Rural Development Mission. Provide ladders of economic opportunity and help improve the quality of life for rural Americans

Transcription

1

2 Rural Development Mission Provide ladders of economic opportunity and help improve the quality of life for rural Americans

3 Over 40 Programs Housing - Working to eliminate substandard housing and helping people buy, rent or build decent rental and ownership housing Community Facilities Providing critical community facilities including fire stations, hospitals, food banks and libraries Utilities Addressing the need for basic services like clean water, sewers and waste disposal, electricity, broadband and telecommunications Business - Creates jobs by funding and growing businesses and Cooperatives through direct and guaranteed loans, and grants Community Economic Development - Promotes this special initiative across these programs to improve outreach and direct customer service and technical assistance

4 Most of Washington State Is Rural

5 Rural & Washington Demographics Over 1.6 million people call Rural Washington home according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Only 25 percent of the total population (6.7 million) live in rural areas or small cities. Secretary of Ag. Tom Vilsack recently noted that national trends show the agriculture industry as growing and thriving. Current trends indicate less people, older populations and lower incomes in rural areas around the country. Nationally, creative occupations can fuel local job growth - farming no longer solely anchors the rural economy. Nationally 7 out of 8 rural counties are dominated by employment not related to farming production.

6 Challenges in Rural Washington Younger populations are leaving rural areas. Limited broadband access and bandwidth. Income of rural residents lower than urban dwellers. Small businesses are challenged due to rural character and sparse population. Limited choices for purchasing goods/entertainment, cultural amenities. Limited range of employment options compared to urban areas. Fewer affordable housing options and aging critical infrastructure.

7 USDA Goal: Ensure that rural communities are creating wealth, self-sustaining, repopulating and thriving economically. FOCUS AREAS: - Alternative Energy - Regional Food Systems - Broadband and Smart Communities - Bio Economy - Regional Collaboration - Strategic Partnerships - Community Building - Poverty Targeting

8 Alternative Energy By investing in renewable energy created in rural America, USDA is able to provide new income opportunities in our small towns while supporting the comprehensive effort to combat the impacts of a changing climate.

9 Regional Food Systems Provide opportunities to use local and regional food systems to keep revenues locally through the use of Value-Added Producer Grants, to plan activities and create working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products.

10 Smart Communities A smart rural community relies on broadband networks to leverage innovative economic development and commerce, top notch education, first rate health care, cutting edge government services, enhanced security and more efficient utilities use.

11 Bio-based Economy Rebuilding the rural economy, furthering efforts to develop advanced new biofuels, and bio-based products that have the potential of creating more jobs in our small towns to grow and strengthen the middle class.

12 Regional Collaboration Encourage rural areas to invest in opportunities to improve rural economies by creating regional collaborative efforts between rural communities and interested and supportive parties.

13 Strategic Partners Create new partnerships and extend our efforts by integrating USDA investments with Rural Development, other federal investments and public, private and non-profit sectors.

14 Community Building Create great places to live, raise families, provide recreational opportunities, and infrastructure for high paying jobs.

15 Rural Development Council (RDC) in WA Rural concerns in WA are currently being addressed in an uncoordinated way Input from rural stakeholders could be managed in a more holistic way Funders and policy makers are making decisions about rural needs and issues without guidance from a coordinated WA Rural Agenda Rural priorities could be conveyed to policy/decision makers in a manner that identifies them from an informed local perspective. Regional priorities in rural areas could also be identified in a coordinated manner that speak from the regional level to decision makers. Rural communities could benefit from planful capacity building and CD TA Funding sources could be managed and leveraged more efficiently via a RDC A RDC could elevate rural issues to a higher level of priority in WA

16 Office Locations

17