utilize a website to provide information to Tribal leaders and communities about accessing programs that support economic growth.

The Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience is being established to help communities recover economically after disasters. It will have teams that can quickly respond to emergencies, and the Secretary can appoint temporary or permanent staff to assist. The office will also coordinate with other federal agencies and provide necessary training and resources to ensure effective disaster recovery efforts.

The section establishes the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience to manage economic recovery after disasters, allowing the appointment of temporary personnel with the option of converting them to permanent positions, and forming a specialized disaster team. This team will include staff from various departments and agencies, receive training, and may utilize resources from other federal agencies to effectively handle post-disaster recovery efforts.

The section establishes a role called "Technical Assistance Liaison" within the Economic Development Administration. This liaison will help underresourced communities apply for grants by offering technical support and feedback on unsuccessful applications, and the Secretary may also provide additional support through contracts or agreements.

A regional office's Regional Director in the Economic Development Administration can appoint a "Technical Assistance Liaison" to help underresourced communities apply for assistance. This Liaison works with an Economic Development Representative to provide extra technical support and give feedback on unsuccessful grant applications. Additionally, the Secretary can make agreements to offer more technical help to these communities.

The amendment to Section 603(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 requires the addition of details in the annual report to Congress. It mandates listing all grants for rural projects, explaining how they benefit rural areas, and certifying that each project is located in or primarily benefits rural areas.

The section mandates that the Secretary of Commerce report to Congress about efforts to make environmental reviews of projects more efficient and predictable. This includes considering new ways to speed up the process, like using common exclusions and impacts assessments, and potentially creating agreements with other agencies.

The document requires the Comptroller General to submit a report by September 30, 2026, evaluating how economic development programs by the Economic Development Administration and Regional Commissions impact job creation, unemployment rates, and private investments. The report will also include coordination efforts, other relevant factors, and suggestions for legislative improvements.

In this section, the Comptroller General is required to submit a report to certain congressional committees within two years, evaluating economic development regulations and policies that have posed challenges for communities, particularly small ones, in obtaining and managing grants from the Economic Development Administration. The report will review grant application processes, assess the technical capacity of potential grant recipients, identify barriers faced by small communities, and suggest ways to simplify and improve the grant application experience.

The section mandates that the Comptroller General conduct a study within two years of the Act's enactment to assess the impacts of Economic Development Administration funding on rural distressed communities. The study should focus on at least five different communities and examine effects on local employment and affordable housing, with a report of findings and recommendations submitted to specific congressional committees.

The section outlines the authorized funding over the fiscal years 2025 to 2029 for various grant programs under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, including grants for public works, planning, training, economic adjustment, and assistance for coal and nuclear host communities, as well as renewable energy and workforce training initiatives. Each program is assigned specific amounts that are to remain available until used, and a section of the Act is struck as a conforming amendment.

The text outlines a revised table of contents for the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. It includes sections on forming economic partnerships, grants and funding for public works, eligibility criteria for development strategies, economic development districts, administrative roles, miscellaneous provisions, and authorization of appropriations for various economic activities.

The bill changes Section 15751 of title 40 in the United States Code to authorize $40 million in funding each year for regional commissions from 2025 to 2029.

The section modifies various parts of title 40 of the United States Code related to regional commissions. It updates membership rules, quorum requirements for meetings, administrative powers, procedures for meetings, and the deadline for annual reports.

The section in the bill allows Commissions to transfer funds to and from other federal agencies, provided the funds are used for their intended purposes and the agency giving the funds agrees they are eligible. It also includes a clerical change by renaming a section to ensure proper organization.

A Commission can transfer money to and accept money from other Federal agencies if it's used correctly. Money can be moved to another agency if it's used for its original purpose. Money transferred to a Commission can only be used if the original rules allow it and the agency providing the money agrees it's an eligible use.

The section of the bill amends title 40 of the United States Code to include activities such as coordinating with federal agencies to enhance infrastructure for resilience against extreme weather and promoting the construction of housing to support economic and workforce needs. Additionally, it updates subsection references to reflect these changes.

The text amends Chapter 155 of subtitle V of title 40, United States Code, to allow funds from this section to be used to pay for the non-Federal portion of projects funded by other Federal grant programs, as long as these projects are not mainly funded by a Commission and align with the Commission's authority.

