---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3147"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "3147"
heading: "Grants for training, research, and technical assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3147"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Public Works and Economic Development"
  - "Subchapter II — Grants for Public Works and Economic Development"
---

# §3147. Grants for training, research, and technical assistance

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Grants—** On the application of an [eligible recipient](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may make [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) for training, research, and technical assistance, including [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) for program evaluation and economic impact analyses, that would be useful in alleviating or preventing conditions of excessive unemployment or underemployment.
  - (2) **Types of assistance—** [Grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) may be used for—
    - (A) [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) planning, [project predevelopment](/usc/42/3122.md?p=11), and feasibility studies;
    - (B) demonstrations of innovative activities or strategic economic development investments;
    - (C) management and operational assistance;
    - (D) establishment of [university centers](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17);
    - (E) establishment of business outreach centers;
    - (F) studies evaluating the needs of, and development potential for, economic growth of areas that the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) determines have substantial need for the assistance;
    - (G) studies that evaluate the effectiveness of coordinating [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) funded under this chapter with [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) funded under other Acts;
    - (H) assessment, marketing, and establishment of business clusters; and
    - (I) other activities determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) to be appropriate.
  - (3) **Cooperation requirement—** In the case of a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) assisted under this section that is national or regional in scope, the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may waive the provision in [section 3122(6)(A)(vi) of this title](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A-vi) requiring a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization or association to act in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/3122.md?p=14).
- (b) **Methods of provision of assistance—** In providing research and technical assistance under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13), in addition to making [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) under [subsection (a)](#a), may—
  - (1) provide research and technical assistance through officers or employees of the [Department](/usc/42/3122.md?p=4);
  - (2) pay funds made available to carry out this section to [Federal agencies](/usc/42/3122.md?p=7); or
  - (3) employ private individuals, partnerships, businesses, [corporations](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), or appropriate institutions under contracts entered into for that purpose.
- (c) **University centers—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** In accordance with [subsection (a)(2)(D)](#a-2-D), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may make [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) to institutions of higher education to serve as [university centers](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17).
  - (2) **Geographic coverage—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) shall ensure that the network of [university centers](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17) established under this subsection provides services in each [State](/usc/42/3122.md?p=14).
  - (3) **Duties—** To the maximum extent practicable, a [university center](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17) established under this subsection shall—
    - (A) collaborate with other [university centers](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17);
    - (B) collaborate with [economic development districts](/usc/42/3122.md?p=5-A) and other relevant Federal economic development technical assistance and service providers to provide expertise and technical assistance to develop, implement, and support [comprehensive economic development strategies](/usc/42/3122.md?p=3) and other economic development planning at the local, regional, and [State](/usc/42/3122.md?p=14) levels, with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regional economic development;
    - (C) provide technical assistance, business development, and technology transfer services to businesses in the area served by the [university center](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17);
    - (D) establish partnerships with 1 or more commercialization intermediaries that are public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) technology transfer organizations eligible to receive a [grant](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) under [section 1862s–9 of this title](/usc/42/1862s–9.md);
    - (E) promote local and regional [capacity building](/usc/42/3122.md?p=2); and
    - (F) provide to communities and regions assistance relating to data collection and analysis and other research relating to economic conditions and vulnerabilities that can inform economic development and adjustment strategies.
  - (4) **Consideration—** In making [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) shall consider—
    - (A) the significant role of regional public universities in supporting economic development in distressed communities through the planning and the implementation of economic development [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) and initiatives; and
    - (B) the location of the [university center](/usc/42/3122.md?p=17) in or near a distressed community.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–136, title II, § 207, as added Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3604; amended Pub. L. 108–373, title II, § 205, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1761; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, §§ 2211(b), 2217, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3178, 3181.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2217(1), inserted “, project predevelopment,” after “planning”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2211(b), substituted “section 3122(4)(A)(vi) of this title” for “section 3122(6)(A)(vi) of this title”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–272, § 2217(2), added subsec. (c).

2004—Subsec. (a)(2)(G) to (I). Pub. L. 108–373, § 205(a), added subpars. (G) and (H) and redesignated former subpar. (G) as (I).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–373, § 205(b), added par. (3) and struck out heading and text of former par. (3). Text read as follows: “In the case of a project assisted under this section, the Secretary may reduce or waive the non-Federal share, without regard to section 3144 or 3145 of this title, if the Secretary finds that the project is not feasible without, and merits, such a reduction or waiver.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Feb. 11, 1999, see section 105 of Pub. L. 105–393, set out as a note under section 3121 of this title.