Pub. L. 94-487, tit. I, sec. 123

Sec. 123. (a) Section 1003(c) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, is amended to read as follows: “(c) Where necessary to effectively carry out the purposes of this title, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to assist eligible areas in making applications for grants under this title.”. (b) Section 1003(d) of such Act, as amended, is amended to read as follows: “(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, funds allocated by the Secretary of Commerce shall lie available only for a program or project, which the Secretary identifies and selects pursuant to this subsection, and which can be initiated or implemented promptly and substantially completed within twelve months after allocation is made. In identifying and selecting programs and projects pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall (1) give priority to programs and projects which are most effective in creating and maintaining productive employment, including permanent and skilled employment measured as the amount of such direct and indirect employment generated or supported by the additional expenditures of Federal funds under this title, and (2) consider the appropriateness of the proposed activity to the number and needs of unemployed persons in the eligible area.”. (c) Section 1003(e) of such Act, as amended, is amended to read as follows: “(e) (1) The Secretary, if the national unemployment rate is equal to or exceeds 7 per centum for the most recent calendar quarter, shall expedite and give priority to grant applications submitted for such areas having unemployment in excess of the national average rate of unemployment for the most recent calendar quarter. Seventy per centum of the funds appropriated pursuant to this title shall be available only for grants in areas as defined in the first sentence of this subsection. “(2) Not more than 15 per centum of all amounts appropriated to carry out this title shall be available under this title for projects or programs 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 aggregate shall he available for such projects or programs.”.