Capito introduces Simplifying Grants Act for non-urban areas

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently joined eight of her Republican colleagues to introduce legislation that would simplify the grant process for America’s non-urbanized areas.

“Many of our rural communities lack the infrastructure to submit competitive grants, putting them at a disadvantage compared to wealthy urban areas,” Sen. Capito said last week.

The Simplifying Grants Act of 2022, S. 4799, which Sen. Capito cosponsored with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and seven fellow cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Susan Collins (R-ME), would simplify how local governments with less than 50,000 people apply for, receive, and manage federal grants.

The bill would require that agencies simplify the grant process for all current and future federal grant opportunities, in turn, benefiting 44 out of West Virginia’s 55 counties (80 percent) and 2,147 out of the country’s 3,143 counties (68 percent), as well as thousands of other cities, towns, and governmental entities, according to Sen. Capito’s office.

“Competitive federal grants provide critical support to West Virginia’s recent economic development boom, and I am proud to support legislation that will ensure that even our smallest communities can access needed resources,” said Sen. Capito. “I remain a committed partner to our federal, state, and local entities seeking to invest in the future of our state.”

S. 4799 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.