---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2009aa–4"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2009aa–4"
heading: "Local development districts; certification and administrative expenses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2009aa-4"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Agricultural Credit"
  - "Subchapter VI — Delta Regional Authority"
---

# §2009aa–4. Local development districts; certification and administrative expenses

- (a) **Definition of local development district—** In this section, the term “local development district” means an entity that—
  - (1) is—
    - (A) a planning district in existence on December 21, 2000, that is recognized by the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce; or
    - (B) where an entity described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A) does not exist—
      - (i) organized and operated in a manner that ensures broad-based community participation and an effective opportunity for other nonprofit groups to contribute to the development and implementation of programs in the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2);
      - (ii) governed by a policy board with at least a simple majority of members consisting of elected officials or employees of a general purpose unit of local government who have been appointed to represent the government;
      - (iii) certified to the [Authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) as having a charter or [authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) that includes the economic development of counties or parts of counties or other political subdivisions within the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2)—
        - (I) by the Governor of each [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) in which the entity is located; or
        - (II) by the [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) officer designated by the appropriate [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) law to make the certification; and
      - (iv)
        - (I) a nonprofit incorporated body organized or chartered under the law of the [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) in which the entity is located;
        - (II) a nonprofit agency or instrumentality of a [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) or local government;
        - (III) a public organization established before December 21, 2000, under [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) law for creation of multi-jurisdictional, area-wide planning organizations; or
        - (IV) a nonprofit association or combination of bodies, agencies, and instrumentalities described in subclauses [(I)](#a-1-B-iv-I) through [(III)](#a-1-B-iv-III); and
  - (2) has not, as certified by the Federal cochairperson—
    - (A) inappropriately used Federal grant funds from any Federal source; or
    - (B) appointed an officer who, during the period in which another entity inappropriately used Federal grant funds from any Federal source, was an officer of the other entity.
- (b) **Grants to local development districts—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) shall make grants for administrative expenses under this section.
  - (2) **Conditions for grants—**
    - (A) **Maximum amount—** The amount of any grant awarded under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall not exceed 80 percent of the administrative expenses of the local development district receiving the grant.
    - (B) **Maximum period—** No grant described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall be awarded to a [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) agency certified as a local development district for a period greater than 3 years.
    - (C) **Local share—** The contributions of a local development district for administrative expenses may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including space, equipment, and services.
- (c) **Duties of local development districts—** A local development district shall—
  - (1) operate as a lead organization serving multicounty areas in the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2) at the local level; and
  - (2) serve as a liaison between [State](/usc/7/2009.md?p=1) and local governments, nonprofit organizations (including community-based groups and educational institutions), the business community, and citizens that—
    - (A) are involved in multijurisdictional planning;
    - (B) provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions and potential grantees; and
    - (C) provide leadership and civic development assistance.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 382E, as added Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title V, § 503], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–276; amended Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6027(e), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 374; Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6701(g), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4779.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 115–334 realigned margins.

2002—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 107–171 substituted “Authority shall” for “Authority may”.