Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program

In this section: The term “eligible entity” means a rural jobs accelerator partnership established after December 20, 2018, that— organizes key community and regional stakeholders into a working group that— includes 1 or more representatives of— has, as a lead applicant— subject to approval by the Secretary, may— serve a region that is— define the region that the partnership represents, if the region— includes a majority of communities that are located in— The term “industry cluster” means a broadly defined network of interconnected firms and supporting institutions in related industries that accelerate innovation, business formation, and job creation by taking advantage of assets and strengths of a region in the business environment. The term “high-wage job” means a job that provides a wage that is greater than the median wage for the applicable region, as determined by the Secretary. The term “jobs accelerator” means a jobs accelerator center or program located in or serving a low-income rural community that may provide co-working space, in-demand skills training, entrepreneurship support, and any other services described in subsection (d)(1)(B). The term “small and disadvantaged business” has the meaning given the term “small business concern owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals” in section 637(d)(3)(C) of title 15. The Secretary shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to establish jobs accelerators, including related programming, that— The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a grant made under paragraph (1) shall be not greater than 80 percent. The non-Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out using a grant made under paragraph (1) may be in the form of donations or in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued. In selecting eligible entities to receive grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider— the commitment of participating core stakeholders in the jobs accelerator partnership, including a demonstration that— The initial term of a grant under paragraph (1) shall be 4 years. The Secretary may extend the term of a grant under paragraph (1) for an additional period of not longer than 2 years if the Secretary is satisfied, using the evaluation under subsection (e)(2), that the grant recipient has successfully established a jobs accelerator and related programming. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide grants under paragraph (1) for jobs accelerators and related programming in not fewer than 25 States at any time. A grant awarded under subsection (b) may be in an amount equal to— Subject to paragraph (2), funds from a grant awarded under subsection (b) may be used— to support programs to be carried out at, or in direct partnership with, the jobs accelerator that support the objectives of the jobs accelerator, including— Subject to subparagraph (B), not more than 10 percent of a grant awarded under subsection (b) shall be used for indirect costs associated with administering the grant. The Secretary may increase the percentage described in subparagraph (A) on a case-by-case basis. Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this section, and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant, an eligible entity shall— measure that progress using performance measures during the project period, which may include— regional collaboration, as measured by such metrics as— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.