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USDA launches Rural Jobs Accelerator Challenge

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday, March 21 announced a multi-agency initiative to create jobs and strengthen rural economies. On Thursday, March 22, Doug O’Brien, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development was in Chillicothe, Ohio talking about the Rural Jobs Accelerator Challenge.

“Which is an effort by a number of agencies within the Federal Government, including USDA, to partner and support rural communities and organizations who are working together to grow their region,” said O’Brien.

O”Brien, who served as Assistant Director at the Ohio Department of Agriculture tells Brownfield Ohio is well positioned to take advantage of the Rural Jobs Accelerator Challenge.

“Because it has these clusters of activity,” O’Brien said. “And I think what folks will need to do and I know Ohio is good at this, is understand what they are good at, what their competitive advantage is and then they are going to need to work together and that’s not easy.”

Audio: Doug O’Brien, Deputy Under Sec. USDA, Rural Development (4:50 MP3)

Ross County Auditor, Steve Neal says the announcement made by Deputy Under Secretary O’Brien is important to a community like Ross County.

“We’ve had it rough the last few years and this kind of announcement may be the catalyst we need,” Neal said. “This $15 million, if we could bring some of it to this area and create jobs, that’s what we need more than anything.”

Audio: Steve Neal, Ross Co. Ohio, Auditor (1:35 MP3)

Another local official that sees benefits of a program like the Jobs Accelerator is Chillicothe, Ohio Mayor Jack Everson.

“Well I think it’s crucially important, especially on the front end of my administration where I’m trying to bring together a relationship between the county and city,” Everson said. “I think that the only way we’re going to get a head is work together, so any good news for the county in my perception is good news for the city.”

Mayor Everson tells Brownfield that by working together on initiatives to bring grant money and funding like this will help bring the region up to a more economic prominence.

Audio: Jack Everson, Mayor, Chillicothe, Ohio (2:15 MP3)

The application deadline for the Rural Jobs Accelerator Challenge grants is May 9.