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.
