12 2 STA T . 11 50PUBLIC LA W 110 – 2 34—M A Y 22 , 200 8‘ ‘ (A)thed e gr eet ow h ic hthede m o ns tr a tion p rogram descri b ed in the app l ication is li k el y to aid eligible partici - pants in s u ccess f ully pursuing new farming opportunities
‘‘( B )thee x perience and ability of the q ualified entity to responsibly administer the demonstration program; ‘‘( C ) the experience and ability of the qualified entity in recruiting , educating, and assisting eligible participants to increase economic independence and pursue or ad v ance farming opportunities; ‘‘( D ) the aggregate amount of direct funds from non- F ederal public sector and private sources that are formally committed to the demonstration program as matching con- tributions; ‘‘( E ) the adequacy of the plan of the qualified entity to provide information relevant to an evaluation of the demonstration program; and ‘‘(F) such other factors as the S ecretary considers to be appropriate . ‘‘( 3 ) PREF ERE NC E S . —I n considering an application to con- duct a demonstration program under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to an application from a qualified entity that demonstrates— ‘‘(A) a track record of serving clients targeted by the program, including, as appropriate, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 3 5 5(e)( 2 )); and ‘‘(B) expertise in dealing with financial management aspects of farming. ‘‘( 4 )A P PR OVAL .— N ot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, in accordance with this section, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, approve such applica- tions to conduct demonstration programs as the Secretary con- siders appropriate. ‘‘(5) T ER M OFA UTH OR I T Y .—If the Secretary approves an application to carry out a demonstration program, the Secretary shall authori z e the applicant to carry out the pro j ect for a period of 5 years, plus an additional 2 years to make eligible expenditures in accordance with subsection (b)(5)(B). ‘‘(d) G RANT AUTHORITY.— ‘‘(1) IN G ENERAL.—The Secretary shall make a grant to a qualified entity authorized to carry out a demonstration pro- gram under this section. ‘‘(2) M A X IMUM AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The aggregate amount of grant funds provided to a demonstration program carried out under this section shall not exceed $ 25 0 ,000. ‘‘(3) TIMING OF GRANT PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall pay the amounts awarded under a grant made under this section— ‘‘(A) on the awarding of the grant; or ‘‘(B) pursuant to such payment plan as the qualified entity may specify. ‘‘(e) R EPORTS.— ‘‘(1) ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 0 days after the end of the calendar year in which the Secretary authorizes a qualified entity to carry out a demonstration program under this section, and annually thereafter until the conclu- sion of the demonstration program, the qualified entity Deadlin e .
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