Don't show this message again
15 U.S. Code § 3722a. Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program
(a) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of CongressThe term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Cooperative extension services
The term “cooperative extension services” has the meaning given the term in section 3103 of title 7.
(3) Site connectivity infrastructure
The term “site connectivity infrastructure” means localized driveways and access roads to a facility as well as hookups to the new facility for drinking water, waste water, broadband, and other basic infrastructure services already present in the area.
(4) Venture development organization
The term “venture development organization” has the meaning given such term in section 3722(a) of this title.[1]
(5) Community development financial institution
The term “community development financial institution” has the meaning given in section 4702 of title 12.
(6) Minority depository institutionThe term “minority depository institution” means an entity that is—
(A)
a minority depository institution, as defined in section 308 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 1463 note); or
(B) considered to be a minority depository institution by—
(i)
the appropriate Federal banking agency; or
(ii)
the National Credit Union Administration, in the case of an insured credit union.
(7) Low population State
The term “low population State” means a State without an urbanized area with a population greater than 250,000 as reported in the decennial census.
(8) Small and rural communities
The term “small and rural community” means a noncore area, a micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan statistical area with a population of not more than 250,000.
(b) Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program
(1) In generalSubject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall carry out a program—
(A)
to encourage new and constructive collaborations among local, State, Tribal, and Federal government entities, institutions of higher education, the private sector, economic development organizations, labor organizations, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations that promote broad-based regional innovation initiatives;
(B)
to support eligible consortia in the development and implementation of regional innovation strategies;
(C) to designate eligible consortia as regional technology and innovation hubs and facilitate activities by consortia designated as regional technology and innovation hubs in implementing their regional innovation strategies—
(i)
to enable United States leadership in technology and innovation sectors critical to national and economic security;
(ii)
to support regional economic development and resilience, including in small cities and rural areas, and promote increased geographic diversity of innovation across the United States;
(iii)
to promote the benefits of technology development and innovation for all Americans, including underserved communities and vulnerable communities;
(iv)
to support the modernization and expansion of United States manufacturing based on advances in technology and innovation;
(v)
to support domestic job creation and broad-based economic growth; and
(vi)
to improve the pace of market readiness, industry maturation, and overall commercialization and domestic production of innovative research;
(D)
to ensure that the regional technology and innovation hubs address the intersection of emerging technologies and either regional challenges or national challenges; and
(E)
to conduct ongoing research, evaluation, analysis, and dissemination of best practices for regional development and competitiveness in technology and innovation.
(2) AwardsThe Secretary shall carry out the program required by paragraph (1) through the award of the following:
(A)
Strategy development grants or cooperative agreements to eligible consortia under subsection (e).
(B)
Strategy implementation grants or cooperative agreements to regional technology and innovation hubs under subsection (f).
(3) Administration
The Secretary shall carry out this section through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development in coordination with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.