PUBLIC LAW 104-127—APR. 4, 1996 110 STAT. 1139 than 90 percent of the population of a State and not less than 80 percent of the rural land area of the State (as determined by the Secretary). "(2) GRANTS.— The". CHAPTER 2—RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM SEC. 761. RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: "Subtitle E—Rural Community Advancement Program "SEC. 381A. DEFINITIONS. "In this subtitle: "(1) RURAL AND RURAL AREA. —The terms 'rural' and 'rural area' mean, subject to section 306(a)(7), a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less, other than an urbanized area immediately adjacent to a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population in excess of 50,000 inhabitants. "(2) STATE.— The term 'State' means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. "(3) STATE DIRECTOR.— The term 'State director' means, with respect to a State, the Director of the Rural Economic and Community Development State Office. "SEC. 381B. ESTABLISHMENT. "The Secretary shall establish a rural community advancement program to provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other assistance to meet the rural development needs of local communities in States and federally recognized Indian tribes. "SEC. 381C. NATIONAL OBJECTIVES. "The national objectives of the program established under this subtitle shall be to— "(1) promote strategic development activities and collaborative efforts by State and local communities, and federally recognized Indian tribes, to maximize the impact of Federal assistance; "(2) optimize the use of resources; "(3) provide assistance in a manner that reflects the complexity of rural needs, including the needs for business development, health care, education, infrastructure, cultural resources, the environment, and housing; "(4) advance activities that empower, and build the capacity of, State and local communities to design unique responses to the special needs of the State and local communities, and federally recognized Indian tribes, for rural development assistance; and 7 USC 2009. 7 USC 2009a. 7 USC 2009b.
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