Two or more contiguous counties (a) having an aggregate population of 20,000 or fewer persons, or (b) comprising all counties within a region designated pursuant to “An Act to provide for regional planning and for the creation, organization and powers of regional planning commissions”, approved June 25, 1912, and situated within the same region designated pursuant to that Act, or (c) comprising all counties within a designated shortage area, may qualify for a grant authorized by this Law by the enactment of appropriate resolutions creating a regional ambulance system board, as provided in Section 1006, and designating the officer or agency to be responsible for administering grant funds.