The U.S. Department of Agriculture said March 18 that it plans to invest more than $20 million in rural communities that are vital to the nation's energy production.
The money comes from the $465 million the Biden-Harris Administration has invested through USDA Rural Development in Appalachia’s priority energy communities, the department said in the release.
“Investments like these show that under the leadership of President Biden, the federal government is working with rural communities in a seamless and nimble way to ensure rural residents and workers can compete for good jobs and thrive for generations to come," Justin Maxson, deputy under secretary for Rural Development, said in the release.
The federal funding will benefit localities in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and help support new union jobs and local economies, the department said in the release. Additionally, the funding will help to provide upgrades in power distribution and improve power infrastructure for entire regions.
"Supporting communities that have had – and with USDA’s assistance, will continue to have – a key role in the development and use of domestic energy will help rural areas retain jobs, grow their economies and maintain their important role in supporting the nation’s energy independence," Maxson said.
