TOP OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HOLD 'RURAL TOUR' COMMUNITY FORUM IN ALASKA
Cabinet Secretaries Discuss Administration Efforts, Collect Ideas on Revitalizing and Rebuilding Rural America
BETHEL, Alaska, August 12, 2009 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Education Secretary Duncan, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan today visited Alaska and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities. This event follows the launch of the Obama Administration's 'Rural Tour' in June.
"To overcome challenges and be successful in a new, 21st century economy, President Obama has asked that we reach out to people in rural communities across the country to listen, learn and facilitate problem-solving," said Vilsack. "It is critically important to hear the thoughts, concerns and stories about Alaska's vision for its future and to collect ideas about how USDA can better serve these communities."
Secretary Vilsack also highlighted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act efforts that are underway in Alaska and across the country, including the following:
USDA's Forest Service is providing $30.5 million for 22 projects through the Forest Service Capital Improvement and Maintenance program. This work will reduce sedimentation in streams, restore water quality and fish habitat and provide safe public transportation.
USDA's Forest Service is providing $7.7 million for 8 projects through the Forest Service Wildland Fire Management program. This work will aid wildfire mitigation through fuel reduction and forest maintenance.
USDA's Rural Development has helped guarantee 76 loans worth $13.6 million in the state of Alaska through the Single Family Housing Loan program. These loans help residents and producers to have access to the capital they need to keep rural communities strong.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service announced more than $3.1 million in funding for 13 floodplain easements projects.
Through USDA, the Recovery Act provided for an estimated increase of $7.66 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Alaska. Most four-person households will receive an $80 increase in their monthly SNAP benefit. Eligibility limits on jobless adults will be suspended in most areas. The State of Alaska also received $230,832 in State Administrative Funds.
USDA is also helping low-income Alaska residents to receive healthy, nutritious meals through $258,234 in funding from The Emergency Food Assistance Program. Kids in Alaska also will benefit from $286,227 through the National School Lunch Program.
Through USDA's Rural Development, approximately $233,650 will be made available for 3 community facilities projects. Community Facility Grants to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, the Maniilaq Association in Kotzebue, and the Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome will now be able to purchase critical emergency medical service vehicles and equipment in these four rural communities. This project is part of the "code blue" statewide project to address critical deficiencies in the EMS system statewide.
USDA's Rural Development has issued a Rural Business and Enterprise Grant for $100,000 to Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (AMEP), Inc. in Anchorage, Bethel, and the Wade Hampton Census Area's of Alaska. This funding will be used to buy five cold storage containers and support the cost associated with keeping them maintained. The containers purchased will be a great tool for creating an import and export system for rural Alaskan businesses and will reduce shipping costs.
In June, President Obama announced that Secretary Vilsack will lead the Administration's Rural Tour to visit rural communities in states throughout the country. Secretary Vilsack is scheduled to lead Rural Tour events with a variety of other top administration officials over the coming weeks and months in North Carolina, New Mexico, Iowa, and Ohio. The thirteenth similar forum Secretary Vilsack has led since being sworn, this event follows rural listening sessions held in St. John Parish, La., Blairs, Va., West Salem, Wis., Charlotte, Mich., Concord, N.H., Wattsburg, Pa., Danville, Ind., Geneseo, Ill., Harrodsburg, Ky., Ludowici, Ga., Portageville, Mo., and Brush, Colo.
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