Congresswoman Angie Craig Introduces Legislation Investing in Minnesota Small Towns

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig introduced the Small Cities and Towns Investment Act to provide small cities, towns and townships with a new grant program that would allow them to invest in their communities and stimulate their economies following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, she convened mayors, school officials, health care professionals, business owners, transit directors and family farmers from the Second Congressional District where she heard the need for direct support from the federal government as the demands on our rural communities increase. The Small Cities and Towns Investment Act would begin to address this problem by injecting additional block grant money directly to small cities, towns and other units of local government. The bill aims to increase funding from USDA Rural Development for a number of public needs such as improving essential community facilities, health care facilities, public transportation, child care centers, community centers, broadband and far more. Towns with a population of 30,000 and under could apply to the $10 Billion grant program.

"Communities across Minnesota's Second Congressional district, especially small towns and townships have been impacted by unreliable agricultural markets and are now being hit hard by the impacts of the coronavirus. That's why I've introduced legislation to give them another tool in the toolbox to energize their local economies," said Rep. Craig. "While this legislation aims to address the needs of localities under 30,000, I am working with colleagues in the Congress to address the needs of mid-size communities as well in the next package."

You can read the full legislation