ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                          H.B. 1179

(II) THE PROGRAM, WHEN IMPLEMENTED, WILL MAKE

SIGNIFICANT TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND IN KEY RURAL INDUSTRY SECTORS; AND

(III) THESE TIMELY INVESTMENTS SHOULD ALSO ENABLE LOCAL
AND REGIONAL PUBLIC AND NOT FOR PROFIT 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

(5) THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE STATE
BY:

(I) ENCOURAGING THE INCREASE OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND
COMMERCE AND A BALANCED ECONOMY IN THE STATE;

(II) ASSISTING IN THE RETENTION OF EXISTING BUSINESS
ACTIVITY AND COMMERCE AND IN THE ATTRACTION OF NEW BUSINESS ACTIVITY
ACROSS THE STATE;

(III) RELIEVING CONDITIONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND

UNDEREMPLOYMENT IN RURAL AREAS;

(IV) EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL AND CREDIT FOR
SMALL AND AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERWISE PROMOTING
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS;

(V) RETAINING VALUABLE FARM AND FOREST LAND FOR
PRODUCTIVE USE BY PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS;

(VI) PROMOTING INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AND

PUBLIC SECTOR/PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS IN AND BETWEEN RURAL AND
OTHER AREAS;

(VII) ENHANCING THE DEPLOYMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
WASTEWATER, AND BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE AND
SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS;

(VIII) SUPPORTING RURAL COMMERCIAL CENTER REDEVELOPMENT
AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EFFORTS; AND

(IX) GENERALLY PROMOTING THE HEALTH, HAPPINESS, SAFETY,
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF EACH OF THE
RURAL COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS OF THE STATE.

13-503.

(A)     THERE IS A RURAL MARYLAND PROSPERITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM.

(B)     THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIED FUNDING FOR
THE SUPPORT OF RURAL AREAS THROUGH STATE AND REGIONAL UNITS THROUGH
2020 IN ACCORDANCE WITH §§ 13-504 AND 13-505 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

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