News

Rural Partners Network providing better access to federal resources

The White House is announcing a new nationwide network for rural communities to better access federal resources across all agencies.

The Rural Partners Network will be led by USDA and dedicated staff to help rural areas apply for and secure federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Dustin Maxson says staff will serve as liaisons between communities and development resources.

“Secondly, there’s a set of federal agencies that will be supporting a broader strategy aimed at making it easier for all rural communities to access a broader range of federal programs, tools, and staff,” he explains.

Five states have been selected for an initial pilot, including Kentucky, which will host place-based staff with six more planned to be added in the next fiscal year, including Wisconsin. 

Eventually, officials say all 50 states will have on the ground federal staff focused on accessing rural resources if approved by Congress.