The section explains that the money allocated under this subtitle can be used to cover the non-Federal portion of costs for projects funded by other Federal grants, as long as a Commission is not the main funder and the projects align with the Commission’s legal powers.

The section updates the Northern Border Regional Commission area by adding the counties of Lincoln, Merrimack, and Wyoming to the list of regions specified in Title 40 of the United States Code.

The section amends parts of the United States Code to update the list of counties included in the Southwest Border Regional Commission area by adding Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, Torrance, and Valencia, while correcting punctuation in a list that includes Tom Green and Upton.

The section amends a part of the United States Code to clarify that the Great Lakes Authority area includes entire or partial counties.

The section introduces Chapter 159, which establishes additional regional commission programs, including a State capacity building grant program and demonstration health projects. The State capacity building program aims to support business development, job creation, university partnerships, and infrastructure improvements in eligible counties, while the demonstration health projects focus on planning, constructing, and operating health facilities to stimulate regional economic growth, with special priorities for addiction treatment, healthcare workforce shortages, and chronic health issue screenings.

The section establishes a State capacity building grant program through which Commissions provide financial support to states with eligible counties for various development purposes like business retention, job creation, infrastructure improvement, and enhancing technical capacities. Funds from these grants cannot be used for purchasing furniture or compensating members of the Commission and must be reported on their use annually.

The section allows a Commission to provide grants for planning, building, equipping, and operating health projects to boost economic development in a region. Eligible grants can be used for various health facilities and services, with specific conditions and a priority on addiction treatment, healthcare workforce shortages, and access to chronic health screenings.

In this section of the bill, a new rule is added to allow the Southwest Border Regional Commission to waive the requirement for Indian tribes and colonias to pay part of the cost when they receive federal assistance. It defines a "colonia" as a community in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas, close to the U.S.-Mexico border, that lacks basic necessities like water, sewage, or safe housing, and has been officially recognized as such.

In this section, the term "colonia" refers to a community in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas, located near the U.S.-Mexico border, which lacks basic services like water, sewage, or housing, and is recognized by government programs. It also states that for projects assisted by the Southwest Border Regional Commission, the federal government may cover the entire cost for colonias and Indian tribes, as decided by specified officials.

The section establishes the Mid-Atlantic Regional Commission as a new entity under the United States Code, specifying that it will cover all counties in Delaware, and certain counties in Maryland and Pennsylvania not served by the Appalachian Regional Commission. It also makes a clerical amendment to include this new commission in the legal code and clarifies application rules for counties covered by the commission.

The section outlines the counties included in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Commission, covering all counties in Delaware and those in Maryland and Pennsylvania not currently served by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The text establishes the Southern New England Regional Commission and defines its region to include all counties in Rhode Island, certain counties in Connecticut (Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham), and specific counties in Massachusetts (Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Plymouth, and Worcester). It also amends existing laws to integrate this new commission into relevant parts of the United States Code.

The Southern New England Regional Commission covers all the counties in Rhode Island, and certain counties in Connecticut (Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham) and Massachusetts (Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Plymouth, and Worcester).

The section reauthorizes the Denali Commission by increasing its funding to $35 million per year for 2025 through 2029, adjusts how commission members are appointed, clarifies the duties and powers of the commission, and allows commission funds to be used as a non-federal share in certain projects. Additionally, it removes requirements involving the Secretary of Commerce and makes other technical adjustments to the Act.

The Denali Housing Fund is established to provide financial support through grants and loans for constructing and improving housing for low-income and moderate-income households, as well as housing for public employees, in rural Alaska. It authorizes the Federal Cochair of the Denali Commission to manage the fund, provide technical assistance, and outline eligibility and conditions for receiving financial aid.

The Delta Regional Authority's funding is increased from $30 million to $40 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, and the authority can now collect and use fees from the Delta Doctors program. Additionally, Indian Tribes are included alongside States as eligible parties for certain activities, and new provisions are added for continuity when key leadership positions are vacant.

The section updates funding for the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority, increasing the budget to $40 million each year from 2025 to 2029. Additionally, it removes the part of the law that previously ended the Authority's powers.