Rural communities face significant recovery challenges after recent natural disasters.
Iowa alone estimates more than $130 million dollars in infrastructure damage from tornadoes and floods. Gov. Kim Reynolds stressed the need for long-term recovery efforts.
She has voiced her concern for USDA loan programs for farmers, citing high interest rates compared to local options.
Reynolds recently announced a new disaster recovery farm interest program, aimed at assisting farmers with property damage. However, they are not the only state dealing with this.
Leaders from other states are calling for increased flexibility in disaster funding and regulatory relief for rural communities.
Senator Peter Welch of Vermont emphasized the importance of efficient federal funding allocation.
Also, a former Farm Bureau President of Minnesota has raised concerns about the frequency and cost of disasters affecting rural infrastructure, citing multiple billion-dollar disasters and urging better support for aging rural infrastructure.
