Many times, when we talk about the infrastructure of rural America, we often focus on roads, bridges, and the internet. While these are very much a part of growing the success of rural communities, they are only a small part. We also must consider, jobs, housing, healthcare, childcare, education, community services, emergency services, and much more. It doesn?t matter if we have newly paved roads and brand-new bridges if they are leading us to a ghost town.
It is in this spirit that Iowa 3rd District Congresswoman Cindy Axne was in Perry launching her new Rural Prosperity Agenda. Axne talked about the importance of having upgrades to all the services and needs that rural communities are struggling to sometimes get. She unveiled the scope of her new agenda. It includes putting voices of rural America into the White House.
While in Perry, Axne heard from community leaders and business people that the biggest problem they have is finding a workforce to fill the jobs they have available. One businesswoman said she could immediately fill 30+ positions at her company, but the main detractor for towns like Perry is there is often no room in the rural communities to live. They need more housing expansions, but developers do not want to leave the Des Moines Metro.
Another aspect of rural housing is displacement after a natural disaster. Axne used Pacific Junction as an example of people who are forced out of their homes due to a disaster and then do not have an option to return. The Congresswoman said she is including plans and incentives in her rural agenda to help with rural housing availability.
Another issue was brought to her attention that alluded to supply chain issues and the effects they are having on getting projects done on schedule, so they can get their grant or loan dollars. Life isn?t the same as when these projects were agreed to, and sometimes a part of the project which would normally take a week or two to get now needs six months or even longer. Axne said that these real-world issues need to be addressed and that these project agreements need to be flexible as times have changed.
Another piece of this rural prosperity includes vetting out these contracts to local companies. As we so often hear, rural business owners aren?t multi-millionaires driving around in fancy cars. They are working alongside their employees and their profits don?t go to a large multinational, they go to the local grocery stores, the daycares, and the extracurricular activities that keep others in the community employed. So, to have these large improvement projects in a community and not involve the community businesses would be counter-intuitive to the goals Axne is putting forward.
USDA Rural Development State Director Theresa Greenfield was also on hand in Perry to talk about the efforts her office is making to help communities all over the state to make the improvements they need to stay vital. She talked about the programs that are available and how their regional offices can help communities get the ball rolling.
Greenfield added that there has been a lot of excitement from rural communities to access a part of the $5 billion that Iowa is receiving from the bipartisan infrastructure plan. They are available for a wide range of projects. Greenfield admits that sometimes these projects ?aren?t sexy?, but they are essential to the vitality of any community.
Greenfield adds that she is happy to see lawmakers who are taking an interest in making sure that these rural towns are being supported. She thanked Congresswoman Axne for the chance to be in attendance and share the opportunities they can give towns and cities.
You can learn more about the projects that are supported through USDA Rural Development in Iowa, by logging on to their website. You can learn more about Representative Axne?s Rural Prosperity Agenda here.
