(a) Pursuant to policies established by the Commission, each State member shall submit on such schedule as the Commission shall prescribe a development plan for the area of the State within the region. The State development plan shall reflect the goals, objectives, and priorities identified in the regional development plan and in any subregional development plan which may be approved for the subregion of which such State is a part. Such State development plan shall
(1) describe the State organization and continuous process for Appalachian development planning, including the procedures established by the State for the participation of local development districts in such process, the means by which such process is related to overall statewide planning and budgeting processes, and the method of coordinating planning and projects in the region under this Act, the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, and other Federal, State, and local programs;
(2) set forth the goals, objectives, and priorities of the State for the region, as determined by the Governor, and identify the needs on which such goals, objectives, and priorities are based; and
(3) describe the development program for achieving such goals, objectives, and priorities, including funding sources, and recommendations for specific projects to receive assistance under this Act.
(b)
(1) Local development districts certified by the State under section 301 of this Act provide the linkage between State and substate planning and development. In carrying out the development planning process, including the selection of programs and projects for assistance, States shall consult with local development districts, local units of government, and citizen groups and take into consideration the goals, objectives, priorities, and recommendations of such bodies. The districts shall assist the States in the coordination of areawide programs and projects, and may prepare and adopt areawide plans or action programs.
(2) The Commission shall encourage the preparation and execution of areawide action programs which specify interrelated projects and schedules of actions together with the necessary agency fundings and other commitments to implement such programs. Such programs shall make appropriate use of existing plans affecting the area.
(c) To the maximum extent practicable, Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities undertaking or providing financial assistance for programs or projects in the region shall
(1) take into account the policies, goals, and objectives established by the Commission and its member States pursuant to this Act;
(2) recognize Appalachian State development programs approved by the Commission as satisfying requirements for overall economic development planning under such programs or projects; and
(3) accept the boundaries and organization of any local development district certified under this Act which the Governor may designate as the areawide agency required under any such program undertaken or assisted by such Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities.
