EDA Short Form Application Act

This bill requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to create simplified application forms for rural communities seeking federal economic development grants. It defines rural communities as incorporated municipalities, Tribal areas, or territories with populations of 10,000 or fewer people or those outside metropolitan statistical areas. The legislation mandates that the Assistant Secretary gather input from rural stakeholders on reducing application length, minimizing required documentation, standardizing forms across programs, and eliminating repetitive information requests. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to publicly share sample successful applications, decision-making criteria, and standardized guidance to help rural applicants navigate the grant process.