Wyoming Jobs Forum Held in Casper

Approximately 25 Wyoming residents attended a forum on job creation that was hosted by USDA Rural Development and the Farm Service Agency.  The forum was held at a hotel in Casper on January 12^th, 2010 as a follow up to President Obama’s December 3^rd White House briefings on job creation.

 

The event was co-hosted by the Wyoming Rural Development Council and was attended by an array of individuals from the community including business owners, private citizens, representatives from various state and federal agencies, educators and others interested in job creation.   Representatives from Senator Enzi’s, Senator Barasso’s, and Representative Lummis’s offices were also present.

 

The event began with a welcome by Wyoming Rural Development State Director Derrel Carruth in which he encouraged the attendees to utilize the time provided to make their concerns known and formulate ideas and suggestions regarding how to stimulate job creation and economic development in Wyoming.  The attendees then viewed a short video of USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.

 

The forum was facilitated by Mary Randolph, Executive Director for Wyoming’s Rural Development Council.  She presented seven discussion questions to the audience which included such topics as obstacles to job creation in your community and what do you see as “jobs of the future”.  Gregor Goertz, State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency provided the closing remarks in which he stated “You’ve each brought a unique perspective to the table here today and the administration thanks you”.

 

Submitted by Jan Hoskinson, Public Information Officer, USDA Rural Development, Wyoming

 

To learn more, go to the Rural Development and FSA Job Roundtables Schedule, and the News Release, “USDA to Host Roundtables on Jobs, Economic Growth”

Permalink  |  Posted: 03:21PM Jan 14, 2010 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]

Forum Held in West Virginia to Discuss Jobs and Economic Growth

In spite of the inclement weather, more than 100 people gathered in Beckley, West Virginia, last week for a community forum on jobs and economic growth, held as a follow up to President Obama’s December 3 White House briefings on job creation.

 

The forum was co-hosted by USDA Rural Development, USDA Farm Service Agency, and the new River Community and Technical College (NRCTC).  Congressman Nick Rahall delivered the keynote address to a wide array of representatives from local businesses, community-based organizations, economic development authorities, regional planning and development councils, educational institutions, labor organizations, healthcare providers, financial institutions, units of local, state and federal government, and the recreation and tourism industry.

 

“There is no one silver bullet, no one plan, no one piece of legislation, no one individual that can alone solve our double digit unemployment, but collectively, with the ideas being shared here today, we can make a significant start,” Rahall said.

 

In referring to the forum as a “historical, national conversation,” Dr. Ted Spring, President of the NRCTC, noted “today we are listening to each other and gathering insight into how our country can emerge from this current economic crisis with a stable economy and a workforce prepared to compete in the global marketplace.”

 

As Rural Development State Director I want to thank everyone for their input and assured those who attended that their comments will be provided to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to be presented to President Obama.

 

You can read more and/or watch the featured video of the forum here.

 

Submitted by West Virginia USDA Rural Development State Director Robert D. “Bobby” Lewis, through Public Affairs Specialist Gail Bennett.

 

To learn more, go to the Rural Development and FSA Job Roundtables Schedule, and the News Release, “USDA to Host Roundtables on Jobs, Economic Growth”

Permalink  |  Posted: 08:30AM Jan 12, 2010 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [1]

Rural Development and Farm Service Agency Hold Massachusetts Jobs Forum

Rural Development’s Southern New England jurisdiction received a strong response when we sent out the call to our partners, fellow community development strategists and business leaders to join us for a local jobs forum. Community and business leaders in our area told us they were eager for the opportunity to take part in a local conversation - like the national forum held by President Obama in early December, 2009 - exploring possible avenues for job creation in the region.

 

“I’ve never seen a financing crisis like the one we’re in now,” said Chris Sikes, Executive Director of the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund.  “There is an incredible demand for working capital loans. We need to put more money out to small businesses in our area and we need to recognize how important it is to businesses in this region to work together and form coalitions.” 

 

“In terms of job creation, I think the real players are people who already own businesses of five to twenty employees,” said Andrew Baker, Executive Director of Hilltown Community Development Corporation.  “That’s probably the most productive area we can work in, in terms of helping businesses create jobs, because those are the folks who need some help in thinking about their expansion plans. It’s also a sector where USDA can help replace a funding source that has been lost at the state level."

