Sponsors (14)
The bill channels federal economic development grants toward youth sports and active-lifestyle infrastructure to expand access and preventive public-health benefits, but it may reallocate limited funds from other infrastructure priorities, favor commercially-driven projects over smaller community efforts, and add administrative burdens for applicants.
Children and youth in low-income or underserved communities gain improved access to recreational and youth sports facilities, increasing opportunities for physical activity and supporting mental and physical health.
Residents of highly rural and low-tax communities are more likely to receive grant consideration for active-lifestyle infrastructure, helping address geographic equity gaps in recreational amenities.
Small businesses and local economies can benefit from new or improved youth sports facilities that spur economic development and create jobs for adjacent businesses and service providers.
Taxpayers and local governments face the risk that limited grant funds will be redirected from other infrastructure priorities—such as roads, broadband, or housing—toward youth sports and recreation projects.
Low-income individuals and small community-led programs may be disadvantaged if the emphasis on facility-driven economic development favors projects with clearer business models or revenue streams over grassroots initiatives.
Local governments and nonprofits could face added administrative complexity and uncertainty because eligibility tied to addressing opioid use or community violence is difficult to measure and document.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds youth sports, recreation access, public-health, rural needs, and job-creation as explicit grant-selection priorities under existing economic development law.
Official title: To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 with respect to the eligibility of youth sports facilities for certain grants, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Bill Huizenga · Last progress April 10, 2025
Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act to add youth sports facilities, recreational access, and related public-health and local economic benefits as explicit priorities when the Secretary awards grants. The change directs consideration for projects that address sedentary lifestyle harms, serve low-income and high-opioid/violence-affected communities, help highly rural places, stimulate local job creation, and spur economic development tied to youth sports infrastructure. The bill does not create new grant programs or appropriate money; it changes the factors the Secretary may weigh when selecting projects under existing economic development grant authorities, broadening eligibility considerations to favor facilities and projects that expand access to youth sports and recreation and produce local economic and public-health benefits.