42 U.S.C. § 12617 — Service projects

(a) What projects must do. Corps^* service projects must: (1) meet an identifiable public need, focusing especially on infrastructure improvement, energy conservation, and urban and rural development; (2) emphasize community service that gives real community benefits and chances to learn through service and build skills; (3) as much as practical, encourage diverse teams working together; and (4) include ongoing education and technical training.

(b) Proposing projects.
(1) Developing proposals. (A) Once the Program^* starts, certain officials — the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Energy, plus the Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Chief of the Forest Service — must develop project^* proposals, following guidance the Director^* sets. (B) Other public and private groups — including community organizations and local representatives near a Corps campus^* — may also propose projects. Corps members^* are encouraged to suggest projects too.
(2) Consultation. Developing proposals must include talking with the Corporation^*, local community representatives, State^* Commissions, and people involved in other youth service programs.

(c) Choosing and running projects.
(1) Each campus director picks the projects for that campus's units, choosing from the proposals described in (b).
(2) The Director encourages campus directors to negotiate creative local arrangements with community representatives for running projects — which can include cost-sharing^* and communities providing in-kind or other support.