regional technical and planning assistance

regional technical and planning assistance Sec. 505. (a) The Secretary is authorized to provide to the commissions technical assistance which would be useful in aiding the commissions to carry out their functions under this Act and to develop recommendations and programs. Such assistance shall include studies and plans evaluating the needs of, and developing potentialities for, 79 Stat. 567economic growth of such region, and research on improving the conservation and utilization of the human and natural resources of the region. Such assistance may be provided by the Secretary through members of his staff, through the payment of funds authorized for this section to other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, or through the employment of private individuals, partnerships, firms, corporations, or suitable institutions, under contracts entered into for such purposes, or through grants-in-aid to the commissions. The Secretary, in his discretion, may require the repayment of assistance provided under this subsection and prescribe the terms and conditions of such repayment. (b) For the period ending on June 30 of the second full Federal fiscal year following the date of establishment of a commission, the administrative expenses of each commission as approved by the Secretary shall be paid by the Federal Government. Thereafter, not to exceed 50 per centum of such expenses may be paid by the Federal Government. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share of such costs or expenses, the Secretary shall give due consideration to all contributions both in cash and in kind, fairly evaluated, including but not limited to space, equipment, and services. (c) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1966, and for each fiscal year thereafter through the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, for the purposes of this section.