This bill requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to create a short form application that may be used by rural communities when applying to any grant program run by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The bill defines a "rural community" as a municipality, Tribal area, or territory with either a population of 10,000 or fewer or, as determined by the Assistant Secretary, not located in a metropolitan statistical area. The Assistant Secretary must get input from a representative group of rural stakeholders on application length, required information, standardizing base materials (like budget templates), reducing repetitive requests for information already held by federal databases, how questions apply to rural areas, and any other items needed to set up the short form. The bill also requires the Assistant Secretary to publicly post redacted sample successful applications, guides explaining how applications are reviewed and rated, and standardized guidance for rural applicants.
If you are part of a small municipality, Tribal area, or territory that meets the bill's rural definition, the EDA would be required to offer a short application you can use for EDA grants. The EDA would also be asked to provide templates, decision guides, and sample applications (with sensitive details removed). The agency must ask rural stakeholders for input while designing the short form. The bill says the short form "may be used" by applicants, so it would be an available option rather than a mandatory replacement of existing forms.
No publicly available information on projected costs, budgetary effects, or federal expenses is included in the bill text.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.