WASHINGTON — Local elected officials are lending support to a bill introduced by Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., to advance economic development in rural communities by helping them overcome barriers to obtaining federal funds and resources.
The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act would create a grant program to address communities’ urgent needs like affordable child care, housing and job training; provide guidance to help rural communities navigate existing federal funding opportunities and ensure they’re getting their fair share of private and federal investment; and improve supportive services offered by the federal government to rural communities.
“Our rural communities deserve a fair shot to grow their economies and improve their quality of life,” said Casey. “This legislation will put rural communities on a level playing field to compete for federal resources alongside our cities and suburban areas. This is a critical moment to ensure that communities that have been the bedrock of our nation for generations are receiving the support they need to thrive.”
Democratic McKean County Commissioner Cliff Lane applauded Casey for recognizing the challenges of rural communities, and “in getting financial help to address several issues that are shared by urban and rural communities — the difference being the urban communities most often have the resources available to meet the federal guidelines to access federal funds.”
The act, Lane continued, would “provide an avenue for rural communities to access these funds for child care, job training and housing in a more flexible and less restrictive process. I fully support this act and encourage all of the elected officials to support this groundbreaking act.”
James D. Moate, Republican Cameron County commissioner, said he was pleased with the introduction of legislation to address the financial burdens of rural areas.
“Rural communities have always been the backbone of this great nation and it’s reassuring that the federal government may soon be taking steps to address the struggles these communities have faced for ages,” Moate said. “The Rural Partnership Act of 2023 gives me hope for the future of rural governments and for the country as a whole.”
In Potter County, Democratic commissioner Barry Hayman said he believed the act is “perhaps one of the most direct and beneficial pieces of legislation for local, rural economic and community development since the efforts of the Great Society, if not the New Deal.”
Rural governments are often a pass-through when the expertise of local government can be a huge asset. “We are the boots on the ground and are ready and willing to be an equal partner in improving local economies and the development of our communities to not only attract new residents, but to improve the quality of life for our longtime residents,” Hayman said. “This act, and its many provisions, goes a long way to help us do just that.”
Comments from Potter County commissioners Paul Heimel and Nancy Grupp said the county has been working on a project to address population loss, increasing median age and a declining economy. This act would offer the help needed to make this a reality.
“Each element of the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act of 2023 offers support for our mission — technical assistance, federal funding and the ‘whole-of-government’ approach which can lead to partnerships extending across the federal, state and county levels, while engaging employers as well as community leaders,” the commissioners’ statement read. “We believe this is a critical element in deliberations about the 2023 Farm Bill. We stand ready to take advantage of the opportunities, potentially as a pilot rural county that has already laid the groundwork to achieve the objectives of the act.”
The opportunities this bill would bring could do wonders for the region.
Jim Chorney, executive director of North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission said, “In our six-county region, there’s an unparalleled chance for communities and municipalities to thrive through federal investments. However, we’ve witnessed a significant gap in the ability to research, engage and apply for these resources. The Rural Partnership Program Grant Act is critical for rural regions, allocating funds for technical assistance partners to step in as vital administrative and programmatic entities … this initiative is positioned to empower and uplift all our communities.”
