The purpose of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and the administration thereof is to establish an effective program of Federal financial assistance in order to create long-term employment opportunities and to benefit the long-term unemployed and members of low-income families, or otherwise to further the objectives of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, in economically distressed communities, areas, districts, and regions of the United States through economic planning, public works, industrial and commercial loans, planning grants, and technical assistance.

Subpart B-Functions and Programs

SOURCE: The provisions of this Subpart B appear at 31 F.R. 11288, Aug. 26, 1966; 31 F.R. 16670, Dec. 30, 1966, unless otherwise noted.

§ 301.10 Direct and supplementary grants for public works and development facilities under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965.

Public works, public service, and development facility projects which directly or indirectly contribute to long-range economic growth or benefit long-term unemployed and members of low-income families in designated areas are eligible for direct grants not exceeding 50 percent of the aggregate cost of the project as determined by the Assistant Secretary. Such projects in severely distressed areas may receive supplementary grants to augment basic grants received under this Act or under other Federal grant-inaid programs, provided the total Federal financial assistance for any project does not exceed 80 percent of the aggregate project cost.

§ 301.11 Loans for public works and development facilities.

Loans are authorized for public works, public service, and development facility projects in redevelopment areas and centers, but not in Title I areas. It must be established that the funds requested for any such project are not otherwise available on terms which will permit the accomplishment of the project within the designated area, that the project will make a substantial contribution to op

portunities for permanent employment or the alleviation of poverty, and that there is reasonable expectation of repayment. § 301.12 Loans for industrial and commercial projects.

Loans up to a maximum of 65 percent of the aggregate cost of a project (as determined by the Assistant Secretary) are authorized for industrial and commercial purposes in redevelopment areas and centers, but not in Title I areas. It must be established that the funds sought are not otherwise available on terms which will permit the accomplishment of the project within the designated area and that the project will make a substantial contribution to opportunities for permanent employment.

§ 301.13 Guarantees for working capital loans.

The Assistant Secretary may guarantee loans for working capital made to private borrowers by private lending institutions for projects assisted under § 301.12. Such guarantees may not exceed 90 percent of the outstanding unpaid balance of the working capital loan.

§ 301.14 Technical assistance.

The Assistant Secretary may provide technical assistance, including project planning and feasibility studies, management and operational assistance, and studies evaluating an area's needs and potentialities for economic growth, to redevelopment areas and other areas which he finds have substantial need for such assistance. Technical assistance may be provided by the Administration staff, by other Federal departments or agencies on a reimbursable basis, by individuals, firms, or institutions under contract with the Assistant Secretary, or by grants-in-aid to appropriate public or nonprofit organizations. The Assistant Secretary is authorized to require repayment of technical assistance, when appropriate, and to set the terms and conditions of such repayment.

§ 301.15 Grants-in-aid for planning and administrative expenses.

The Assistant Secretary may provide grants-in-aid to defray up to 75 percent of the allowable administrative expenses of appropriate State, area, district, or local public or private nonprofit economic planning organizations. To assure adequate and effective planning and

economical use of funds, these grantsin-aid must, where practicable, be used in conjunction with other available Federal planning assistance, such as urban planning grants authorized under the Housing Act of 1954, as amended, and highway planning and research grants authorized under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962.

§ 301.16 Long-range study, training, and research.

The Assistant Secretary is authorized to establish and conduct a continuing program of study, training, and research to (a) assist in determining the causes of unemployment, underemployment, underdevelopment, and chronic economic depression in the various areas of the Nation; (b) assist in the formulation and implementation of national, State, and local programs which will raise income levels and otherwise produce solutions to the problems resulting from these conditions; and (c) assist in providing the personnel needed to conduct such programs. This program may be carried out by the Administration staff, by other Federal departments and agencies on a reimbursable basis, by others under contract with the Assistant Secretary, through grants authorized by the Act, or through conferences and similar meetings. The results of such research may be made available to interested individuals, and organizations.

(a) North Eastern. Sheraton-Eastland Motor Hotel, 157 High Street, Portland, Maine. Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

(b) Mid Atlantic. Veterans Administration Building, 19 North Maine Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Serving Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

(c) Mid Eastern. Chafin Building, 517 Ninth Street, Huntington, W. Va. Serving Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

(d) South Eastern. Acuff Building, 904 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, Ala. Serving: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

(e) North Central. 505 Sellwood Building, 200 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minn. Serving: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

(f) South Western. 314 West 11th Street, Austin, Tex. Serving: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.

