Federal officials have already directed to the Mountain West for infrastructure, climate and technology projects. It鈥檚 part of the Biden administration鈥檚 鈥泪nvesting in America鈥� agenda, which includes massive spending packages like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
This money can have major impacts on rural towns and counties in the region, but some residents either aren鈥檛 noticing or don鈥檛 care. Many Republicans support rebuilding roads and bridges, but they haven鈥檛 been swayed from their support for former president Donald Trump.
In Cheyenne, Wyo. 鈥� a town of about 65,000 people 鈥� residents are usually within a few minutes鈥� drive from a project funded with new federal dollars. Crews to prepare it for redevelopment, and .
Local resident Judy Englehart is in favor of some government spending, but said many people don鈥檛 know if the money comes from federal, state or other coffers.
鈥泪nfrastructure is really important. But I think sometimes it gets too political,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e probably have money here. But nobody's putting up any signs for it. Because nobody wants to say, 鈥榊eah, we're using government money.鈥欌��
Cheyenne is located in Wyoming鈥檚 most populous county, which Trump in the 2020 election. Kenny Stroud is a longtime GOP member, and plans to vote Republican next year. Still, he likes many aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act.
鈥�'I鈥檓 glad they're doing that. They鈥檒l probably need to do more of it. Because I know 鈥� especially with the bridges 鈥� I know they're deteriorating,鈥� Stroud said. 鈥淏ut are we stealing from Peter to serve Paul? Is that how we鈥檙e doing this?鈥�
Beyond concerns about the federal debt and inflation, other residents dislike Biden because of his age, immigration policies, and involvement in foreign conflicts.
鈥淭here's more money being spent in other places. We need more money spent at home,鈥� said Larry Palmer. 鈥淪erving Americans. Homeless people. Veterans. Mental health. There's all kinds of American needs that are not being met.鈥�
Residents of other parts of the region share similar sentiments. Biden carried only about a fifth of Mountain West counties in 2020, and gained most of his support in urban areas. This isn鈥檛 surprising, but he needs to tighten the margins in rural America and , especially in key swing states such as Arizona and Nevada.
So, members of his administration and nation.
In a recent trip to Colorado and Wyoming, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland touted climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. Projects are , and . At a speech in Jackson Hole, she said the Biden administration wants to help people 鈥� whether they voted red or blue.
鈥淭he Biden-Harris administration recognizes the significance of the West in meeting our goals for a more equitable, sustainable and successful future,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 future that serves every single person, no matter their zip code or how much money they have in the bank.鈥�
Other officials have also been busy. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this year to discuss investments in broadband internet. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to learn about carbon capture projects. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to highlight the nation鈥檚 improving electric grid and clean energy capacity.
These visits are a major part of Biden鈥檚 reelection agenda, but it鈥檚 unclear if they鈥檙e paying off. A shows that 7 in 10 Americans have heard 鈥渓ittle or nothing鈥� about the Inflation Reduction Act, and the president鈥檚 approval rating this month.
鈥泪 think there's more that can be done to communicate that what's happening on the ground 鈥� whether it's construction sites, workforce training programs or lower costs 鈥� can be tracked back to these major economic investments,鈥� said Emily Gee, senior vice president for Inclusive Growth at the Center for American Progress, a think tank. 鈥淭he more tangible the effects are, the better.鈥�
Gee is optimistic that people will start to notice improvements in their lives. One that specific targets of recent federal spending packages 鈥� such as investments in manufacturing or lowering prescription drug costs 鈥� are extremely popular.
鈥泪 don't worry as much about the actual names of the laws having name recognition,鈥� Gee said. 鈥淲hat I think is important is that people do like these laws are doing.鈥�
In some cases, these laws are protecting residents and improving public health. In Rawlins, Wyo., which has under 10,000 people, last year forced a boil water advisory for about a week. So, the city with the help of over $1 million in federal grant money. It鈥檚 also getting money polluted, abandoned sites.
Mayor Terry Weickum said part of his job is to find money wherever he can.
鈥泪 held my hand up and I took the oath to ensure health, safety and welfare. And some of these places are dangerous. And so we've asked for help on that,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it's pretty exciting to get that done.鈥�
Yet, Weickum is a Republican and doesn鈥檛 plan to change. He鈥檚 upset with other Biden administration policies 鈥� more so than he is happy with infrastructure funding. And he鈥檚 also worried about future debt.
鈥泪'd be glad to eat an ice cream cone, I might be glad to eat 10 of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow, what might happen next might be a little ugly. But it sure tasted good at the time. And sometimes I wonder if that isn't where we're at.
鈥淥n the other hand, if we don't go ask for that money to help our citizens to have these problems fixed 鈥� the money is going to be spent one way or another.鈥�
Still, that money can have a particularly large impact on rural communities. found that Wyoming could get up to $7 billion in federal money from the climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. That鈥檚 the equivalent of $12,000 for every state resident.
Time will tell if smaller areas have the capacity or desire to spend that kind of cash. It鈥檚 also unclear if any of this effort will make a difference politically 鈥� even if it鈥檚 making a massive impact on the economy.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, 萝莉少女 in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the .