Youth Sports Facilities Act of 2025

This proposal would let federal economic development grants help build or improve youth sports facilities. It adds youth recreation projects as eligible uses when they improve community health, create jobs, or support local growth. It focuses on places that lack safe, affordable spaces for kids to be active, especially areas hit hard by obesity, opioid use, or violence, and highly rural towns with limited tax revenue for recreation infrastructure.

Key points

• Who is affected: Children in low‑income, rural, and underserved communities; towns and cities without enough sports or recreation spaces; communities facing high rates of opioid use or violence.
• What changes: Youth sports facilities can qualify for certain federal economic development grants if they improve access to recreation, boost local economies, or create jobs, including jobs at nearby businesses that support these facilities.
• Why it matters: Aims to combat sedentary lifestyles and obesity by expanding access to places where kids can safely play and exercise, while also helping local economies grow.