(g) Western. Queen Anne Post Office Station, First and Republic Streets, Seattle, Wash. Serving: Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

§ 301.32 Assistant Secretary.

(a) The Economic Development Administration is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, who directs the programs and is responsible for the conduct of all activities of the Administration subject to the policies and directives prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce.

(b) He will assist the Secretary in the general supervision and coordination of the Federal Cochairmen and in effecting a resolution of policy questions between the Regional Commissions, their Federal Cochairmen, the Federal Development Committees, and other Federal agencies. [32 F.R. 10365, July 14, 1967]

§ 301.33 Deputy Assistant Secretary.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary directs and coordinates the Area Offices, assists the Assistant Secretary in all matters affecting the Economic Development Ad

ministration, and performs the duties of the Assistant Secretary during the latter's absence.

§ 301.34 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary on matters of policy coordination. He provides staff support and, when necessary, represents the Administration on all interagency committees; establishes and maintains liaison with national organizations, international organizations, State and local governments, and Regional Commissions, subject to the principal liaison responsibilities with respect to Regional Commissions and other program responsibilities vested in the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Planning; serves as Executive Secretary and provides staff support for the National Advisory Committee on Regional Economic Development; acts as Executive Secretary and provides staff support for any interagency Regional Policy Committee which may be formed; recommends policy and procedures to assure a more effective relationship between Federal, regional, State, sub-State, and local programs and plans; participates in continuing review of the Administration's program and proposes modification where necessary.

§ 301.35 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Planning.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Planning is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary on matters of development planning. Through offices reporting to him, he coordinates and directs economic development planning for regions, districts (including economic development centers), redevelopment areas, and other areas of substantial need; formulates and recommends to the Assistant Secretary standards and criteria for administration of economic development planning by Area Offices; informs the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination of significant developments and problems affecting interagency and intergovernmental development planning for regions, districts, and areas; maintains an information system to support development planning in regions, districts, and redevelopment areas; and to support program evaluation, budget planning and reporting, and administrative control of

project applications and projects; maintains a central reference collection of economic development materials; designates economic development districts, economic development centers, redevelopment areas, and Title I areas which fulfill the statutory criteria; provides economic data, analyses, studies and, in coordination with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Operations, administrative funds to regional commissions, and planning grants to development districts and areas; recommends technical assistance proposals for areas, districts, and regions; provides a principal point of liaison with and support to the Federal Cochairmen and regional commissions. He also directs and supervises the Office of Regional Development Planning, Office of District and Area Planning, and Office of Planning Support.

[31 F.R. 16670, Dec. 30, 1966, as amended at 32 F.R. 10365, July 14, 1967]

§ 301.36 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Operations.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Operations, through offices reporting to him, provides coordinated direction of all EDA activities related to financial assistance for or to physical projects which will improve local economies and supervise the execution of this aspect of the EDA program; recommends standards, policies, and criteria for the technical evaluation and processing of project applications for financial assistance, including public works grants and loans, business loans, technical assistance and supplementary Appalachian assistance grants; directs, conducts, coordinates, monitors, and where appropriate originates technical assistance projects (including management assistance and feasibility studies) subject to coordination with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Planning on proposed technical assistance projects related to area, district, center or regional planning; reviews and recommends approval or denial of project applications not within the final authority of the Area Offices; evaluates activities of the Area Offices in applying policies, standards, and procedures for processing project applications to assure efficient, effective, and economical accomplishment of approved projects; executes agreements with other Federal departments and agencies in consultation with the Deputy Assistant

Secretary for Policy Coordination for the conduct of specialized technical assistance; studies and evaluates the needs of redevelopment areas for manpower training and development resulting from EDA programs, and recommends appropriate joint action with the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare. He also supervises the Office of Public Works, Office of Business Development, and Office of Technical Assistance.

§ 301.37 Office of Program Plans and Analysis.

The Office of Program Plans and Analysis develops and implements measures of resource utilization for budgeting purposes and develops alternative and longrange plans; establishes and implements a Program Planning and Budgeting System by identifying objective-oriented program categories and developing a multiyear program budget for these categories; prepares the annual Program Memorandum required by the Bureau of the Budget; develops cost benefit studies to aid the Assistant Secretary in making choices and decisions, employing advanced techniques of operations research analysis, econometrics, and mathematical economics to determine the relative merit between, the optimum balance among, the various programs for economic development; analyzes for the Administration reports and other information on existing economic development programs in the United States and other countries; evaluates the effectiveness of economic development projects, activities, and programs in achieving the objectives of the Economic Development and Appalachian Assistance acts and the goals of the Economic Development Administration.

