Rep. David Valadao
U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) recently cosponsored bipartisan legislation that would direct more resources to rural communities via newly created 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,” Rep. Valadao said on Tuesday.
The congressman on Nov. 12 introduced the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, H.R. 6041, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR), to authorize the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to provide rural partnership program grants and rural partnership technical assistance grants.
“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,” said Rep. Valadao.
Specifically, H.R. 6041 would create a set of grant programs aimed at providing direct support to rural communities through funding and assistance, the Rural Partnership Program Grant and the Rural Prosperity Technical Assistance Grant.
The Rural Partnership Program Grant would help to provide direct funding and resources to rural communities. The multi-year, flexible awards could 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, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Valadao’s office.
“Rural communities across the country struggle to access essential resources, from affordable housing to workforce training programs,” said Rep. Salinas. “Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that federal grants are distributed to rural communities to support their direct needs.”
The legislation has myriad endorsements, including from the National Association of Counties, the National Cooperative Business Association, the Rural Network, the Farm Credit Council, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Development Organizations, the National Rural Health Association, and The Conservation Fund, among many others.