On November 15, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act of 2023 (S. 3309), a bipartisan legislative initiative aimed at advancing economic development in rural counties and overcoming barriers to accessing federal funding and resources. With over 70 percent of the nation's 3,069 counties classified as rural, many face challenges in competing for federal investment opportunities due to insufficient funding, capacity, and staffing. The significance of this legislation lies in its targeted approach to addressing these shortcomings through a whole-of-government effort, providing crucial assistance to rural counties and the communities they serve.
The bill establishes the Rural Partnership Program, offering multiyear, flexible funding awards to partnerships involving two or more rural stakeholders, including county governments, to address pressing needs in specific rural communities. Additionally, the legislation introduces Rural Prosperity Technical Assistance grants to support technical assistance providers operating in rural areas, aiding counties in pursuing funding and executing community development initiatives. The bill further expands the Rural Partners Network (RPN), a USDA-led initiative deploying federal staff to rural communities to facilitate easier access to federal resources. Overall, the bill would provide much needed technical and financial assistance to RCRC’s counties. A one-pager is available here.