Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act

The Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act (HR 7444) creates two new grant programs to support rural economic development. It establishes a "Rural Partnership Program" that provides multiyear grants to partnerships - including local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and for-profits - to coordinate federal and local investments, reduce duplication, and plan community projects in rural areas. The bill requires 25% non-federal matching funds (with waivers for high-poverty areas or tribes) and prioritizes communities with economic distress, high poverty, or historical underfunding. A second "Technical Assistance Program" funds organizations to help rural communities manage federal grants, develop projects, and build capacity. The act also updates the Rural Partners Network to streamline federal coordination and improve access to funding for rural communities.