§ 1632b. Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program
(a)
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a demonstration program under which agricultural producers are provided—
(b)
Definitions
In this section:
(c)
Establishment of Program
The Secretary shall establish a demonstration program, to be known as the “Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program” under which the Secretary shall—
(d)
Eligibility requirements
(1)
In general
An entity shall be eligible for a grant and assistance described in subsection (c) to establish an Agriculture Innovation Center if—
(B)
the application of the entity for the grant and assistance includes a plan, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, that outlines—
(C)
the entity demonstrates that adequate resources (in cash or in kind) are available, or have been committed to be made available, to the entity, to increase and improve the ability of local agricultural producers to develop markets and processes for value-added agricultural commodities or products; and
(2)
Board of directors
Each Agriculture Innovation Center of an eligible entity shall have a board of directors composed of representatives of each of the following groups:
(A)
The 2 general agricultural organizations with the greatest number of members in the State in which the eligible entity is located.
(e)
Grants and assistance
(1)
In general
Subject to subsection (i), under the Program, the Secretary shall make, on a competitive basis, annual grants to eligible entities.
(2)
Maximum amount of grants
A grant under paragraph (1) shall be in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of—
(3)
Maximum number of grants
(f)
Use of funds
An eligible entity to which a grant is made under the Program may use the grant only for the following purposes (but only to the extent that the use is not described in section
1632a
(d) of this title):
(3)
Hiring of employees, at the discretion of the board of directors of the Agriculture Innovation Center of the eligible entity.
(g)
Research on effects on the agricultural sector
(1)
In general
Of the amount made available under subsection (i) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use $300,000 to support research at a university concerning the effects of projects for value-added agricultural commodities or products on agricultural producers and the commodity markets.
(2)
Research elements
Research under paragraph (1) shall systematically examine, using linked, long-term, global projections of the agricultural sector, the potential effects of projects described in subparagraph (A) [1] on—
(h)
Report to Congress
(1)
In general
Not later than 3 years after the date on which the last of the first 10 grants is made under the Program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on—
(i)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “paragraph (1)”.