Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Community and economic development
Tribal Water Infrastructure: Opportunities Exist to Improve Federal Assistance
Provides an overview of federal roles in tribal water infrastructure projects. Examines the extent to which the Indian Health Service (IHS) can fund water infrastructure for homes and buildings in a tribal community. Explores opportunities to streamline application processes and administrative requirements when IHS collaborates with other federal agencies. Describes the limited financial capacity some tribes have to operate and maintain their water infrastructure, and the potential effects of IHS providing financial assistance for these purposes. Presents recommendations for Congress and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of federal roles in tribal water infrastructure projects. Examines the extent to which the Indian Health Service (IHS) can fund water infrastructure for homes and buildings in a tribal community. Explores opportunities to streamline application processes and administrative requirements when IHS collaborates with other federal agencies. Describes the limited financial capacity some tribes have to operate and maintain their water infrastructure, and the potential effects of IHS providing financial assistance for these purposes. Presents recommendations for Congress and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101)
Provides an overview of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101), which became law on July 11, 2026, and aims to address housing supply and affordability. Summarizes each provision of the law, as well as deadlines applicable to federal agencies. Includes references to rural programs throughout.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101), which became law on July 11, 2026, and aims to address housing supply and affordability. Summarizes each provision of the law, as well as deadlines applicable to federal agencies. Includes references to rural programs throughout.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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The IHS Navajo Area Office's Internal Controls for Awarding, Monitoring, and Reporting Sanitation Facilities Construction Projects Could Be Improved
Examines how the Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) administered funds it received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for 187 IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) Program projects between fiscal years 2022 and 2024. Describes the NAIHS internal controls for awarding, monitoring, and reporting SFC Program projects, and whether NAIHS followed these controls.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines how the Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) administered funds it received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for 187 IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) Program projects between fiscal years 2022 and 2024. Describes the NAIHS internal controls for awarding, monitoring, and reporting SFC Program projects, and whether NAIHS followed these controls.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024
Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Snapshot of Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Projects Funded Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Describes how the Indian Health Service (IHS) used funds it received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) Program between fiscal years 2022 and 2025. Identifies challenges that IHS faced to administer SFC Program projects and actions taken by IHS Area Offices and tribes to address those challenges.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Describes how the Indian Health Service (IHS) used funds it received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) Program between fiscal years 2022 and 2025. Identifies challenges that IHS faced to administer SFC Program projects and actions taken by IHS Area Offices and tribes to address those challenges.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Delta Regional Authority - 25 Years of Impact, 2000-2025
Discusses the Delta Regional Authority's strategic investments, programming, and initiatives from 2000-2025. Focuses on critical and human infrastructure, public works, capacity building, workforce opportunities and health system improvements in rural areas, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Delta Regional Authority
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Discusses the Delta Regional Authority's strategic investments, programming, and initiatives from 2000-2025. Focuses on critical and human infrastructure, public works, capacity building, workforce opportunities and health system improvements in rural areas, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Delta Regional Authority
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How Rural Development Hubs Can Strengthen Rural Health Transformation Program Implementation
Highlights approaches for Rural Development Hubs to support Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) implementation at the state level, including discussion of the roles Rural Development Hubs can play in promoting communication, promoting local perspectives, and bridging gaps between existing programs and new ones.
Author(s): Erin Cahill
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Highlights approaches for Rural Development Hubs to support Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) implementation at the state level, including discussion of the roles Rural Development Hubs can play in promoting communication, promoting local perspectives, and bridging gaps between existing programs and new ones.
Author(s): Erin Cahill
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101)
Text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101). Addresses regulatory barriers to new home construction, updates to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and strengthening community banking operations. Outlines changes to existing programs and policies, as well as new and expanded programs, regarding housing supply, manufactured and rural housing, homeownership, veterans housing, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101). Addresses regulatory barriers to new home construction, updates to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and strengthening community banking operations. Outlines changes to existing programs and policies, as well as new and expanded programs, regarding housing supply, manufactured and rural housing, homeownership, veterans housing, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Rural America's Funding Gap: Why Place-Based Investment Matters | Uneven Ground Webinar
Webinar presenting and discussing findings from Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and Nonrural America, a report on gaps in rural public investment. Discusses the impacts of public funding systems and policy on rural community development and highlights effective approaches to targeted public investment. Transcript available via video description.
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, Matt Dunne, Tony Pipa, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Webinar presenting and discussing findings from Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and Nonrural America, a report on gaps in rural public investment. Discusses the impacts of public funding systems and policy on rural community development and highlights effective approaches to targeted public investment. Transcript available via video description.
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, Matt Dunne, Tony Pipa, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Building Rural Capacity to Navigate Population and Economic Change
Discusses how rural communities and tribal nations gather and apply community resources in response to population change and economic shifts, and the role of Rural Development Hubs in facilitating capacity-building. Includes a case study from Hazard, Kentucky.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Discusses how rural communities and tribal nations gather and apply community resources in response to population change and economic shifts, and the role of Rural Development Hubs in facilitating capacity-building. Includes a case study from Hazard, Kentucky.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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