The potential of the CHIPS and Science Act for rural America

"Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, employment and labor rate participation in rural places had not recovered to pre-2008 levels, while metro areas had added significant employment. Although rural employment has fared slightly better than metro areas coming out of the worst of the pandemic’s economic disruption, overall, it remains below pre-2008 levels and far below the urban gains since 2007. Congressional leaders recognize that rural communities are seeking investment and support for strengthening their economic resilience and prosperity, and the place-based CHIPS programs explicitly prioritize these communities through some of their provisions. We analyzed the extent to which the CHIPS and Science Act holds promise for rural communities."