In this section, the term "community college" means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20)—
(1) that admits as regular students individuals who—
(A) are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution is located; and
(B) have the ability to benefit from the training offered by the institution;
(2) that does not provide an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree; and
(3) that—
(A) provides an educational program of not less than 2 years that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; or
(B) offers a 2-year program in engineering, technology, mathematics, or the physical, chemical, or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering, scientific, or other technological fields requiring the understanding and application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles of knowledge.
The Secretary shall establish a program to be known as the "New Era Rural Technology Program", to make grants available for technology development, applied research, and training to aid in the development of an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce.
The initiative under this section shall support the fields of—
(i) bioenergy;
(ii) pulp and paper manufacturing; and
(iii) agriculture-based renewable energy resources.
To receive funding under this section, an entity shall—
(A) be a community college or advanced technological center, located in a rural area and in existence on the date of the enactment of this section, that participates in agricultural or bioenergy research and applied research;
(B) have a proven record of development and implementation of programs to meet the needs of students, educators, and business and industry to supply the agriculture-based, renewable energy or pulp and paper manufacturing fields with certified technicians, as determined by the Secretary; and
(C) have the ability to leverage existing partnerships and occupational outreach and training programs for secondary schools, 4-year institutions, and relevant nonprofit organizations.
In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities working in partnership—
(1) to improve information-sharing capacity; and
(2) to maximize the ability to meet the requirements of this section.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, §1473E, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §7137, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1229, and Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title VII, §7137, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1990.)
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