Strategic economic and community development
In general
In the case of any rural development program described in subsection (d)(2), the Secretary may give priority to an application for a project that, as determined and approved by the Secretary—
meets the applicable eligibility requirements of this chapter;
will be carried out solely in a rural area; and
supports strategic community and economic development plans on a multijurisdictional basis.
Rural area
For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall consider an application to be for a project that will be carried out solely in a rural area only if—
in the case of an application for a project in the rural community facilities category described in subsection (d)(2)(A), the project will be carried out in a rural area described in section 1991(a)(13)(C) of this title;
in the case of an application for a project in the rural utilities category described in subsection (d)(2)(B), the project will be carried out in a rural area described in section 1991(a)(13)(B) of this title; and
in the case of an application for a project in the rural business and cooperative development category described in subsection (d)(2)(C), the project will be carried out in a rural area described in section 1991(a)(13)(A) of this title.
Evaluation
In general
In evaluating strategic applications, the Secretary shall give a higher priority to strategic applications for a plan described in subsection (a) that demonstrates to the Secretary—
the plan was developed through the collaboration of multiple stakeholders in the service area of the plan, including the participation of combinations of stakeholders such as State, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit institutions, institutions of higher education, and private entities;
an understanding of the applicable regional resources that could support the plan, including natural resources, human resources, infrastructure, and financial resources;
investment from other Federal agencies;
investment from philanthropic organizations; and
clear objectives for the plan and the ability to establish measurable performance measures and to track progress toward meeting the objectives.
Consistency with plans
Funds
In general
Functional categories
The functional categories described in this subsection are the following:
Rural community facilities category
Rural utilities category
The rural utilities category consists of all amounts made available for—
water or waste disposal grants or direct or guaranteed loans under paragraph (1), (2), or (24) of section 1926(a) of this title;
rural water or wastewater technical assistance and training grants under section 1926(a)(14) of this title;
emergency community water assistance grants under section 1926a of this title; or
solid waste management grants under section 1932(b) of this title.
Rural business and cooperative development category
The rural business and cooperative development category consists of all amounts made available for—
business and industry direct and guaranteed loans under section 1932(a)(2)(A) of this title; or
rural business development grants under section 1932(c) of this title.