When used in this Chapter:

            (1) “Applicant” means any local governing authority requesting a loan from or completing an application form to apply for a loan under the Rural Development Loan Program.

            (2) “Director” means the chief administrative officer of the state office of rural development.

            (3) “Federal agency” means any department, office, council, or agency of the federal government, or any public benefit corporation or authority authorized by federal statute.

            (4) “Local agency” means any political subdivision, or office or department thereof, or not-for-profit organization created for the purposes of enhancing the quality of life and revitalization of rural areas.

            (5) “Municipality” means any incorporated city, town, or village.

            (6) “Office” means the state office of rural development created by this Chapter.

            (7) “Political subdivision” means a parish, municipality, and any other unit of local government, including a school board and a special district, authorized by law to perform governmental functions.

            (8) “Regional planning commission districts” means the eight regional planning commissions created pursuant to Subparts C and F of Part IV of Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            (9) “Rural areas” means parishes within the state having less than one hundred thousand population, or municipalities within the state having less than thirty-five thousand population, and the unincorporated areas of a parish with a population of over one hundred thousand.

            (10) “Rural development and revitalization” means those policies, programs, laws, regulations, or other matters having to do with rural areas, including but not limited to economic development, employment, local government services and management, business, agriculture, environment, land use and natural resources, human services and community life, health care, education, transportation, community facilities, housing, broadband connectivity, water quality, and sewer treatment.

            (11) “State agency” means any department, office, council, or agency of the state, or any public benefit corporation or authority authorized by the laws of the state.

            Acts 1990, No. 216, §1; Acts 1991, No. 396, §2; Acts 1991, No. 449, §1; Acts 1997, No. 637, §1; Acts 2021, No. 331, §1.