South Utah News

WASHINGTON — Last week, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Steve Daines (R-MT) reintroduced the More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) Grants Package, including the MORE USDA Grants Act and the MORE DOT Grants Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislative package would make it easier for rural communities in public lands counties to compete for federal grants. The MORE Grants package has support from Governor Cox (R-UT), the Utah Association of Counties, and the National Association of Counties.

“Too many counties in Utah and throughout the West face education, infrastructure, and housing shortages due to the amount of untaxable federally controlled land,” said Rep. Stewart. “These two bills will help ease that burden for rural counties with low populations.”

“Nevada’s rural communities are surrounded by untaxable federally owned land, and I’m working across the aisle to make it easier for them to access grant funding to support their infrastructure and economic development,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “I’m in the Senate to serve all of Nevada, and I’ll keep working to support the rural Nevada businesses and families who are so essential to our state."

“Many Montana communities have trouble accessing federal grants that help support economic development projects. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will give Montana counties, especially those in rural parts of our state, the support they need to tap in to these resources,” said Sen. Daines.

“We appreciate Rep. Stewart’s focus on rural Utah and making a variety of federal programs more responsive to the needs of rural communities that are surrounded by public lands,” said Gov. Cox. “In Utah, we’re improving broadband connectivity and transportation infrastructure in rural areas, hiring more rural residents, and working to improve housing affordability in rural communities. Rep. Stewart’s legislation is a fantastic complement to this work, reducing the matching requirements that often hinder rural communities from using federal resources.” 

“This legislation holds immense significance for rural communities in Utah, particularly the 18 high-density public lands counties of the 29 counties that we represent, as it prioritizes access to vital grants from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture,” said the Utah Association of Counties. “The legislation provides a clear definition of High-Density Public Land Counties, ensuring that counties with over 50% federally controlled land and populations of less than 100,000 receive the necessary support they require to thrive.”

The federal government manages roughly 28 percent of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States, the majority of which is in western states. Federal land makes up the majority of land in most of Utah’s rural counties.

This legislative package is broken down into two sections:

The More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) from USDA Grants Act, seeks to increase access to:

• Rural Business Development grant program;
• Economic Impact Initiative grant program;
• Telemedicine and Distance Learning Services grant program;
• Community Connect Grant Program;
• Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program or the “ReConnect Program”; or
• Any other discretionary grant program of the Department of Agriculture Rural Development divisions under which grants are awarded to— (i) counties; (ii) other units of local government; or (iii) Tribal governments.

The More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) from DOT Grants Act, would increase access to:

• Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation discretionary grant program;
• Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program;
• Public transportation innovation grant program;
• Public transportation safety program;
• Federal lands access program;
• Airport Improvement Program (AIP);
• Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (CRISI); or
• Any other discretionary grant program of the Department of Transportation under which grants are awarded to— (i) counties; (ii) other units of local government; or (iii) Tribal governments.  

Original source can be found here.