40 U.S.C. § 14507 — Supplements to federal grant programs

(a) Definition.
(1) "Federal grant programs" means federal grant programs that fund acquiring or developing land, building or equipping facilities, or other community or economic development or economic-adjustment activities — including programs authorized by a specific list of laws: the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, chapter 2003 of title 54, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Clean Water Act), title VI of the Public Health Services Act, sections 201 and 209 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and part IV of title III of the Communications Act of 1934. It does not include the Appalachian development highway system program under section 14501, any other highway or road construction program under title 23, or any program where the assistance offered is not a grant.
(2) Any sewage treatment works built under title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, even without federal grant money, is treated as if it were built with that grant assistance, for purposes of this section.

(b) Purpose. So the people, states, and local communities of the Appalachian region — including local development districts — can fully use federal grant programs they qualify for but cannot afford to match, or where a federal program does not have enough money for the region's pressing needs, the Federal Cochairman can use this section's money: (1) to pay part of the basic federal contribution to projects or activities under those federal grant programs; and (2) to raise the federal contribution above the fixed maximum share that program's own authorizing law otherwise allows.

(c) Certification Required. Before any of this section's money helps fund the basic federal contribution to a program, project, or activity, the responsible federal official who administers that grant program must certify that it meets that program's applicable requirements and could be approved for federal contribution if money were available under that law.

(d) Limitations in Other Laws Inapplicable. Money provided under this subtitle is available without regard to any other law's limits on eligible areas or authorizations for appropriation.

(e) Acceptance of Certain Material. For a supplemental grant under a federal grant program, the Federal Cochairman must accept any finding, report, certification, or documentation otherwise required to be submitted to the head of the federal department, agency, or instrumentality responsible for that program.

(f) Federal Share. The federal share of a project or activity's cost: (1) cannot be raised above whatever percentage the Commission sets; and (2) can never be more than 80 percent of the cost.

(g) Maximum Commission Contribution.
(1) In general. Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Commission itself may contribute up to 50 percent of an eligible project or activity's cost, from money appropriated for this subtitle.
(2) Distressed counties. That maximum can rise to 80 percent for a project or activity in a county with a "distressed" designation under section 14526.
(3) At-risk counties. That maximum can rise to 70 percent for a project in a county with an "at-risk" designation under section 14526.