Good afternoon,

Here's what you need to get caught up this week...

JUNE JOBS BUOYS BIDENOMICS

• Jobs additions continued in June, though at a slower pace indicative of a transition to a more stable economy after record post-pandemic growth.
   
• On his "Investing in America" tour, President Biden touted "Bidenomics" — a term which includes the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPs and Science Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the American Rescue Plan — as the reason for the U.S. economy's 30-month-long upward trajectory.
   
• These crucial pieces of legislation have in fact drawn manufacturers to the country — demonstrating how federal funding can encourage private investment, secure our domestic energy supply, and put the U.S. at the forefront of clean energy technology, all while creating job opportunities for rural Americans.

• Federal grant money is so popular that even Republicans who vocally opposed legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act are cheering for the investments in their states' broadband and infrastructure — even after trying to slash funding earlier this year.

• The over $3 trillion in domestic funding presents an opportunity for Democrats to make inroads with rural Americans. Republicans did not use their time in power to deliver broadband, fix roads and bridges, or prevent hospitals from closing. Democrats, in contrast, can showcase tangible steps to improve infrastructure and economic development in rural regions.

• Still, while job opportunities abound and inflation begins to ease, new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) restrictions on top of the end of pandemic-era provisions have led to dangerous spikes in food insecurity and uncertainty for working families. More work must be done to secure the finances of everyday Americans. Read OCP's full statement here.

A FARM BILL FOR FAMILIES

• Now that Congress is back in session, it has its work cut out for it: the Farm Bill must be renewed. This process will incorporate some of the most contentious policy issues of the year, from SNAP funding to conservation programs.

• Outside of traditional agriculture programs, the steaming hot new issue on the table is childcare.

• Affordable, quality childcare is difficult to find throughout the country. Costs range from $7,000 to over $20,000 per child. 6 in 10 rural families live in childcare deserts. Without any childcare provider, millions of parents are forced to leave the workplace — negatively impacting economies. On the flipside, every $1 invested in early childhood programs yields a $16 return. It's no surprise that a majority of American families support federal funding for childcare.

• The Biden administration has required that chip manufacturers receiving federal subsidies from the CHIPs and Science Act provide affordable, high-quality childcare for workers who build or operate the plant. Now, it's time for the Farm Bill to help working families juggle raising a family with earning a living.

• The Farm Bill presents an opportunity to set an agenda for rural communities' prosperity, from securing the farming foundation to ensuring people can continue to live and work in rural regions. Read OCP's letter to Agriculture Committees' leadership here.

JUSTICE IS BEST SERVED COLD. CELEBRATION IS BEST SERVED WITH A SLICE OF PIE

• We celebrated the Fourth of July with an episode of the Hot Dish, featuring Jane Matejcek, a Fargo native, Veterans Affairs nurse, and president of Honor Flights North Dakota, which honors veterans who have served our country. Brian Noyes, owner of Red Truck Bakery, joined to talk about how baking can feed a small Virginia town's revitalization. Listen here.

• The Wall Street Journal: The Math Problem Stymieing Small Businesses in Rural America
   
• Axios: Study: Maternal deaths widespread beyond the South
   
• CBS News: Influx in Broadband Funds to Minnesota Will Open the Door to More Telehealth Options
   
• Daily Yonder: Rural SNAP Recipients Will Have Harder Time with Return to Work Requirements
   
• Texas Tribune: With New Federal Food Stamps Limits Coming, Advocates Mobilize to Inform Texas Recipients
   
• Reuters: US Farm Agency Opens Applications for $2.2 Billion in Discrimination Payments
   
• New York Times: When Trains Block a Road, Local Officials Have Few Options
   
• Axios:First Look: Biden Begins to Map Big Spending Plans
   
• Texas Public Radio: Democrats are Targeting Rural Voters Ahead of the Crucial 2024 Election

Be sure to follow the One Country Project on Twitter and Facebook, and check out The Hot Dish podcast.