The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) believes that “Together, West Virginia Prospers.” With that idea in mind came the Rural Partners Network and WV Pioneer Community Network which includes the 8 county region of Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Nicholas, Roane, Webster and Wood.
Because rural communities sometimes struggle to get financial or technical assistance from highly competitive programs based in individual federal government agencies, the Rural Partners Network introduces a new way of doing business: a collaboration among federal agencies meant to improve access to government resources, staffing and tools. Participating agencies designate key points of contact who focus specifically on rural strategies, improving visibility and attention to rural issues. The Rural Partners Network also puts federal staff on the ground to support designated, economically challenged communities. Known as “Community Liaisons,” these federal employees provide local leaders with the expertise to navigate federal programs.
Community Liaisons help build relationships and identify additional resources to get the job done. As their work progresses, the lessons learned will impact future federal rural policy development and investment strategies. RPN field staff are tasked with feeding key information to federal agencies regarding community needs and barriers to accessing federal resources. Agencies will then use this information to drive policy changes to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities. As a result, RPN will not only support pilot sites and activities, but will inform changes that make the federal government better deliver for all rural communities.
Through this new, direct line between rural communities and Washington, D.C., the Biden Administration is changing “business-as-usual” by working across agencies to coordinate technical assistance to rural communities, share rural data and measures of success, and align grant requirements.
Which federal agencies are RPN members?.
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Department of the Interior
- Department of Labor
- Small Business Administration
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Appalachian Regional Commission • Delta Regional Authority
- Denali Commission
- Northern Border Regional Commission
- Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
- Social Security Administration
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Rural People and Places, Trends
- and Opportunities
The federal government makes billions of dollars available each year to invest in community and economic development projects and activities. For many communities – particularly the most distressed – these resources can be difficult to identify and access. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed limitations in the typical competitive grant model, shedding light on access gaps in resources for rural people and communities.
The mere availability of competitive program resources isn’t enough to build equitable, sustainable rural prosperity. Rural places need new, intentionally developed service delivery methods to support rural priorities and objectives.
The Rural Partners Network provides such a framework.
If you’d like to become involved in the WV Pioneer Community Network, Contact:
Nancy Gall
Nancy.Gall@usda.gov
304-635-4341
