# § 3122. Definitions
In this chapter:
**(1)** **Blue economy** The term “blue economy” means the sustainable use of marine, lake, or other aquatic resources in support of economic development objectives.
**(2)** **Capacity building** The term “capacity building” includes all activities associated with early stage community-based project formation and conceptualization, prior to project predevelopment activity, including grants to local community organizations for planning participation, community outreach and engagement activities, research, and mentorship support to move projects from formation and conceptualization to project predevelopment.
**(3)** **Comprehensive economic development strategy** section 3162 of this title
The term “comprehensive economic development strategy” means a comprehensive economic development strategy approved by the Secretary under .
**(4)** **Department** The term “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
**(5)** **Economic development district**
**(A)** **In general** The term “economic development district” means any area in the United States that—
**(i)** is composed of areas described in section 3161(a) of this title and, to the extent determined appropriate by the Secretary, neighboring counties or communities; and
**(ii)** has been designated by the Secretary as an economic development district under section 3171 of this title.
**(B)** **Inclusion** section 3173 of this title
The term “economic development district” includes any economic development district designated by the Secretary under (as in effect on the day before the effective date of the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of 1998).
**(6)** **Eligible recipient**
**(A)** **In general** The term “eligible recipient” means—
**(i)** an economic development district;
**(ii)** an Indian tribe;
**(iii)** a State;
**(iv)** a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions;
**(v)** an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education;
**(vi)** a public or private nonprofit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State;
**(vii)** an economic development organization; or
**(viii)** a public-private partnership for public infrastructure.
**(B)** **Training, research, and technical assistance grants** section 3147 of this title
In the case of grants under , the term “eligible recipient” also includes private individuals and for-profit organizations.
**(7)** **Federal agency** The term “Federal agency” means a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States.
**(8)** **Grant** The term “grant” includes a cooperative agreement (within the meaning of chapter 63 of title 31).
**(9)** **Indian tribe** 43 U.S.C. 1601
The term “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or Regional Corporation (as defined in or established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
**(10)** **Outdoor recreation** The term “outdoor recreation” means all recreational activities, and the economic drivers of those activities, that occur in nature-based environments outdoors.
**(11)** **Project predevelopment** The term “project predevelopment” means a measure required to be completed before the initiation of a project, including—
**(A)** planning and community asset mapping;
**(B)** training;
**(C)** technical assistance and organizational development;
**(D)** feasibility and market studies;
**(E)** demonstration projects; and
**(F)** other predevelopment activities determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
**(12)** **Regional Commission** The term “Regional Commission” means any of the following:
**(A)** The Appalachian Regional Commission established by section 14301(a) of title 40.
**(B)** The Delta Regional Authority established by section 2009aa–1(a)(1) of title 7.
**(C)** The Denali Commission established by section 303(a) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277).
**(D)** The Great Lakes Authority established by section 15301(a)(4) of title 40.
**(E)** The Mid-Atlantic Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(5) of title 40.
**(F)** The Northern Border Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(3) of title 40.
**(G)** The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority established by section 2009bb–1(a)(1) of title 7.
**(H)** The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(1) of title 40.
**(I)** The Southern New England Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(6) of title 40.
**(J)** The Southwest Border Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(2) of title 40.
**(13)** **Secretary** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.
**(14)** **State** The term “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
**(15)** **Travel and tourism** The term “travel and tourism” means any economic activity that primarily serves to encourage recreational or business travel in or to the United States, including activities relating to public or nonprofit entertainment venues in the United States.
**(16)** **United States** The term “United States” means all of the States.
**(17)** **University center** section 3147(c)(1) of this title
The term “university center” means an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education established under .
---
**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–136, § 3, as added Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3599; amended Pub. L. 108–373, title I, § 102, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1758; Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, § 2211(a), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3177.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
(as in effect on the day before the effective date of the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of 1998), referred to in par. (5)(B), means prior to its repeal by . See Prior Provisions note set out under and , set out as an Effective Date note under .
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (9), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 3122, , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , which related to priority to be given to revitalization and development of rural areas, was transferred to , Agriculture.
### Amendments
2025—Pars. (1), (2). , added pars. (1) and (2). Former pars. (1) and (2) redesignated (3) and (4), respectively.
Pars. (3) to (5). , redesignated pars. (1) to (3) as (3) to (5), respectively. Former pars. (4) and (5) redesignated (6) and (7), respectively.
Par. (5)(A)(i). , substituted “to the extent determined appropriate by the Secretary” for “to the extent appropriate”.
Par. (6). , redesignated par. (4) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (8).
Par. (6)(A)(vii), (viii). , added cls. (vii) and (viii).
Pars. (7) to (9). , redesignated pars. (5) to (7) as (7) to (9), respectively. Former pars. (8) and (9) redesignated (12) and (13), respectively.
Pars. (10), (11). , added pars. (10) and (11). Former pars. (10) and (11) redesignated (14) and (16), respectively.
Par. (12). , added par. (12) and struck out former par. (12), as redesignated from par. (8), which defined Regional Commissions to include Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Denali Commission, and Northern Great Plains Regional Authority.
, redesignated par. (8) as (12). Former par. (12) redesignated (17).
Pars. (13), (14). , redesignated pars. (9) and (10) as (13) and (14), respectively.
Par. (15). , added par. (15).
Par. (16). , redesignated par. (11) as (16).
Par. (17). , (8), redesignated par. (12) as (17) and substituted “established under ” for “established as a University Center for Economic Development under ”.
2004—Par. (4)(A). , redesignated cls. (ii) to (vii) as (i) to (vi), respectively, inserted “, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities,” after “State” in cl. (iv), and struck out cl. (i) which read as follows: “an area described in ;”.
Pars. (8) to (12). , added pars. (8) and (12) and redesignated former pars. (8) to (10) as (9) to (11), respectively.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
Section effective , see , set out as a note under .