CHAPTER 9.7. OFFICE OF RURAL AFFAIRS

IC 4-4-9.7
    Chapter 9.7. Office of Rural Affairs

IC 4-4-9.7-1
"Director"
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "director" refers to the director ofthe office of community and rural affairs appointed under section 5of this chapter.
As added by P.L.83-2005, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.144-2006, SEC.2.

IC 4-4-9.7-2
"Office"
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office ofcommunity and rural affairs established by section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.83-2005, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.144-2006, SEC.3.

IC 4-4-9.7-3
"Secretary"
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "secretary" refers to the lieutenantgovernor as secretary of agriculture and rural development, asprovided in IC 4-4-2.3.
As added by P.L.83-2005, SEC.5.

IC 4-4-9.7-4
Office of community and rural affairs established
    Sec. 4. The office of community and rural affairs is established.
As added by P.L.83-2005, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.144-2006, SEC.4.

IC 4-4-9.7-5
Director; appointment; chief executive and administrative officer;employees
    Sec. 5. (a) The secretary shall appoint an individual to be thedirector of the office.
    (b) The director:
        (1) serves at the secretary's pleasure;
        (2) is entitled to receive compensation in an amount set by thesecretary subject to the approval of the budget agency underIC 4-12-1-13; and
        (3) is responsible to the secretary.
    (c) The director is the chief executive and administrative officerof the office.
    (d) The director may appoint employees in the manner providedby IC 4-15-2 and fix their compensation, subject to the approval ofthe budget agency under IC 4-12-1-13.
    (e) The director may delegate the director's authority to theappropriate office staff.
As added by P.L.83-2005, SEC.5.

IC 4-4-9.7-6
Duties of office    Sec. 6. The office shall do the following:
        (1) Administer the rural economic development fund undersection 9 of this chapter.
        (2) Administer the Indiana main street program underIC 4-4-16.
        (3) Administer the community development block grantprogram.
As added by P.L.83-2005, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.144-2006, SEC.5.

IC 4-4-9.7-7
Office may adopt rules
    Sec. 7. The office may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to carry outthe duties, purposes, and functions of this chapter.
As added by P.L.144-2006, SEC.6.

IC 4-4-9.7-8
Director shall establish advisory board
    Sec. 8. The director shall establish a board to advise the office inthe implementation of the duties of the office.
As added by P.L.144-2006, SEC.7.

IC 4-4-9.7-9
Rural economic development fund
    Sec. 9. (a) The rural economic development fund is establishedfor the purpose of enhancing and developing rural communities. Thefund shall be administered by the office.
    (b) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from themoney in the fund.
    (c) Notwithstanding IC 5-13, the treasurer of state shall invest themoney in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of thefund under IC 5-10.3-5. The treasurer of state may contract withinvestment management professionals, investment advisers, and legalcounsel to assist in the management of the fund and may pay thestate expenses incurred under those contracts.
    (d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does notrevert to the state general fund.
    (e) Money in the fund may be used for the following purposes:
        (1) To create, assess, and assist a pilot project to enhance theeconomic and community development in a rural area.
        (2) To establish a local revolving loan fund for:
            (A) an industrial;
            (B) a commercial;
            (C) an agricultural; or
            (D) a tourist;
        venture.
        (3) To provide a loan for an economic development project ina rural area.
        (4) To provide technical assistance to a rural organization.
        (5) To assist in the development and creation of a ruralcooperative.        (6) To address rural workforce development challenges.
        (7) To assist in addressing telecommunications needs in a ruralarea.
        (8) To provide funding for rural economic development projectsconcerning the following issues:
            (A) Infrastructure, including water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs.
            (B) Housing.
            (C) Health care.
            (D) Local planning.
            (E) Land use.
            (F) Other rural economic development issues, as determinedby the office.
        (9) To provide funding for the establishment of new regionalrural development groups and the operation of existing regionalrural development groups.
    (f) Expenditures from the fund are subject to appropriation by thegeneral assembly and approval by the office.
As added by P.L.144-2006, SEC.8.