Kate Lisa is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado are pushing for $50 billion to help small counties, towns and rural communities combat COVID-19 and to rebuild after the pandemic. The New York Democrats are arguing for the robust funding to be included in Congress' next economic relief package, they announced in a joint press call April 16. Rural communities across the nation operate on a narrow margin. “It’s critical our rural communities are not left behind,” Gillibrand said. “They need money to support their local hospitals and emergency systems now. Relief for our rural communities should be as available as it is for cities.” Gillibrand and Delgado have requested $50 billion be included in the next COVID-19 relief legislation that would establish funding for rural communities and provide guaranteed, five-year flexible block grants for economic growth. The grants would revitalize infrastructure, job training and foster entrepreneurship, Delgado said. The $50 billion would provide direct relief to towns with 50,000 residents or fewer and counties with populations under 200,000. It would give rural communities funding for emergency management, temporary assistance and to rebuild their struggling economy, Gillibrand said. Gillibrand and Delgado would not specify a time frame for the next federal bill, but said negotiations are continuing. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.