12 2 STA T . 1 476PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 2 3 4 —M A Y 22 , 200 8‘ ‘ §15 5 02.Compreh e nsiv ee c onomic a n d in f ras t r u cture deve l opment plans ‘ ‘ (a)STA T EPL A NS.—In a c c ord anc ewithp o l icie s esta b lished b y a C o m mission , each State member o f the Commission shall s u bmit a comprehensi v e economic and infrastructure development plan for the area of the re g ion represented by the State member. ‘‘(b) C O NTENT O F PLAN.— A State economic and infrastructure development plan shall reflect the goals, ob j ectives, and priorities identified in any applicable economic and infrastructure develop - ment plan developed by a Commission under section 1530 3. ‘‘(c) CONS U LTAT I ON W IT H INTE R ESTE DL O C AL PARTIES.—In car- rying out the development planning process (including the selection of programs and projects for assistance), a State shall— ‘‘(1) consult with local development districts, local units of government, and local colleges and universities
and ‘‘( 2 )ta k e into consideration the goals, objectives, priorities, and recommendations of the entities described in paragraph (1). ‘‘(d) PU B LIC PARTICI P ATION.— ‘‘(1) IN G ENERAL.—A Commission and applicable State and local development districts shall encourage and assist, to the ma x imum extent practicable, public participation in the development, revision, and implementation of all plans and programs under this subtitle. ‘‘(2) G UIDELINES.—A Commission shall develop guidelines for providing public participation, including public hearings. ‘‘§ 1550 3 . A pproval of applications for assistance ‘‘(a) EV ALUATION B Y STATE M E M BER.—An application to a Commission for a grant or any other assistance for a project under this subtitle shall be made through, and evaluated for approval by, the State member of the Commission representing the applicant. ‘‘(b) CERTIFICATION.—An application to a Commission for a grant or other assistance for a project under this subtitle shall be eligible for assistance only on certification by the State member of the Commission representing the applicant that the application for the project— ‘‘(1) describes ways in which the project complies with any applicable State economic and infrastructure development plan; ‘‘(2) meets applicable criteria under section 1550 4
‘‘(3) ade q uately ensures that the project will be properly administered, operated, and maintained; and ‘‘(4) otherwise meets the requirements for assistance under this subtitle. ‘‘(c) V OTES FOR D ECISIONS.— O n certification by a State member of a Commission of an application for a grant or other assistance for a specific project under this section, an affirmative vote of the Commission under section 15302 shall be required for approval of the application. ‘‘§ 1550 4 . P ro g ram development criteria ‘‘In considering programs and projects to be provided assistance by a Commission under this subtitle, and in establishing a priority ranking of the requests for assistance provided to the Commission, the Commission shall follow procedures that ensure, to the max- imum extent practicable, consideration of—
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