RESTORE Third Spaces Act of 2026

grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize any eligible entity that seeks to renovate or develop a third space that-- (1) strengthens the local economy; and (2) mitigates social isolation and the decline of communal life. (c) Application Requirements.--An application submitted by an eligible entity for a grant under subsection (a) shall-- (1) include documentation of the history of the community in which the third space to be renovated or developed is located, including documentation of historical inequities-- (A) within such community; and (B) between such community and other communities; and (2) describe how such eligible entity, in renovating or developing a third space pursuant to such grant, plans to-- (A) engage members of such community in the design of such third space; (B) ensure that such renovation or development-- (i) benefits members of such community; and (ii) does not exacerbate such historical inequities; and (C) preserve local-- (i) culture; (ii) history; and (iii) identity. (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use a grant under subsection (a) to-- (1) plan the renovation or development of a third space, including through-- (A) community engagement initiatives; (B) feasibility studies; and (C) other pre-development activities; and (2) pay construction costs associated with the renovation or development of such third space. (e) Equity and Historical Justice Requirements.-- (1) Federal requirements.--Not less than 60 percent of any amounts awarded under subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be awarded to eligible entities serving low-income and underserved communities. (2) Accessibility policies.--Each eligible entity renovating or developing a third space pursuant to a grant under subsection (a) shall establish a policy to ensure that such third space remains free or low-cost to members of the public, except that an eligible entity may charge a reasonable rent to a business for the use of such third space. (f) Expiration of Pilot.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the pilot program shall expire on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Optional extension of pilot.--Not later than 30 days before the expiration of the 3-year period following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may extend the pilot program for an additional period of 2 years. (g) Reports.-- (1) Eligible entity reports.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish reporting requirements for an eligible entity renovating or developing a third space pursuant to a grant under subsection (a), which shall-- (A) be responsive to the resources available to such eligible entity to engage in such reporting; and (B) include required reporting regarding-- (i) attendance rates at such third spaces; (ii) programs offered at such third spaces; and (iii) social, cultural, and direct and indirect economic impacts of such third spaces. (2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after the expiration of the pilot program under subsection (f), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report-- (A) summarizing metrics of success for third spaces renovated and developed pursuant to grants under subsection (a), including-- (i) attendance rates at such third spaces; (ii) the number of new businesses formed in the communities in which such third spaces are located; (iii) the affordability of such third spaces; and (iv) survey-based measures of belonging experienced by attendees at such third spaces; (B) assessing, based on the metrics established in paragraph (1), the outcomes of the pilot program, including, for third spaces renovated and developed pursuant to grants under subsection (a)-- (i) social, cultural, and direct and indirect economic impacts of such third spaces; and (ii) the effectiveness of such third spaces in-- (I) reducing social isolation; and (II) supporting community life; and (C) providing recommendations regarding the expansion of the pilot program. (h) Administrative Expense Cap.--Not more than 5 percent of any funds appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year may be expended for Federal administration of the pilot program. (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000. (j) Definitions.--In this section: (1) The term ``eligible entity'' means-- (A) a local government; (B) a nonprofit corporation; (C) a Federally recognized Indian tribe; (D) a Native Hawaiian organization; (E) a public library; (F) a community college; or (G) a partnership including at least-- (i) one nonprofit corporation; and (ii) one local government or an agency thereof. (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce. (3) The term ``third space''-- (A) means a space open to members of the public that-- (i) does not function primarily as a residence or a workplace; and (ii) supports social, cultural, and economic life; and (B) may include-- (i) a community athletic field; (ii) a community center; (iii) a library; (iv) a cultural center; (v) a makerspace; (vi) a nonprofit incubator; (vii) a park; (viii) a playground; (ix) a public market; (x) a schoolyard with a shared use agreement; (xi) a small business concern (as described in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)); and (xii) a combination of two or more spaces listed in clauses (i) through (xi). (4) The term ``underserved community'' means a community-- (A) that is subject to one or more of the economic distress criteria under section 301.3(a)(1) of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and (B) that-- (i) is located in a rural area; or (ii) has experienced-- (I) poverty; (II) disinvestment; (III) racial segregation; (IV) economic segregation; or (V) the loss of third spaces due to-- (aa) redevelopment; (bb) gentrification; or (cc) the construction of new infrastructure. <all>