Biden Order Aims to Revive America's Economically Stranded Towns
Published Date: 1/24/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The President’s new order helps struggling communities bounce back by making it easier for local and Tribal leaders to access government programs. It targets places hit hard by economic troubles, disasters, or poverty, and brings many federal agencies together to boost jobs, innovation, and resilience. This whole-of-government effort kicks off right away, aiming to pump more resources and support into these areas for a stronger future.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Commerce to Coordinate Federal Investments
The Secretary of Commerce will coordinate Federal investments and develop policy recommendations for place-based economic development in 'covered communities.' This coordination is directed in Section 3(a) and is to be done where appropriate and consistent with law to improve how agencies work together for these areas.
Faster, Better Local Engagement
Within 1 year of January 19, 2025 (by January 19, 2026), the Commerce Department must work with other agencies to improve the quality, frequency, and accessibility of engagement with State, Tribal, territorial, local, and non-profit organizations in covered communities. This directs agencies to proactively connect with local leaders in economically distressed areas.
Support for Local Economic Projects
Within 1 year of January 19, 2025 (by January 19, 2026), agencies will support localized community economic development including workforce training, resilient physical infrastructure, affordable energy, civic infrastructure, affordable housing, childcare, and transportation in covered communities. These are named objectives in Section 3(b)(ii).
Single Entry Technical Assistance Network
Within 1 year of January 19, 2025 (by January 19, 2026), the Commerce Department will work with agencies to develop an interagency technical assistance network that gives communities a single point of entry to access Federal information and resources. The network is intended to help interested communities and organizations reach multiple agencies through one channel (Section 3(b)(iii)).
Funding Preference for Covered Communities
Implementing agencies are instructed to, to the extent appropriate and consistent with law, include requirements, evaluation factors, or incentives in forthcoming funding opportunities that provide a preference for applications from entities in and serving covered communities (Section 3(c)).
Grant Application Help for Distressed Areas
Implementing agencies shall, consistent with law, assist potential grant applicants in economically distressed regions by conducting proactive outreach, providing guidance and technical assistance, and identifying agency resources that can support applications (Section 4(a)).
Post-Disaster Economic Resilience Support
Implementing agencies with field offices in economically distressed regions or Community Disaster Resilience Zones that received a major disaster declaration within the past 3 years shall, as appropriate and consistent with law, seek local input on resilience needs, identify funding opportunities for long-term development and infrastructure, and provide targeted help to navigate application processes (Section 5(a)-(c)).
Interagency MOAs to Share Best Practices
Within 1 year of January 19, 2025 (by January 19, 2026), implementing agencies shall, where consistent with law, consider signing memoranda of agreement to exchange information, tools, and leading practices so applicants to under-resourced programs learn about and may be considered for similar programs at other agencies (Section 4(b)).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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