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A new round of investments totaling more than $194 million will support local economic development plans and projects in Rural Partners Network communities and other neighboring communities across 14 states, including Nevada.
The Biden-Harris Administration launched RPN in April 2022 to ensure people in historically underserved rural and Tribal communities receive their fair share of funding from federal agencies. RPN is an all-of-government collaboration supported by 25 federal agencies and regional commissions.
Since its inception, federal agencies have invested over $8.5 billion across the 36 RPN community networks. That includes more than $1.5 billion in USDA investments in locally driven projects that improve local infrastructure, health care, housing, and connectivity. RPN has facilitated almost 4,000 new partnerships and the launch of the Rural.gov website.
“The Rural Partners Network has broken down barriers so underserved rural communities and families can access the resources they need to prepare for the future,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Today, we’re celebrating several more examples of how aligning those resources with local blueprints for success will keep rural and Tribal communities across the country thriving for generations to come.”
The USDA is awarding more than $194 million in grants and loans to support 118 projects that will help rural and Tribal communities address immediate needs and create sustainable economic growth. Many of these projects are the direct result of collaboration between community networks and federal staff living and working in the communities.
The funding will support RPN communities in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. Projects will also benefit rural communities in Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.
Projects will lower costs for families, create jobs and grow businesses in rural areas that have been a bedrock of the country’s economic success for decades despite high rates of poverty and lack of opportunities in their own communities. Additionally, projects will help communities transition to clean energy and modernize critical water and sewer infrastructure.
USDA Rural Development is also highlighting its ongoing work to determine how best to streamline its grant programs through an effort called Better Grants Better Service. Through this initiative, the agency is working to reduce barriers and improve access to its programs, the grant filing experience, and efficiency of the application process.
Community networks receive support from full-time USDA staff who live and work locally. These staff members provide technical assistance based on each community’s needs, helping them navigate federal programs, build relationships and apply for funding. In addition to USDA staff, there are staff at more than 25 other federal agencies dedicated to making resources across the government easier to access for people in rural communities.
RPN also benefits from new partnerships with philanthropic organizations to addresses barriers to accessing federal programs with a specific focus on advancing equity and prosperity in rural America. These partnerships will enhance RPN’s work by helping communities develop applications, plan projects, and leverage pre-development expenses and matching funds.
For information on RPN, visit Rural.gov.