---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 544i"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "544i"
heading: "Economic development"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/544i"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Forests"
  - "Subchapter II — Scenic Areas"
---

# §544i. Economic development

- (a) **Economic development plan—** Based on the Economic Opportunity Study and other appropriate information, each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), in consultation with the [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) and the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), shall develop a plan for economic development [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for which grants under this section may be used in a manner consistent with sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title.
- (b) **Funds provided to States for grants—** Upon certification of the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), and receipt of a plan referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall provide $5,000,000 to each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) which each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) shall use to make grants and loans for economic development [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that further the purposes of sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title.
- (c) **Conditions of grants—** Each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) making grants under this section shall require as a condition of a grant that—
  - (1) all activities undertaken under the grant are certified by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) as being consistent with the purposes of sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title, the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), and land use ordinances adopted pursuant to sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title;
  - (2) grants and loans are not used to relocate a business from one community to another;
  - (3) grants and loans are not used for program administration; and
  - (4) grants and loans are used only in [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) which have in effect land use ordinances found consistent by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) and concurred on by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) pursuant to [section 544f of this title](/usc/16/544f.md).
- (d) **Report—** Each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) shall—
  - (1) prepare and provide the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) with an annual report to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) on the use of the funds made available under this section;
  - (2) make available to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), upon request, all accounts, financial records, and other information related to grants and loans made available pursuant to this section; and
  - (3) as loans are repaid, make additional grants and loans with the money made available for obligation by such repayments.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–663, § 11, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4292.)