Biden to sign order to prioritize distressed 'left-behind communities'
Source: Reuters
January 19, 2025 7:33 AM EST Updated 4 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Sunday aimed at prioritizing government resources to help economically distressed American communities - a day before he leaves the White House.
Biden's order is targeting so-called "Left-Behind Communities" and aims to help incoming President Donald Trump, who will oversee significant spending on infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, broadband internet and other programs approved during Biden's presidency. By one estimate, 15% percent of the U.S. population -- or around 50 million Americans -- live in a distressed zip code, which is measured by poverty, unemployment, education, abandoned homes, median income and declines in jobs and businesses.
The White House touted a number of programs funded over the last four years including $54 billion in investments to Energy Communities -- coal, oil and gas, and power plant areas -- as well as $210 million announced last week for six new tech hubs, $525 million for job training in distressed areas and billions in infrastructure for distressed regions.
Biden's order prioritizes left-behind communities for economic development funding including those "facing economic distress, undergoing industrial transitions, emerging as innovation hubs, and rebuilding from natural disasters." "It’s not splashy. It’s just fulfilling his determination to help left-behind communities, particularly in the heartland, make comebacks," said White House economic adviser Lael Brainard in an interview.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-sign-order-prioritize-distressed-left-behind-communities-2025-01-19/