On September 3, the 200th day after President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Louisa, Virginia to meet with local officials and community residents. The town has received a $3.3 million loan through the Recovery Act to help the community expand the processing capabilities of their wastewater treatment plant and improve local water quality. The project will create or save 50 jobs.
Like many rural communities across America, Louisa, population 1,500, is in need of investments and assistance to upgrade critical infrastructure. Mayor Jim Artz highlighted how important the USDA loan was for his the town. "Our infrastructure really needs some work, this is an old town," said Artz. "Conventional loans would have placed a tremendous load on our annual budget, because of this is a USDA loan, we are looking at a savings of $60,000 per year. This is big savings for a small town."
USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED RULE FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2009—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is requesting comments on a proposed rule that would establish the procedures and eligibility criteria for receiving assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program.
"Helping American producers adjust to a changing and unpredictable economic environment is critical during these challenging times," said Vilsack. "The TAA for Farmers program can provide technical assistance and cash benefits to eligible producers who have been hurt by import competition."
Reauthorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the TAA for Farmers Program applies to producers of raw agricultural commodities and fishermen who must show a greater than 15 percent decrease in the national average price, the quantity of production, value of production, or cash receipts compared to the average of the three preceding marketing years. The assistance includes help in developing a business adjustment plan that can serve as a guide for adjusting a producer's business operation to prevailing economic conditions. The program is administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
The proposed rule is necessary, because ARRA made fundamental changes to the nature of the program, which also required changes to program regulations. The new legislation focuses on providing technical assistance and now ties cash payments to completing an initial and long-term business adjustment plan, a requirement that was not part of the expired program. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 25, 2009.
Comments should be mailed or hand delivered to Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Program staff, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1021, Washington, DC 20250-1021. Comments may also be emailed to tradeadjustment@fas.usda.gov.
The deadline for receiving written comments is Sept. 24, 2009. A copy of the current program regulations and other TAA for Farmers Program information may be obtained on the FAS Web site at www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa/taa.asp .
For more information, contact the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Program staff, Office of Trade Programs, at tele. (202) 720-0638, or by e-mail: tradeadjustment@fas.usda.gov.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, 2009, as an unprecedented effort to jumpstart the U.S. economy in response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression. The Act includes measures to modernize the nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
