PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 110 STAT. 1127 "(vi) Programs providing for the coordination of services and sharing of information among the center. "(D) A description of the contributions that the activities are Hkely to make to the improvement of the economic conditions of the rural areas for which the center will provide services. "(E) Provisions that the center, in carrying out the activities, will seek, where appropriate, the advice, participation, expertise, and assistance of representatives of business, industry, educational institutions, the Federal Government, and State and local governments. "(F) Provisions that the center will take all practicable steps to develop continuing sources of financial support for the center, particularly from sources in the private sector. "(G) Provisions for— "(i) monitoring and evaluating the activities by the nonprofit institution operating the center; and "(ii) accounting for money received by the institution under this section. "(5) AWARDING GRANTS. —Grants made under paragraph (2) shall be made on a competitive basis. In making grants under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall give preference to grant applications providing for the establishment of centers for rural cooperative development that— "(A) demonstrate a proven track record in administering a nationally coordinated, regionally or State-wide operated project; "(B) demonstrate previous expertise in providing technical assistance in rural areas; "(C) demonstrate the ability to assist in the retention of businesses, facilitate the establishment of cooperatives and new cooperative approaches, and generate employment opportunities that will improve the economic conditions of rural areas; "(D) demonstrate the ability to create horizontal linkages among businesses within and among various sectors in rural areas of the United States and vertical linkages to domestic and international markets; "(E) commit to providing technical assistance and other services to underserved and economically distressed areas in rural areas of the United States; and "(F) commit to providing greater than a 25 percent matching contribution with private funds and in-kind contributions. "(6) 1-YEAR GRANTS; AUTHORITY TO APPROVE GRANT FOR 1 ADDITIONAL YEAR WITHOUT APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall make grants under this subsection for a period of 1 year. The Secretary shall evaluate programs receiving assistance under this subsection. If the Secretary determines it to be in the best interest of the program, the Secretary may award an additional grant to the program for the immediately succeeding year without application for the grant. "(7) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT OR UNDEREMPLOYMENT.— In carrying OUt this subsection, the Secretary may provide technical assistance to alleviate or prevent conditions of excessive unemployment,
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