(a) Delegations. Pursuant to §§2.17(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(14), (a)(16) through (a)(19), and (a)(21), subject to reservations in §2.17(b)(1), and subject to policy guidance and direction by the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, the following delegations of authority are made by the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development to the Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service:

(1) Administer the rural economic development loan and grant programs under the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 940c and 950aa et seq.).

(2) Administer the following sections of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.):

(i) Section 306(a)(11)(A) (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(11)(A)), related grants for business technical assistance and planning;

(ii) [Reserved]

(iii) Sections 309 (7 U.S.C. 1929) and 309A (7 U.S.C. 1929a), relating to assets and programs related to rural development;

(iv) Section 310B (7 U.S.C. 1932), relating to various Rural Development programs, except for subsection (b) of that section.

(v) Section 310H (7 U.S.C. 1936b), relating to an intermediary relending program.

(vi) Administrative Provisions of subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act relating to Rural Business-Cooperative Service activities;

(vii) Section 378 (7 U.S.C., 2008m) relating to the National Rural Development Partnership; and

(viii) Section 379E (7 U.S.C. 2008s) relating to the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.

(ix) Section 379F (7 U.S.C. 2000t) relating to the Expansion of Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities in Rural Areas Program.

(x) Section 379G (7 U.S.C. 2008u) relating to Health Care Services.

(xi) Section 382A et seq. (7 U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.) relating to the Delta Regional Authority.

(xii) Section 383A et seq. (7 U.S.C. 2009bb et seq.) relating to the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority.

(xiii) Section 384A et seq. (7 U.S.C. 2009cc et seq.) relating to the Rural Business Investment program.

(xiv) Section 385A et seq. (7 U.S.C. 2009dd et seq.) relating to the Rural Collaborative Investment Program.

(3) Administer Alcohol Fuels Credit Guarantee Program Account (Pub L. No. 102-341, 106 Stat. 895).

(4) [Reserved]

(5) Administer loan programs in the Appalachian region under sections 203 and 204 of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (40 U.S.C. App. 204).

(6) Administer section 601 of the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 (Pub. L. No. 95-620).

(7) Administer the Drought and Disaster Guaranteed Loan program under section 331 of the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1929a note).

(8) Administer the Disaster Assistance for Rural Business Enterprises Guaranteed Loan Program under section 401 of the Disaster Assistance Act of 1989 (7 U.S.C. 1929a note).

(9) Administer the Rural Economic Development Demonstration Grant Program (7 U.S.C. 2662a).

(10) Administer the Economically Disadvantaged Rural Community Loan program (7 U.S.C. 6616).

(11) Administer programs authorized by the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926 (7 U.S.C. 451-457).

(12) Carry out the responsibilities of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to the marketing aspects of cooperatives, including economic research and analysis, the application of economic research findings, technical assistance to existing and developing cooperatives, education on cooperatives, and statistical information pertaining to cooperatives as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627).

(13) Work with institutions and international organizations throughout the world on subjects related to the development and operation of agricultural cooperatives. Such work may be carried out by:

(i) Exchanging materials and results with such institutions or organizations;

(ii) Engaging in joint or coordinated activities; or

(iii) Stationing representatives at such institutions or organizations in foreign countries (7 U.S.C. 3291).

(14) Collect, service, and liquidate loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service or its predecessor agencies.

(15) [Reserved]

(16) Administer responsibilities and functions assigned under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), and title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195 et seq.), relating to rural development credit and financial assistance.

(17)-(18) [Reserved]

(19) Administer in rural areas the process of designation, provision of monitoring and oversight, and provision of technical assistance for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities pursuant to section 13301 of Pub. L. No. 103-66, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (26 U.S.C. 1391 et seq.).

(20) Provide leadership and coordination within the executive branch at the state and local level of Federal rural development program utilizing the services of executive branch departments and agencies and the agencies, bureaus, offices, and services of the Department of Agriculture in coordination with rural development programs of State and local governments (7 U.S.C. 2204).

(21) Coordinate, at the state and local level, activities relative to rural development among agencies reporting to the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development and, through appropriate channels, serve as the coordinating agency for other departmental agencies having primary responsibilities, in coordination with rural development programs of State and local governments (7 U.S.C. 2204).

(22) Work with Federal agencies in encouraging the creation of local rural community development organizations. Within a State, assist other Federal agencies in developing means for extending their services effectively to rural areas and in designating pilot projects in rural areas (7 U.S.C. 2204).

(23) Conduct assessments to determine how programs of the Department can be brought to bear on the economic development problems of a State or local area and assure that local groups are receiving adequate and effective technical assistance from Federal agencies or from local and State governments in formulating development programs and in carrying out planned development activities (7 U.S.C. 2204b).

(24) Develop a process through which State, sub-state and local rural development needs, goals, objectives, plans, and recommendations can be received and assessed on a continuing basis (7 U.S.C. 2204b).

(25) Prepare local or area-wide rural development strategies based on the needs, goals, objectives, plans and recommendations of local communities, sub-state areas and States (7 U.S.C. 2204b).

(26) Develop a system of outreach in the State or local area to promote rural development and provide for the publication and dissemination of information, through multi-media methods, relating to rural development. Advise local rural development organizations of availability of Federal programs and the type of assistance available, and assist in making contact with Federal program contact (7 U.S.C. 2204; 7 U.S.C. 2204b).

(27) Administer the assets of the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation and the funds in the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Fund in accordance with section 6201 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2000 (see note to 7 U.S.C. 5901 (repealed)).

(28) Administer the Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant program (note to 7 U.S.C. 1621).

(29) Administer the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration program (note to 7 U.S.C. 1621).

(30) Administer the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program (7 U.S.C. 8106).

(30) Administer the renewable energy programs authorized in sections 9003, 9004, 9005, 9007, and 9009 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103, 8104, 8105, 8107, and 8109).

(31) Implement the information disclosure authorities of section 1619(b)(3)(A) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8791(b)(3)(A)).

(32) In coordination with the Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach, issue receipts under section 2501A(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279-1(e)).

(33) Administer the Healthy Food Financing Initiative under section 243 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6953).

(34) Administer section 6209 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 2207b), relating to the collection and reporting of program metrics.

(b) Reservation. The following authority is reserved to the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development: Making and issuing notes to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purposes of the Rural Development Insurance Fund as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929a).

[60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 66 FR 33107, June 11, 2001; 68 FR 27444, May 20, 2003; 73 FR 3407, Jan. 21, 2009; 75 FR 43380, July 23, 2010; 78 FR 40938, July 9, 2013; 79 FR 44114, July 30, 2014; 83 FR 61314, Nov. 29, 2018]