(a) Section 503(b)(2), title V, of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-419) hereafter referred to as “Title V” authorizes funds to finance work authorized under title V which serve two or more States; in which universities in two or more States cooperate; or which is conducted by one University serving two or more States. The authorized funding under section 503(b)(2) is hereafter referred to as the “Regional Programs.”

(b) The Regional Programs shall develop and provide knowledge essential to assist and support rural development in the region, and shall provide for technical consultation and personnel development for the research and extension staff in the several States of the region to help them to be more responsive to rural development needs and activities.

(c) The Regional Programs will concentrate on the high priority knowledge, training, and personnel needs required for the research and extension staff in the several States to conduct effective rural development research and extension to carry out the provisions of title V. These efforts may include personnel development and consultation; synthesis of existing research knowledge and the interpretation of this knowledge for rural development program and policy purposes; the development of strategies and procedures on high priority rural development problems of regional significance; as funds permit, the conduct of research on one of two high priority problems for which information is lacking but is urgently needed for rural development, and the evaluation of rural development programs and policies.

(d) Regional Programs will be consonant with all rural development activities under the Act and other pertinent Federal development programs. To effectuate such purpose, the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education will implement title V plans and activities in close cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Rural Development. In order to insure such consonance, the Director of each Regional Center will insure that regional programs having an impact within one or more States are brought to the attention of the appropriate State overall coordinator for consideration pursuant to procedures in § 23.4(c).

(a) The Regional Programs will be administered through four Regional Rural Development Centers hereafter referred to as “Regional Centers” in cooperation with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The Director of each Regional Center shall be responsible for compliance with all appropriate provisions of title V and the regulations of this subpart. Regions as delineated for purposes under section 503(b)(2) will be coterminous with the regional delineation by the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. Each Regional Center will be established by the regional association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors and the regional organization of Cooperative Extension Directors in the region to be served by the Regional Center. These associations and organizations will designate the location of the Regional Center.

(b) Although the Regional Center will administer the program, it is also expected that it will draw on expertise from outside the Regional Center. The Director of each Regional Center shall seek advice and assistance from regional and subregional committees, groups or persons who can contribute to the Regional Center's program.

(a) For each Regional Center there shall be a Board of Directors selected by the Regional Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors and the Regional Organization of Cooperative State Extension Directors. Membership on the Board of Directors shall include representatives from State Cooperative Extension Services and State Agricultural Experiment Stations from the States in the region and/or other State administrators of programs carried out under title V in the region.

(b) The Director of each Regional Center will be responsible to the Board of Directors for the Regional Program conducted at that Regional Center. The Regional Annual Plan of Work will be developed by the Director and reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.

Available funds will be allocated equally and following approval of a Regional Annual Plan of Work paid to the Directors of the four Regional Centers. Funds will be available for Regional Programs for expenditures authorized by section 503(c) of title V, in the fiscal year for which the funds were appropriated and the next fiscal year.

(a) A Regional Plan of Work for carrying out the programs authorized to be funded under section 503(b)(2) of title V shall be prepared. The Plan of Work should include:

(1) A brief narrative statement including identification of high priority knowledge, skill, and organization needs for rural development program and policy purposes in the region and identification of technical consultation, training, and personnel needs of research and extension workers in support of rural development programs.

(2) A statement indicating:

(i) The types of personnel to be trained, technical consultation to be conducted, the estimated number of participants, the location or locations where the program will be conducted, and the staff who will conduct the work;

(ii) The types of topical areas of rural development for which the synthesis of available research knowledge for rural development purposes is planned;

(iii) The type of high priority rural development research which will be undertaken as funds permit and the staff which would do the research;

(iv) The type of evaluation studies which will be made and the staff which will do the evaluation; and

(v) The relationship of the Plan of Work to priorities activated under subpart A of this part, which in turn support State development strategies.

(3) A concise statement of the organization structure for planning and conducting the program funded under section 503(b)(2).

(4) A plan for evaluating the usefulness of the program and the effectiveness of the organizational structure.

(5) Provision for making an annual progress report to the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education which will document achievements pertaining to the goals and objectives as stated in the Plan of Work.

(6) A budget statement to be submitted on forms provided by the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education.

(b) The Plan of Work shall be coordinated with the work program of other pertinent multi-State organizations or bodies for those activities of the Regional Rural Development Centers which go beyond direct assistance to individual State programs conducted under title V.

(c) The Director of the Center will forward four copies of the Plan of Work to the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250, by a time to be specified by the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education.

(d) Regional Annual Plans of Work not meeting the above criteria will not be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education.