 

Also represented at the forum were: the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, the Solidago Foundation, Diversified Construction, Franklin/Hampshire Regional Employment Board, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, the Office of Congressman John Olver, Valley Community Development Corporation, the Office of State Senator Stan Rosenberg, the Office of State Representative Ellen Story, the Office of State Representative Steve Kulik, University of Massachusetts Office of Community Relations, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), and the Franklin County Community Development Corporation.

 

The recommendations and suggestions provided by the wide range of stakeholders at the jobs forum in Massachusetts has elicited a feeling of excited purpose in the staff of Rural Development in Southern New England and has already led to possible future partnerships that we believe will make positive impacts on the local economy. We’re confident that the national discussion about stimulating job growth will benefit from the local perspectives these forums are providing.

 

Jay Healy, Rural Development Massachusetts State Director

 

For a list of scheduled jobs meetings by state or to learn more, go to the Rural Development and FSA Job Roundtables Schedule, and the News Release, “USDA to Host Roundtables on Jobs, Economic Growth”.

Permalink  |  Posted: 12:21PM Jan 08, 2010 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]

North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota Come Together for a Jobs Forum

Freezing temperatures, swirling winds and snow didn’t stop about 90 people from coming out and sharing their ideas with the USDA about how the agency can best create jobs and economic development in rural communities. The North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota offices of USDA Rural Development and the Farm Service Agency hosted a tri-state rural jobs and economic development forum on January 6 at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton.

 

Congressman Early Pomeroy of North Dakota attended the forum and provided opening remarks. “I want to hear people’s ideas on how public dollars can best be spent to increase job opportunities in our rural communities,” Pomeroy said. “Strategies need to be sharp, focused and effective.”

 

Healthcare, access to capital and innovation were three key issues that a six-person panel and audience members felt needed to be addressed in order to get the rural economy headed in the right direction.

 

Panel members consisted of representatives from the fields of renewable energy, banking, labor, healthcare, manufacturing and American Indian economic development. The audience was made up of a broad range of interests, including farmers, mayors, and economic developers.

 

“Our biggest challenge is healthcare,” said panel member John Riskey, a mayor and BCTGM union president. “Right now healthcare costs prevent businesses from hiring more employees and force them to work existing employees overtime because it’s cheaper than hiring more help.”

 

A lively discussion also centered on the issue of access to credit and capital in rural areas.

 

“We need to do things to enhance the incentives for existing businesses to expand,” said panel member Jan Lundebecht, president of First Security Bank in Benson, Minn. “They’ve proven that they can succeed and they’re the ones that will keep providing jobs in the long term.”

 

An audience member also suggested that Rural Development examine the possibility of adding a direct business and industry loan program to complement its existing guaranteed business and industry loan program. The audience member said the combination of direct and guaranteed financing works very well in the community facilities program and should be tried in the business and industry program.

 

Panel member DelRay German, TERO director for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, said that America needs to get back to doing what made it great in the first place: Innovate.

 

“If people have a little appetite for innovation, you need to whet it, you need to draw it out of them,” German said. “How can community leaders help people be more innovative again?”

 

A mayor in the audience also stressed the importance of focusing on research and development. He said the innovation and investment we seek to help turn around our economy won’t happen unless government, banks and organizations figure out ways to fund research and development efforts.

 

The tri-state forum was an excellent opportunity for the USDA to work regionally and bring a diverse group of people together to collect valuable feedback on the rural economy. North Dakota Rural Development state director Jasper Schneider considered the forum a success, but realizes that the hard work has just begun in helping the rural economy rebound.

 

“I want to thank everyone for braving the weather and participating,” Schneider said. “We heard a lot of good ideas and we’re going to be sharing each and every one with President Obama and the Administration. I hope we can continue to do similar forums in the future and hear directly from the people that use and benefit from the many USDA programs.”

 

Submitted by USDA Rural Development State Directors:

Jasper Schneider, North Dakota

Elsie Meeks, South Dakota

Colleen Landkamer, Minnesota

For a list of scheduled jobs meetings by state or to learn more, go to the Rural Development and FSA Job Roundtables Schedule, and the News Release, “USDA to Host Roundtables on Jobs, Economic Growth”.

Permalink  |  Posted: 02:26PM Jan 07, 2010 by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [1]