Pub. L. 94-369, tit. I, sec. 108

Sec. 108. (a) Not less than one-half of 1 per centum or more than 12½ per centum of all amounts appropriated to carry out this title shall be granted under this Act for local public works projects within any one State, except that in the case of Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, not less than one-half of 1 per centum in the 90 STAT. 1001aggregate shall be granted for such projects in all three of these jurisdictions. (b) In making grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority and preference to public works projects of local governments. (c) In making grants under this Act, if for the three most recent consecutive months, the national unemployment rate is equal to or exceeds 61,4 per centum, the Secretary shall (1) expedite and give priority to applications submitted by States or local governments having unemployment rates for the three most recent consecutive months in excess of the national unemployment rate and (2) shall give priority thereafter to applications submitted by States or local governments having unemployment rates for the three most recent consecutive months in excess of 6% per centum, but less than the national unemployment rate. Information regarding unemployment rates may be furnished either by the Federal Government, or by States or local governments, provided the Secretary determines that the unemployment rates furnished by States or local governments are accurate, and shall provide assistance to States or local governments in the calculation of such rates to insure validity and standardization. (d) Seventy per centum of all amounts appropriated to carry out this Act shall be granted for public works projects submitted by State or local governments given priority under clause (1) of the first sentence of subsection (c) of this section. The remaining 30 per centum shall be available for public works projects submitted by State or local governments in other classifications of priority. (e) The unemployment rate of a local government shall, for the purposes of this Act, and upon request of the applicant, be based upon the unemployment rate of any community or neighborhood (defined without regard to political or other subdivisions or boundaries) within the jurisdiction of such local government, except that any grant made to a local government based upon the unemployment rate of a community or neighborhood within its jurisdiction must be for a project of direct benefit to, or provide employment for, unemployed persons who are residents of that community or neighborhood. (f) In determining the unemployment rate of a local government for the purposes of this section, unemployment in those adjoining areas from which the labor force for such project may be drawn, shall, upon request, of the applicant, be taken into consideration. (g) States and local governments making application under this Act should (1) relate their specific requests to existing approved plans and programs of a local community development or regional development nature so as to avoid harmful or costly inconsistencies or contradictions; and (2) where feasible, make requests which, although capable of early initiation, will promote or advance longer range plans and programs.