This bill, known as the Rural Recovery Act of 2025, mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a new program within the rural development mission area. This program aims to provide crucial technical assistance to eligible rural communities that have been impacted by a major disaster declared by the President. An eligible rural community is defined as any census-designated place with a population under 20,000, or as modified by the Secretary, located within a disaster-covered area. The technical assistance offered under this program is comprehensive, covering various aspects of disaster recovery. It includes support for planning , identifying solutions, and securing funding sources, as well as assistance in preparing and submitting applications to federal agencies like FEMA and the Economic Development Administration, and relevant state agencies. Furthermore, the program helps communities address application denials and effectively implement received funding for recovery efforts across sectors such as water, housing, energy, and business infrastructure. Assistance will be provided by State offices of the rural development mission area or by contracted public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, with priority given to certain entities. Communities can receive this support for an initial three-year period, with a possible three-year extension on a case-by-case basis. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $50,000,000 for each fiscal year to fund this vital program, with funds allocated based on the population affected by a disaster.
This bill, known as the Rural Recovery Act of 2025, mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a new program within the rural development mission area. This program aims to provide crucial technical assistance to eligible rural communities that have been impacted by a major disaster declared by the President. An eligible rural community is defined as any census-designated place with a population under 20,000, or as modified by the Secretary, located within a disaster-covered area. The technical assistance offered under this program is comprehensive, covering various aspects of disaster recovery. It includes support for planning , identifying solutions, and securing funding sources, as well as assistance in preparing and submitting applications to federal agencies like FEMA and the Economic Development Administration, and relevant state agencies. Furthermore, the program helps communities address application denials and effectively implement received funding for recovery efforts across sectors such as water, housing, energy, and business infrastructure. Assistance will be provided by State offices of the rural development mission area or by contracted public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, with priority given to certain entities. Communities can receive this support for an initial three-year period, with a possible three-year extension on a case-by-case basis. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $50,000,000 for each fiscal year to fund this vital program, with funds allocated based on the population affected by a disaster.