---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2009bb–5"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2009bb–5"
heading: "Distressed counties and areas and nondistressed counties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2009bb-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Agricultural Credit"
  - "Subchapter VII — Northern Great Plains Regional Authority"
---

# §2009bb–5. Distressed counties and areas and nondistressed counties

- (a) **Designations—** Not later than 90 days after May 13, 2002, and annually thereafter, the [Authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1), in accordance with such criteria as the [Authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) may establish, shall designate—
  - (1) as distressed counties, counties in the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2) that are the most severely and persistently distressed and underdeveloped and have high rates of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration;
  - (2) as nondistressed counties, counties in the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2) that are not designated as distressed counties under [paragraph (1)](#a-1); and
  - (3) as isolated areas of distress, areas located in nondistressed counties (as designated under [paragraph (2)](#a-2)) that have high rates of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration.
- (b) **Distressed counties—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) shall allocate at least 50 percent of the appropriations made available under [section 2009bb–12 of this title](/usc/7/2009bb–12.md) for programs and projects designed to serve the needs of distressed counties and isolated areas of distress in the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Funding limitations—** The funding limitations under [section 2009bb–3(b) of this title](/usc/7/2009bb–3.md?p=b) shall not apply to a project to provide transportation or telecommunication or basic public services to residents of 1 or more distressed counties or isolated areas of distress in the [region](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=2).
- (c) **Transportation, telecommunication, renewable energy, and basic public infrastructure—** The [Authority](/usc/7/2009aa.md?p=1) shall allocate at least 50 percent of any funds made available under [section 2009bb–12 of this title](/usc/7/2009bb–12.md) for transportation, telecommunication, renewable energy, and basic public infrastructure projects authorized under paragraphs (1) and (3) of [section 2009bb–2(a) of this title](/usc/7/2009bb–2.md?p=a).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 383G, formerly § 383F, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6028, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 384; renumbered § 383G and amended Pub. L. 110–234, title VI, § 6026(c)(1)(A), (2)(D), (g), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1178, 1179, 1181, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VI, § 6026(c)(1)(A), (2)(D), (g), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1940–1942; Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6701(h), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4779.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 383G of Pub. L. 87–128, title III, was renumbered section 383H and is classified to section 2009bb–6 of this title.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “telecommunication, renewable energy,” for “telecommunication renewable energy,,” in heading and “telecommunication,” for “telecommunication,,” in text.

2008—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(g)(1), substituted “50” for “75”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(i)(I), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 2009bb–12 of this title.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(i)(II), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 2009bb–3(b) of this title.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(g)(2)–(4), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), inserted “renewable energy,” after “telecommunication” in heading and “, renewable energy,” after “telecommunication,” in text, and struck out former subsec. (c) which prohibited provision of funds for a project located in a county designated as a nondistressed county.

Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(ii), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 2009bb–4(b) of this title.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(g)(3), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c).

Pub. L. 110–246, § 6026(c)(2)(D)(iii), made technical amendments to references in original act which appear in text as references to section 2009bb–12 of this title and section 2009bb–2(a) of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.