RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

SEC. 6013. RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.(a) Eligibility.—Section 310B(e)(5) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)(5)) is amended—(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking “administering a nationally coordinated, regionally or State-wide operated project” and inserting “carrying out activities to promote and assist the development of cooperatively and mutually owned businesses”;(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting “to promote and assist the development of cooperatively and mutually owned businesses” before the semicolon;(3) by striking subparagraph (D);(4) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D);(5) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking “and” at the end;(6) by inserting after subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated) the following:“(E) demonstrate a commitment to—“(i) networking with and sharing the results of the efforts of the center with other cooperative development centers and other organizations involved in rural economic development efforts; and“(ii) developing multiorganization and multistate approaches to addressing the economic development and cooperative needs of rural areas; and”; and122 STAT. 1928(7) in subparagraph (F), by striking “providing greater than” and inserting “providing”.(b) Authority to Award Multiyear Grants.—Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:“(6) Grant period.—“(A) In general.—A grant awarded to a center that has received no prior funding under this subsection shall be made for a period of 1 year.“(B) Multiyear grants.—If the Secretary determines it to be in the best interest of the program, the Secretary shall award grants for a period of more than 1 year, but not more than 3 years, to a center that has successfully met the parameters described in paragraph (5), as determined by the Secretary.”.(c) Authority to Extend Grant Period.—Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended—(1) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) as paragraphs (8), (9), and (12), respectively; and(2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:“(7) Authority to extend grant period.—The Secretary may extend for 1 additional 12-month period the period in which a grantee may use a grant made under this subsection.”.(d) Cooperative Research Program.—Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (9) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(1)) the following:“(10) Cooperative research program.—The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative research agreement with 1 or more qualified academic institutions in each fiscal year to conduct research on the effects of all types of cooperatives on the national economy.”.(e) Addressing Needs of Minority Communities.—Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (10) (as added by subsection (d)) the following:“(11) Addressing needs of minority communities.—“(A) Definition of socially disadvantaged group.—In this paragraph, the term ‘socially disadvantaged group’ has the meaning given the term in section 355(e).“(B) Reservation of funds.—“(i) In general.—If the total amount appropriated under paragraph (12) for a fiscal year exceeds $7,500,000, the Secretary shall reserve an amount equal to 20 percent of the total amount appropriated for grants for cooperative development centers, individual cooperatives, or groups of cooperatives—“(I) that serve socially disadvantaged groups; and“(II) a majority of the boards of directors or governing boards of which are comprised of individuals who are members of socially disadvantaged groups.“(ii) Insufficient applications.—To the extent there are insufficient applications to carry out clause 122 STAT. 1929 (i), the Secretary shall use the funds as otherwise authorized by this subsection.”.(f) Authorization of Appropriations.—Paragraph (12) of section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(1)) is amended by striking “1996 through 2007” and inserting “2008 through 2012”.