White House Implements Representative Angie Craig’s Bill to Empower Economic Development in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, DC —Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration officially launched the Rural Partners Network, a new whole-of-government effort led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to transform the way federal agencies partner with rural places to create economic opportunity. The White House's announcement implements significant portions of U.S. Representatives Angie Craig's Rural Prosperity Act, a bipartisan bill that would streamline federal services for rural America and cut bureaucratic red tape by coordinating federal efforts to support and connect America's rural communities to federal programs and resources. The bill stemmed from Craig's continued focus on improving outcomes for rural families and economies in Minnesota's Second Congressional District and across rural America.

"Thriving rural economies in Minnesota and across America are critical to ensuring that every American, regardless of zip code, can achieve the American Dream," said Representative Craig. "It's clear to me that the federal government needs to lift up rural communities and build a country where every American can benefit from our growing economy. I'm proud to see the White House implementing my legislation to reverse that trend by coordinating a whole-of-government approach to lifting up rural communities and supporting rural economies."

In a document announcing the Rural Partners Network, the White House applauded Craig and other Members of Congress who have called for this whole-of-government approach, arguing that "through this new direct line between rural communities and Washington, D.C., the Biden Administration will change business as usual and work across agencies to coordinate technical assistance to rural communities, share rural data and measures of success, and align grant requirements."

"We applaud the Biden administration for the creation of the Rural Partners Network and the Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council and thank Rep. Angie Craig for her leadership in laying the policy foundation for yesterday's major announcement with the Rural Prosperity Act," said Matthew Hildreth, Founder and Executive Director of Rural Organizing. "Addressing the challenges facing America's small towns and rural communities requires action by Congress through the enactment of legislation like the Rural Prosperity Act and the continued leadership by Members like Rep. Craig who understands the needs of today's rural communities."

Currently, there are more than 400 federal programs dedicated to helping rural communities, spread across 13 departments, and over 50 offices and sub-agencies which can create siloed, duplicative, and ineffective bureaucracy. The Rural Partners Network will establish a Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council to coordinate federal efforts to support rural America, engage with stakeholders to identify and address common challenges faced by rural areas and develop a comprehensive strategy for rural economic development across the Executive Branch – all provisions of Craig's legislation to better coordinate federal support for rural America.

A brief summary of Craig's Rural Prosperity Act is available here and a copy of the White House announcement is available here.

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