The Rural Democracy Initiative (RDI) team has been working overtime to complete our 2021 grant making. In September the steering committees of our 501c3 Heartland Fund and 501c4 Rural Victory Fund approved an additional $2,075,000 in grants to build the strong civic and political infrastructure rural communities need. Thanks to our generous donors, we supported 37 groups in 12 states and are busy preparing 35 more grants for October approval.
Leaders in the federal government are currently negotiating a historic investment in the nation’s infrastructure. This is a critical moment to both celebrate and advocate for proposals that will benefit rural communities. During this time, funding decisions could change rapidly, and now is the time to push for them to change for the better.
No matter where you live, people need good jobs, clean air, and clean water. After years of economic decline in rural areas, we urgently need the federal government to fund infrastructure to help our communities.
The recently signed Biden Promoting Competition Executive Order is a giant victory for rural communities. The order calls for new and better rules to lower prices, increase wages, and promote innovation. The order establishes the “right to repair” which empowers people to fix their equipment and property without going to an authorized agent.
Through the American Rescue Plan, the federal government provided funds for rural communities. Now we need local government to fund the programs our communities need.
In 2021, we convened rural advocates from across the country to create The Rural Policy Action Report. Identifying the top rural policy priorities for the year, the report was widely publicized and was shared directly with policymakers and key decision makers in the Biden administration. In 2022, we added resources for state-based policymakers and advocates. Each issue area includes policy priorities, example legislation, and the context for how these issues impact people in rural communities.