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Ch. 621 2006 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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17. WICOMICO; AND
18. WORCESTER; AND
(II) PORTIONS OF OTHER COUNTIES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY.
(8) "RURAL COMMUNITY" MEANS AN INCORPORATED OR
UNINCORPORATED AREA OF A COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES IN A RURAL AREA.
(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:
(1) MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE FACE A HOST OF
DIFFICULT CHALLENGES RELATING TO PERSISTENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND
POVERTY, CHANGING TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AN AGING
POPULATION AND AN OUT-MIGRATION OF YOUTH, INADEQUATE ACCESS TO
QUALITY HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SERVICES, AND DETERIORATING OR
INADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, SANITATION, AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE;
(2) MARYLAND'S AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE-BASED INDUSTRIES
CONTINUE TO UNDERPIN THE LOCAL ECONOMIES OF RURAL COMMUNITIES BUT ARE
INCREASINGLY UNDER THREAT FROM NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKET
COMPETITION, URBAN ENCROACHMENT AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY INFLUENCES;
(3) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
MEET ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND
HUMAN SERVICES NEEDS OF MARYLAND RESIDENTS IN THE RURAL COUNTIES AND
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ADEQUATE AVAILABLE
CAPACITY AND RESOURCES;
(4) THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RURAL MARYLAND PROSPERITY
INVESTMENT FUND IS TO HELP RAISE THE OVERALL STANDARD OF LIVING IN RURAL
AREAS TO A LEVEL THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS STATEWIDE BENCHMARK AVERAGES
BY 2020, WHILE PRESERVING THE BEST ASPECTS OF A PASTORAL HERITAGE AND
RURAL WAY OF LIFE;
(5) RESOURCES PROVIDED TO THE FUND ARE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE
SIGNIFICANT TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE REGIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COOPERATION;
(6) THESE INVESTMENTS WILL ALSO ENABLE LOCAL AND REGIONAL
PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL NONSTATE
FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO FACILITATE THE REALIZATION OF
SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES WHILE THE PROGRAM IS IN
EFFECT; AND
(7) THE FUND WILL SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE STATE BY:
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