MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations

By: Representative Foster

AN ACT TO CREATE THE REGIONAL INITIATIVES PROGRAM WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER; TO PRESCRIBE THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING AND THE CRITERIA FOR FUNDING OF PROJECTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-141-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Regional Initiatives Program within the University Research Center as created by Section 37-141-1 et seq.

(2) The program shall provide financial assistance to counties through grants to substate economic development organizations or an aggregate of such organizations to carry out specific projects that will augment the objectives and strategies of the statewide economic development plan in accordance with the Statewide Planning Act of 1987.

(3) Counties may designate substate economic development organizations to include but not limited to economic development organizations such as local chambers of commerce, local economic development authorities, planning development districts, multicounty organizations funded by local governing authorities and the federal government or other organization deemed appropriate.

SECTION 2. (1) Applications for financial assistance shall be made to the University Research Center.

(2) Applicants may request up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the total projects cost. The applicant shall provide at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total cost, twelve and one-half percent (12-1/2%) of which may be in in-kind funding.

SECTION 3. (1) No request for funds shall be granted unless the project will have a positive economic impact on at least an entire county.

(2) No funding provided by the University Research Center shall be used to fund operating costs.

SECTION 4. The University Research Center shall develop rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

SECTION 5. Section 37-141-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-141-7. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature that the functions of the center shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Undertaking selected applied research projects with a permanent research staff, augmented by specialists from universities and colleges, government agencies and private firms, assisted by graduate students.

(b) Relating, when applicable, public service-related research and technical assistance activities at all state universities to the overall statewide economic development plan.

(c) Coordinating economic development related activities among all state universities.

(d) Providing a computer facility for use by all educational institutions and government agencies.

(e) Maintaining current information on research projects in the state; on scientific and research personnel; on research expenditures and sources of funds; on research programs of agencies and institutions outside the state which bear upon Mississippi development; publishing annually a catalogue of this information; and otherwise functioning as a research clearinghouse for the State of Mississippi.

(f) Developing a list of priority research projects that would have significant contribution to advancement of economic development efforts in the state.

(g) Coordinating with universities and other entities in the state to promote completion of the priority economic development related research projects with economic development potential and advising and assisting in the securing of needed research funding.

(h) Contracting with universities and other entities to effect needed priority economic development related research projects.

(i) Providing printing and data processing support to the Department of Economic Development.

(j) Identifying all federal funds that flow into Mississippi for any and all purposes, making comparisons with other states and preparing appropriate analyses to identify sources of federal funds where potential exists for attracting and obtaining larger amounts of federal funds for the state.

(k) Develop a system whereby economic development related research results can be disseminated to public and private entities for the purpose of enhancing economic development efforts, particularly at the local level.

(l) Assisting institutions, organizations and firms in identifying and obtaining research funds and other grants from public and private sources.

(m) Developing an econometric model of Mississippi designed to forecast various sectors of the Mississippi economy.

(n) Supporting and utilizing the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System (MARIS) to accomplish its objectives of gathering, maintaining and disseminating information and providing research assistance.

(o) Performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Commissioner of Higher Education.

(p) Carrying out the provisions of Sections 1 through 4 of House Bill No. 1221, 1999 Regular Session.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.