The Associated Press is reporting that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is interested in the opinions of everyday people when it comes to job creation. To that end, the USDA plans to hold community forums where the agency hopes to generate discussion on ideas that could lead to new jobs and economic growth for rural communities.According to the AP story, President Obama requested several federal agencies to engage the community on job creation, innovation, and creativity. Secretary Vilsack issued this statement on the community forums in a department news release, ‘"USDA, which has offices serving every county in the nation, is taking the lead on having these conversations about job creation that will hopefully spur innovation, creativity and job creation that can help our communities to become stronger and more vibrant."’
For the USDA, the department’s Rural Development state directors and Farm Service Agency executive directors will host the meetings. The primary goal is figuring out how to create job growth in rural America. The hope is that those from the business community, as well as community associations’ members, non-profit organizations, economists, other interested parties, and state and local officials will participate.
So far, forums are planned for South and North Dakota on January 6, 2010, and others in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska on January 8, 2010. To see a list of other dates and read the USDA news release, click here.
To read the Associated Press story click here.
Posted: 12/22/09
