Bill Overview
Title: To establish a grant program for certain institutions of higher education to plan and implement projects for economic and community development in economically distressed communities, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill requires the Economic Development Administration to award grants to designated institutions of higher education located in distressed communities for use in projects including developing commercial infrastructure, building municipal broadband networks, and training health care professionals.
Sponsors: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16]
Target Audience
Population: People in economically distressed communities where beneficiary institutions are located
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill targets economically distressed communities, which can be found worldwide.
- Institutions of higher education will receive grants to implement development projects, impacting students, faculty, and staff.
- Projects include infrastructure and broadband, affecting residents of the community and impacting connectivity and economic opportunities.
- Training health care professionals suggests a focus on both current and future residents' health outcomes in these communities.
Reasoning
- This policy primarily targets institutions within economically distressed communities in the U.S., affecting students and residents who interact with these institutions.
- The policy has the potential to affect local residents by improving infrastructure, such as broadband, which can enhance connectivity and economic opportunities.
- Healthcare professional training will benefit both those entering the field and the community members who will receive improved care.
- The cost and program size constraints suggest that only a subset of eligible institutions will initially receive funding, limiting broad immediate impact.
- In the longer term, improvements in education, connectivity, and healthcare can increase self-reported wellbeing, but the scaling will depend on continued funding and project success.
Simulated Interviews
student (Flint, MI)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope access to better facilities at my college will improve our learning environment.
- Improved broadband would really help my online studies and exams.
- Training more healthcare professionals could help my community's overall health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
factory worker (Appalachia, KY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy brings better internet, it would mean more opportunities for my kids.
- Having a local college improve its offerings could provide an alternative path for young people here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
unemployed (Detroit, MI)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Job training in healthcare could offer me new career opportunities.
- Better broadband might help me look for jobs more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
retired teacher (Rural Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training healthcare professionals is crucial here as we lack doctors.
- Broadband infrastructure improvements won't affect me much, but they are important for younger families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
freelancer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced broadband could increase work opportunities for me and others in digital fields.
- Community development projects would make our area more attractive for artists and entrepreneurs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
high school senior (South Side Chicago, IL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited that the nearby college might offer more resources for my major.
- If the policy leads to job training, it could help me and my friends find work faster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
nurse (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More trained healthcare workers are always needed in Baltimore.
- Infrastructure improvements would be a plus, but focus on health is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
small business owner (Rural Tennessee)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Bringing broadband could spark new business and service opportunities in our area.
- I don't see much personal benefit beyond possible broadband changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
public school teacher (Bronx, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Local colleges receiving grants can improve job prospects for my students.
- Improved infrastructure like broadband is essential, but how much will really reach my neighborhood?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
community organizer (East St. Louis, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems like a good step toward revitalizing our community.
- I worry about how the funds will be distributed and if they'll actually reach those of us here on the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $1020000000 (Low: $820000000, High: $1220000000)
Year 3: $1040000000 (Low: $840000000, High: $1240000000)
Year 5: $1080000000 (Low: $880000000, High: $1280000000)
Year 10: $1160000000 (Low: $940000000, High: $1360000000)
Year 100: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Key Considerations
- Grant program success will depend on the execution and management of projects by the beneficiary institutions.
- Long-term benefits hinge on sustained economic growth and improvements in local health infrastructure.
- The effectiveness of broadband and commercial infrastructure on economic distress is subject to regional economic conditions.