116 STAT. 402 PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 7 USC "SEC. 384S. FUNDING. "(a) IN GENERAL.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available— "(1) such sums as may be necessary for the cost of guaranteeing $280,000,000 of debentures under this subtitle; and "(2) $44,000,000 to make grants under this subtitle. "(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— Funds transferred under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.". SEC. 6030. RURAL STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (as amended by section 6029) is amended by adding at the end the following: "Subtitle I—Rural Strategic Investment Program 7 USC 2009dd. "SEC. 385A- PURPOSE. "The purpose of this subtitle is to establish a rural strategic investment program— "(1) to provide rural communities with flexible resources to develop comprehensive, collaborative, and locally-based strategic planning processes; and "(2) to implement innovative community and economic development strategies that optimize regional competitive advantages. 7 USC 2009dd-l. "SEC. 385B. DEFINITIONS. "In this subtitle: "(1) BENCHMARK. — The term 'benchmark' means an annual set of strategies and goals of a Regional Board established for the purpose of measuring performance in meeting the regional plan of the Regional Board. "(2) CONFERENCE.— The term "Conference" means the National Conference on Rural America conducted under section 385H. "(3) ELIGIBLE AREA.— "(A) IN GENERAL. —The term 'eligible area' means a nonmetropolitan county (as defined by the Secretary) that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less. "(B) INCLUSION. — "(i) IN GENERAL.— Subject to clause (ii), the term 'eligible area' includes an imincorporated or other area of a county that has a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants if the unincorporated area or other area is adjacent to an eligible rural area described in subparagraph (A). "(ii) PARTICIPATION. —An area described in clause (i) may be represented on a Regional Board. "(C) EXCLUSION.— The term 'eligible area' does not include any area designated by the Secretary as a rural empowerment zone or rural enterprise community. "(4) INNOVATION GRANT. —The term 'innovation grant' means an innovation grant made by the National Board to a Regional Board under section 385G.
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