Bill > S2618

This bill aims to improve grant opportunities for counties with high federal land ownership, specifically targeting areas where more than 50% of land is owned or managed by the federal government and the population is 100,000 or less. The bill defines several USDA grant programs as "qualifying grant programs," which include rural business development, community facilities, economic impact, telemedicine, distance learning, broadband, and other rural development grants. The key provisions include: reducing local matching fund requirements by 50% for these high-density public land counties, providing additional technical assistance during grant application periods, giving priority to counties and local governments that haven't received support in the past 10 years, and offering flexibility in grant application requirements. The bill recognizes that small, isolated communities often face challenges in competing for grants due to limitations like job creation metrics, partnership requirements, financial constraints, and complex application processes. By providing these accommodations, the bill seeks to make federal grant programs more accessible to rural and tribal governments in counties with significant federal land ownership, ultimately supporting economic development in these areas.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2618/all-info