Opinion: We must help communities that have been left behind

In their recent COURIER newsroom op-ed, Rural Democracy Executive Director Sarah Jaynes and BuildUS' Justin Maxson advocate for protecting federal funding like the Inflation Reduction Act. Two years after the landmark legislation went into place, the IRA and similar federal funding have produced immense benefits for rural Americans.

Small business owners like Adam Schaller in Baroda, Michigan have been able to cut costs by installing solar arrays with support from the IRA. Regardless of who is in office, Sarah and Justin argue, it's critical we prioritize these important federal programs.