Use of grants for settlement of outstanding urban renewal loans of units of general local government

The Secretary is authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, to apply a portion of the grants, not to exceed 20 per centum thereof without the request of the recipient, made or to be made under section 5303 of this title in any fiscal year pursuant to an allocation under section 5306 of this title to any unit of general local government toward payment of the principal of, and accrued interest on, any temporary loan made in connection with urban renewal projects under title I of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1450 et seq.] being carried out within the jurisdiction of such unit of general local government if— Upon application by any local public agency carrying out an urban renewal project under title I of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1450 et seq.], which application is approved by the governing body of the unit of general local government in which the project is located, the Secretary may approve a financial settlement of such project if he finds that a surplus of capital grant funds after full repayment of temporary loan indebtedness will result and may authorize the unit of general local government to use such surplus funds, without deduction or offset, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.