WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) to introduced the Simplifying Grants Act (S. 4799), legislation to make it easier for local governments, with less than 50,000 people, to apply for, receive, and manage grants.
Specifically, the bill would require that agencies simplify the often complex, time consuming, and expensive grant process for all current and future federal grant opportunities. This would benefit 44 out of West Virginia’s 55 counties (80%) and 2,147 out of the country’s 3,143 counties (68%) as well as thousands of other cities, towns, and other governmental entities.
“Competitive federal grants provide critical support to West Virginia’s recent economic development boom, and I am proud to support legislation that will ensure that even our smallest communities can access needed resources. Many of our rural communities lack the infrastructure to submit competitive grants, putting them at a disadvantage compared to wealthy urban areas. The Simplifying Grants Act will benefit approximately 80% of our most vulnerable areas, and support the good work our fellow Mountaineers are doing to improve quality of life. West Virginia’s brightest days are ahead of us, and I remain a committed partner to our federal, state, and local entities seeking to invest in the future of our state,” Senator Capito said.
“Local governments use federal dollars to invest in infrastructure, public safety, law enforcement, and our children’s education, among other important priorities. Regretfully, our current grant process leaves small local governments and their residents behind. This bill would provide a simplified process so small local governments are able to apply for and receive the funds they need,” Senator Rubio said.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
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