§ 301.38 Office of Economic Research.

The Office of Economic Research directs and conducts a program of internal and external research to meet the needs of the Administration; arranges for research by other Government agencies or by private organizations and monitors the performance of such research; encourages and stimulates research on economic development both in and out of Government, and compiles and makes available reports on the progress of such research; coordinates, reviews, and analyzes, and disseminates research findings; plans, develops, and organizes seminars, institutes, workshops and

The Office of Congressional Relations advises on all Congressional matters pertinent to the activities under the direction of the Assistant Secretary, and serves as the primary point of coordination for continuing liaison with the Congress and in collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Congressional Relations.

§ 301.42 Office of Equal Opportunity.

The Office of Equal Opportunity is responsible for the following activities except as relate to employment opportunity within EDA, which is the responsibility of the Office of Administration; Advise the Assistant Secretary in the development and implementation of policy and guidance affecting equality of opportunity connected with economic development programs; maintain liaison with Federal, State, and local governmental organizations and with nongovernmental organizations to coordinate and assist in planning operations aimed at achieving nondiscrimination and equality of opportunity; provide leadership, staff services and advice in matters affecting nondiscrimination to economic development program units, to organizations obligated as participants in an economic development program to achieve nondiscrimination, and to ultimate beneficiaries of

economic development program activities; conduct, sponsor, or coordinate meetings, conferences, and training courses for equal employment specialists, program managers, and executives to achieve nondiscrimination in economic development programs; establish effective systems throughout EDA to obtain and monitor accurate reports concerning the program of equality of opportunity and assure conformance thereto; establish report requirements to insure equality of opportunity by participants in economic development programs, conduct on-site inspection, and receive, investigate, and resolve complaints; receive, investigate, review, adjust and adjudicate complaints, and evaluate EDA experience relating to the Equal Employment Opportunity program and make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for improvement of employment practices within EDA. § 301.43 Office of Administration.

The Office of Administration develops, promulgates, and administers administrative management policies, programs, and standards; plans and conducts comprehensive audits of all activities and programs; plans and conducts an investigations program; conducts organization and management studies and surveys; plans and conducts a program for achieving maximum economy, effectiveness and efficiency, and for obtaining optimum personnel utilization; provides office services for the headquarters and as required for Area Offices; develops and conducts a program for the efficient management of all official records and the design and control of official forms; plans, arranges for, and coordinates any administrative management services obtained through the staff offices of the Department; plans and conducts a comprehensive personnel program, and an equal opportunity program as relates to employment within the Administration; develops and maintains an accounting system, prepares financial reports for internal and external use; develops, interprets, and administers travel regulations for EDA in accordance with Bureau of the Budget and Department of Commerce Directive.

§ 301.44 Economic Development Area Offices; functions.

(a) Purpose and function: In order to effect the desired change in redevelopment areas whereby the impediments to a fuller participation in the economic

affairs of the Nation are understood and removed, it is essential that the development process in the communities that lag behind the growth of the country as a whole be accelerated. In accomplishing this objective, Area Offices play a critical role, inasmuch as their knowledge of general conditions and the status of the development process in their respective areas are a basis for the actions of the Economic Development Administration. Equally critical is the position of the Area Office as an operating arm of the Economic Development Administration bringing to the participating areas the needed knowledge about, and the use of, the developmental aids provided by the Public Works and Economic Development Act. Specifically, the Economic Development Area Offices cooperate with and assist local areas in organizing for economic development; provide economic development informational services covering all programs, Federal and otherwise; assist in obtaining field surveys of local area problems through staff or through contract; cooperate with local area and other economic development representatives in the development or modification of Overall Economic Development Programs (OEDPs); review those OEDPs submitted for approval and take appropriate action in accordance with prescribed Administration policies and procedures; review applications for industrial and commercial assistance, for public works loans and grants, and for technical assistance, including administrative grants, and take appropriate final action in accordance with Administration policies, rules, regulations, and procedures and within the authority specifically delegated by the Assistant Secretary; review financial assistance project reports of processing offices, submitting analyses and recommendations for action to the Administration's Washington Office; develop and comment upon proposals for training projects within the area served by the Area Office; and provide for official liaison channels with State economic development agencies, district and redevelopment area economic development organizations, and regional or local offices of other Federal agencies located within the same area, particularly those with related programs such as Small Business Administration, Office of Economic Opportunity, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Health, Education and Welfare, Agriculture, etc.