A bill to require the establishment and use of short form applications for rural communities applying for economic development grant programs, and for other purposes.

# Summary of S 3965 **What the Bill Would Do** S 3965 would require the federal government to create and use simplified application forms for rural communities that are seeking economic development grants. Instead of lengthy, complex applications, rural areas would have access to shorter versions designed to make it easier for them to apply for federal funding programs designed to boost their economies. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This bill primarily affects small towns and rural communities across the United States, as well as the federal agencies that manage economic development grant programs. By streamlining the application process, the bill aims to reduce barriers for rural areas that may have limited staff or resources to navigate complicated paperwork.

The legislation addresses a practical challenge: rural communities often struggle to compete for federal funding simply because their smaller staff can't dedicate time to lengthy application processes. **Current Status** S 3965 is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. The bill was sponsored by Senator John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming.