§ 2109b. Competitive allocation of funds for cooperative forest innovation partnership projects
(a)
Cooperative forest innovation partnership projects
The Secretary may competitively allocate not more than 5 percent of the funds made available under this chapter to support innovative national, regional, or local education, outreach, or technology transfer projects that the Secretary determines would substantially increase the ability of the Department of Agriculture to address the national priorities specified in section
2101
(c) of this title.
(b)
Eligibility
Notwithstanding the eligibility limitations contained in this chapter, any State or local government, Indian tribe, land-grant college or university, or private entity shall be eligible to compete for funds to be competitively allocated under subsection (a).
(c)
Cost-share requirement
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall not cover more than 50 percent of the total cost of a project under such subsection. In calculating the total cost of a project and contributions made with regard to the project, the Secretary shall include in-kind contributions.