§ 3161. Eligibility of areas
(a)
In general
For a project to be eligible for assistance under section
3141 or
3149 of this title, the project shall be located in an area that, on the date of submission of the application, meets 1 or more of the following criteria:
(1)
Low per capita income
The area has a per capita income of 80 percent or less of the national average.
(2)
Unemployment rate above national average
The area has an unemployment rate that is, for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available, at least 1 percent greater than the national average unemployment rate.
(3)
Unemployment or economic adjustment problems
The area is an area that the Secretary determines has experienced or is about to experience a special need arising from actual or threatened severe unemployment or economic adjustment problems resulting from severe short-term or long-term changes in economic conditions.
(b)
Political boundaries of areas
An area that meets 1 or more of the criteria of subsection (a) of this section, including a small area of poverty or high unemployment within a larger community in less economic distress, shall be eligible for assistance under section
3141 or
3149 of this title without regard to political or other subdivisions or boundaries.
(c)
Documentation
(1)
In general
A determination of eligibility under subsection (a) of this section shall be supported by the most recent Federal data available (including data available from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or any other Federal source determined by the Secretary to be appropriate), or, if no recent Federal data is available, by the most recent data available through the government of the State in which the area is located.
(d)
Prior designations
Any designation of a redevelopment area made before the effective date of the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of 1998 shall not be effective after that effective date.