The Biden administration is doubling down on its commitment to pump up the economy across America's diverse regions, hosting a White House meeting this week with leaders from six regional commissions to plot the rebound of rural and distressed communities. The summit, spearheaded by National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard, had in attendance top officials from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Denali Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Northern Border Regional Commission, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and Southwest Border Regional Commission.
In a recent statement, the White House highlighted the role of these commissions as essential instruments in executing President Biden's vision for a nationwide economic revival; a vision that prominently featured in his State of the Union address, with over $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law flowing into these commissions to bankroll an assortment of local projects ranging from job creation in manufacturing, to better infrastructure, to advances in clean energy technologies, the administration is betting big on their strategy despite concerns of federal spending and its potential impact on inflation and budget deficits.
Success stories were in no short supply at the meeting, as Federal Co-Chairs rolled out a laundry list of their victories. Among them, the Delta Regional Authority backing up Tennessee with infrastructure upgrades to accommodate Ford's hefty $5.6 billion investment for an electric truck and battery plant, while the Denali Commission in Alaska offered a helping hand to an Alaska Native Tribal consortium, which pooled over $90 million in federal grants to bring broadband connectivity to remote enclaves.
Meanwhile, the Northern Border Regional Commission trumpeted a $3 million grant that will prop up child care facilities in New York's Lewis County, and not to be outdone, the Appalachian Regional Commission touted its ARISE initiative, meant to strengthen regional partnerships across several states – over in the Southeast, the newly minted $20 million State Economic and Infrastructure Development grant program launched by Southeast Crescent Regional Commission is set to kick off, with an emphasis on spurring growth in some of the region's most vulnerable zones.
Key players sharing their perspectives at the gathering included Gayle Manchin from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Jocelyn Fenton standing in for the Denali Commission, Corey Wiggins of the Delta Regional Authority, Chris Saunders from the Northern Border Regional Commission, Jennifer Clyburn Reed leading the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and Juan Sanchez helming the Southwest Border Regional Commission, who collectively represent a bold front in tackling economic disparities and delivering President Biden's reinvestment agenda for America's overlooked territories. Additional attendees were Samantha Silverberg, Deputy Assistant to the President for Infrastructure Implementation, Heather Boushey, a Council of Economic Advisers member and the Chief Economist of the Investing in America Cabinet, along with others form the economic development and policy sectors. For more details, readers can visit the White House readout on the event.
