WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) to introduce H.R. 6041, the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act. This bill would direct more resources to rural communities through the creation of new federal grant programs to support economic prosperity and community development projects.

“Rural communities in the Central Valley and across the nation have historically struggled to receive critical economic resources, and we must do more to continue to strengthen our underserved regions,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act would make targeted, direct investments into rural communities to support further economic and community investment, and I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill alongside Congresswoman Salinas.”

“Rural communities across the country struggle to access essential resources, from affordable housing to workforce training programs,” said Congresswoman Salinas. “Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that federal grants are distributed to rural communities to support their direct needs. They make tremendous contributions to our national economy — it is time that they have equal access to these federal investments to strengthen their local economies and get their communities ahead.”

Background:

Rural regions have historically been overlooked for economic investment and faced higher barriers in accessing existing federal funding, leading to a widening gap in economic and community development outcomes between rural and urban communities. The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act would address this disparity by creating a set of grant programs aimed at providing direct support to rural communities through funding and assistance.

• The Rural Partnership Program Grant would help to provide direct funding and resources to rural communities. The grant program would provide multiyear (2-5 years), flexible awards to communities to be used to address urgent needs, including but not limited to affordable childcare, housing, and job training.
• The Rural Prosperity Technical Assistance Grant would address the need in many rural areas for assistance with economic and community development activities, including navigating existing federal funding opportunities. Providing rural communities with this assistance helps ensure that rural communities are getting their fair share of private and federal investment.

“The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) commends the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Valadao and Salinas on the Rural Partnerships and Prosperity Act,” said Doug O’Brien, President and CEO, National Cooperative Business Association. “The Rural Partnership Program will provide direct and flexible multi-year grants to every state that will support locally-led solutions under a broad umbrella of eligible entities to address rural communities' persistent and urgent needs. We also appreciate that the bill recognizes cooperatives as a tried-and-true approach for advancing the needs of rural communities – whether through utilities, agriculture, housing, local food systems, employee-ownership or other community economic development strategies. As Congress works to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill, NCBA strongly urges the Agriculture Committee to include the tools provided in this legislation that will give rural communities the capacity to deliver lasting results.”

“More than 70 percent of America’s counties are rural and face unique challenges and opportunities every day,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “A strong intergovernmental partnership is critical to creating chances for county residents to thrive. The bipartisan Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act ensures counties and our partners can access the policy tools, technical assistance and partnerships key to supporting rural communities. Counties applaud Representatives Valadao and Salinas for advancing this important legislation.”

The legislation is also endorsed by the Rural Network, including Appalachian Community Capital, Arizona Rural Development Council, Association of Oregon Counties, Coalfield Development Corp., CoBank, Communities Unlimited, Inc., Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Enterprise Community Partners, Farm Credit Council, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, Housing Assistance Council, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Main Street Alliance, MDC, National Association of Counties, National Association of Development Organizations, National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Rural Health Association, New Growth, North Carolina Rural Center, Northern Forest Center, Partners for Rural America, Partners for Rural Transformation, Partners for Rural Washington, RCAP Solutions, Inc., Region Five Development Commission, Resource Rural, Rural Coalition, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Rural Community College Alliance, Rural Development Initiatives, Rural Partners Illinois, Rural Partners of Michigan, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, Save the Children, Self-Help Enterprises, SERCAP, INC., Small Business Majority, South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development, Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, and The Conservation Fund. 

Read the full bill here.

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