EDA Short Form Application Act

Short EDA grant form for rural areas

If enacted, rural communities would be able to use a shorter application form for any Economic Development Administration grant program. A "rural community" would mean an incorporated municipality, Tribal area, or territory with 10,000 people or fewer in the most recent decennial census, or one the Assistant Secretary determines is not in a metropolitan statistical area. The Assistant Secretary would have to solicit input from representative rural stakeholders on form length, required documents, standard templates, and reducing duplicate federal requests. The agency would also have to publish sample successful applications with personal data redacted, decision guides that explain how applications are reviewed and standardized guidance for rural applicants.