Impact of recovery act on rural remains unclear

As the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) approaches the halfway mark in its two-year life cycle, nonprofit leaders are beginning to examine the impact of the act on rural communities.

The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) asked leaders in six states to evaluate how the recovery act is working for rural areas. The report, issued October 27, 2009, found that these leaders felt that the rural areas most in need of economic stimulus aren't the ones getting funding from the federal program. Respondents also cited difficult application procedures and matching funding requirements as impediments to rural participation in ARRA.

The recovery act provides $787 billion to reinvigorate the America economy. Of this amount, $288 billion provides tax relief, leaving $499 billion in new funding for recovery programs.

The RUPRI report, by Brian Dabson and Karen A. Dabson, also says it's nearly impossible to determine how much of ARRA funds is going to rural projects, based on data at www.recovery.gov, the a government website designed to track and evaluate ARRA spending.