INVEST in Our Communities Act

This bill increases federal funding for economic development projects by raising the federal share from 50% to 60% for most projects. It creates a new HOST (Hospitality and Outdoor-Recreation Supporting Tourism) grant program that allocates $100 million annually (2025-2029) to support tourism, outdoor recreation, and hospitality infrastructure. The bill requires 40% of HOST funds to support outdoor recreation, 20% to rural areas (with focus on distressed communities), and 5% to Tribal communities, with Tribal projects receiving 100% federal funding. It also establishes an Office of Tribal Economic Development and creates technical assistance liaisons for underresourced communities. The bill directly affects communities that rely on tourism, outdoor recreation, and hospitality sectors, particularly rural and Tribal communities.