Friday Aug 14, 2009
We were back on the road yesterday for the next round of Rural Tour stops. With us were Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on a plane and road trip to Bethel and Hooper Bay, Alaska.
The day started out with a small hitch, with our plane grounded for minor repairs in the morning. Ultimately the staff were a bit behind schedule with the Secretaries and Sen. Mark Begich took a separate flight into Bethel. Although the forum was delayed for two hours due to the mechanical issues, there was still a great crowd assembled.
Residents were very focused on energy issues, as they face extremely high energy prices; many related their struggles with high energy cost in Alaska, and asked how the administration is working to help mitigate that burden. The Cabinet members discussed developing a new energy economy, emphasizing the use of alternative energy sources (such as the wind turbines we toured later that day) which could help offset high energy costs for all Americans.
In Bethel, which has become a regional hub for commerce, especially among native Alaskans, there was also much conversation on how the government can assist the region in development and economic recovery. One tribal elder was very passionate in describing to the Secretary the desires of native Alaskans to partner with state and federal government in development; in turn, Vilsack pointed out that USDA program assistance is available through state and federal offices, but that he worried many of those funds have gone unused in the past. Vilsack emphasized that the delegation was there to listen to the concerns of people in Alaska, report back to the President, and work to find new lanes of cooperation between the federal government and Alaskans.
Vilsack and his counterparts also outlined some available assistance programs and activities in Alaska -- through emergency food aid as part of the SNAP and TEFAP programs, rural housing loans through USDA Rural Development, projects throughout the state by the Forest Service, and more. After the forum, Secretary Vilsack announced a new Tribal Conservation District in Alaska, which will enable more cooperation between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and tribal leaders in caring for the land.
After the forum in Bethel, everyone boarded a plane to Hooper Bay, a town of 1,000 in western Alaska. Although it was raining and my transporation around town was in the back of a truck in that rain, our visit to Hooper Bay was absolutely remarkable. The community is in the midst of rebuilding after devastating fire in August 2006 that leveled 35 buildings, including the local high school and 12 homes. We toured the new school and stopped by a 19-unit affordable housing project. They've even constructed three wind turbines, which will offset 24 percent of the costly diesel fuel the town has to rely on for energy.
This was a highly educational trip for everyone, and it’s great to have the Rural Tour back in full swing. We'll be going to Hamlet, North Carolina on August 17, with more stops to follow through the month of September. Don't forget, you too can keep up with the rural tour online or on the Twitter feed.
Caleb Weaver
USDA Press Secretary
The day started out with a small hitch, with our plane grounded for minor repairs in the morning. Ultimately the staff were a bit behind schedule with the Secretaries and Sen. Mark Begich took a separate flight into Bethel. Although the forum was delayed for two hours due to the mechanical issues, there was still a great crowd assembled.
Residents were very focused on energy issues, as they face extremely high energy prices; many related their struggles with high energy cost in Alaska, and asked how the administration is working to help mitigate that burden. The Cabinet members discussed developing a new energy economy, emphasizing the use of alternative energy sources (such as the wind turbines we toured later that day) which could help offset high energy costs for all Americans.
In Bethel, which has become a regional hub for commerce, especially among native Alaskans, there was also much conversation on how the government can assist the region in development and economic recovery. One tribal elder was very passionate in describing to the Secretary the desires of native Alaskans to partner with state and federal government in development; in turn, Vilsack pointed out that USDA program assistance is available through state and federal offices, but that he worried many of those funds have gone unused in the past. Vilsack emphasized that the delegation was there to listen to the concerns of people in Alaska, report back to the President, and work to find new lanes of cooperation between the federal government and Alaskans.
Vilsack and his counterparts also outlined some available assistance programs and activities in Alaska -- through emergency food aid as part of the SNAP and TEFAP programs, rural housing loans through USDA Rural Development, projects throughout the state by the Forest Service, and more. After the forum, Secretary Vilsack announced a new Tribal Conservation District in Alaska, which will enable more cooperation between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and tribal leaders in caring for the land.
After the forum in Bethel, everyone boarded a plane to Hooper Bay, a town of 1,000 in western Alaska. Although it was raining and my transporation around town was in the back of a truck in that rain, our visit to Hooper Bay was absolutely remarkable. The community is in the midst of rebuilding after devastating fire in August 2006 that leveled 35 buildings, including the local high school and 12 homes. We toured the new school and stopped by a 19-unit affordable housing project. They've even constructed three wind turbines, which will offset 24 percent of the costly diesel fuel the town has to rely on for energy.
This was a highly educational trip for everyone, and it’s great to have the Rural Tour back in full swing. We'll be going to Hamlet, North Carolina on August 17, with more stops to follow through the month of September. Don't forget, you too can keep up with the rural tour online or on the Twitter feed.
Caleb Weaver
USDA Press Secretary
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