Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/710

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104 STAT. 4032 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 SEC. 2346. EXTENSION SERVICE. Section 502 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(g) RURAL ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. — "(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish an Extension Service rural economic and business development program to enable States or counties to employ specialists as Cooperative Extension Service staff of the State or county to assist individuals in creating new businesses, including cooperatives, of to Eissist existing businesses, and to assist such businesses regarding advanced telecommunications, computer technologies, technical or management assistance, business and financial planning, and other related matters, and to assist community leaders in community economic analysis and strategic planning. "(2) FUNCTION OF SPECIAUSTS.— Specialists employed under paragraph (1) shall provide economic development information and assistance concerning business creation, business planning and advice, advanced telecommunications, business management, computer operations, and other technical assistance to community leaders and private sector entrepreneurs and cooperatives operating in the State or county that employs such specialists. "(3) PROCEDURES AND LIMITATIONS.— The Secretary shall establish policies, procedures, and limitations that shall apply to States and counties that desire to participate in the program established under this subsection. States and counties shall determine the t3rpes of rural economic and business development specialists that are needed by such States and counties. In States with land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, such eligible institutions shall determine the t5rpes of rural economic and business development specialists needed. Grant programs. "(4) PAYMENT OF SALARY. —The Secretary shall make grants to States and counties that participate in the program established under this section in an amount equal to 60 percent of the total amount of the salary paid to any specialists employed under such program, and the State or county shall provide funds for the remaining 40 percent of such salary. Land-grant colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, shall be exempt from the 40 percent salary matching requirement. "(5) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. —To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 in fiscal year 1991, $10,000,000 in fiscal year 1992, $15,000,000 in fiscal year 1993, and $20,000,000 in fiscal year 1994 and each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended. "(6) COORDINATION. — The Secretary shall ensure that the activities of the Extension Service rural economic and business development program established under this subsection are coordinated with the Small Business Administration to ensure that there is no duplication of activities in any local area, county or region.