MORE USDA Grants Act

This bill makes it easier for rural counties where most land is owned or managed by the federal government to win USDA grants. It cuts local matching costs in half and offers extra help with applications. The goal is to level the playing field for small, remote places and Tribal governments in those areas that often struggle to meet federal grant rules and paperwork burdens ().

It lowers the local match by 50%, provides added technical help before and during each annual application period, and gives priority to applicants that haven’t received support from the program in the last 10 years. The USDA can also prioritize Tribal governments for help and ease common barriers, like scoring rules that favor bigger populations, partner requirements when partners aren’t nearby, cash-on-hand rules, and overly technical applications ().

• Who is affected: Counties where most land is federally owned, plus their local governments and Tribal governments ()
• What changes:
  • Local match for qualifying USDA grants reduced by 50% ()
  • Extra technical assistance on request, before and during application periods ()
  • Priority for applicants without support in the past 10 years; possible priority for Tribal governments ()
  • Flexibility to overcome barriers like size-based scoring, partner, financial, and overly technical application requirements ()