{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-472.128","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-472.128","heading":"Rural Infrastructure Authority created; powers.","body":"(a)\tCreation. - The Rural Infrastructure Authority is created within the Department of Commerce.\n(b)\tMembership. - The Authority shall consist of 17 members who shall be appointed as follows:\n(1)\tThe Secretary of Commerce, ex officio, or the Secretary's designee.\n(2)\tFour members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and they shall each represent a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county.\n(3)\tFour members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and they shall each represent a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county.\n(4)\tEight members appointed by the Governor, and they shall each represent a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county.\n(c)\tTerms. - Members shall serve for a term of three years, except for initial terms as provided in this section. No member of the Authority shall serve for more than two consecutive terms, but a person who has been a member for two consecutive terms may be reappointed after being off the Authority for a period of at least three years. An initial term that is two years or less shall not be counted in determining the limitation on consecutive terms.\nIn order to provide for staggered terms, two persons appointed to the positions designated in subdivision (b)(2) of this section and two persons appointed to the positions designated in subdivision (b)(3) of this section shall be appointed for initial terms ending on June 30, 2020. Two persons appointed to the positions designated in subdivision (b)(2) of this section, two persons appointed to the positions designated in subdivision (b)(3) of this section, and four persons appointed to the positions designated in subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall be appointed for initial terms ending on June 30, 2021. Four persons appointed to the positions designated in subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall be appointed for initial terms ending on June 30, 2022.\n(d)\tOfficers. - The Authority members shall select from among the membership of the Authority a person to serve as chair and vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair shall each serve for a term of one year, but may be re-elected to serve successive terms.\n(e)\tCompensation. - Authority members shall receive no salary as a result of serving on the Authority, but are entitled to per diem and allowances in accordance with G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6, as appropriate.\n(f)\tMeetings. - The Secretary shall convene the first meeting of the Authority within 30 days after the appointment of Authority members under subsection (b) of this section. Meetings shall be held as necessary as determined by the Authority.\n(g)\tQuorum. - A majority of the members of the Authority constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. A vacancy in the membership of the Authority does not impair the right of the quorum to exercise all rights and to perform all duties of the Authority.\n(h)\tVacancies. - A vacancy on the Authority shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made, and the term of the member filling the vacancy shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. Vacancies in appointments made by the General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122.\n(i)\tRemoval. - Members may be removed in accordance with G.S. 143B-13. A member who misses three consecutive meetings of the Authority may be removed for nonfeasance.\n(j)\tPowers and Duties. - The Authority has the following powers and duties:\n(1)\tTo receive and review applications from local government units for grants or loans authorized under G.S. 143B-472.127.\n(2)\tTo award grants or loans as provided in G.S. 143B-472.127. In awarding grants or loans under G.S. 143B-472.127(a), priority shall be given to local government units of the counties that have one of the 80 highest rankings under G.S. 143B-437.08.\n(3)\tTo formulate policies and priorities for grant and loan making under G.S. 143B-472.127, which shall include, among other things, providing for (i) at least four grant application cycles during each fiscal year, (ii) the timely distribution of grants and loans so as to allow local government units to undertake infrastructure and other projects authorized under this Part without undue delay, and (iii) the use of federal funds first instead of General Fund appropriations where the project meets federal requirements or guidelines.\n(4)\tTo establish a threshold amount for emergency grants and loans that may be awarded by the Assistant Secretary without the prior approval of the Authority. Any emergency grants or loans awarded by the Assistant Secretary pursuant to this subdivision shall meet the requirements of G.S. 143B-472.127(a) or (b), and shall comply with policies and procedures adopted by the Authority. The Assistant Secretary shall, as soon as practicable, inform the Authority of any emergency grants or loans made under this subdivision, including the name of the local government unit to which the grant or loan was made, the amount of the grant or loan, and the project for which the grant or loan was requested.\n(5)\tTo determine ways in which the Rural Economic Development Division can aid local government units in meeting the costs for preliminary project planning needed for making an application for a grant or loan under G.S. 143B-472.127.\n(6)\tTo determine ways in which the Rural Economic Development Division can effectively disseminate information to local government units about the availability of grants or loans under G.S. 143B-472.127, the application and review process, and any other information that may be deemed useful to local government units in obtaining grants or loans.\n(7)\tTo review from time to time the effectiveness of the grant or loan programs under G.S. 143B-472.127 and to determine ways in which the programs may be improved to better serve local government units.\n(8)\tNo later than September 1 of each year, to submit a report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division that details all of the following:\na.\tTotal number of awards made in the previous fiscal year.\nb.\tGeographic display of awards made.\nc.\tTotal number of jobs created in the previous fiscal year.\nd.\tRecommended policy changes that would benefit economic development in rural areas of the State. (2013-360, s. 15.10(a); 2013-363, s. 5.13(b); 2018-5, s. 15.2(d); 2019-32, s. 5.)\n.","path":["Chapter 143B. Executive Organization Act of 1973.","Article 10. Department of Commerce.","Part 22. Rural Economic Development Division."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143B/GS_143B-472.128.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:22:43Z","sha256":"68ef2f86e48e37cfe0bdf07258f28ddcfd54dba2fdfca5f302c40e0151aa6fa9","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-472.127","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143b-472.129"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}