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Vilsack seeks private sector resources
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is seeking private sector resources to make an impact on rural America. Speaking Wednesday to a rural philanthropy conference in Kansas City, the Secretary urged cooperation with the Obama Administration to drive investment in rural America.
“It’s fairly obvious that we’re going be living in a constrained resource environment for USDA in the future because of the deficit discussions,” said Secretary Vilsack, during an interview with Brownfield Wednesday. “My goal is to try to see if there are ways in which we can leverage USDA resources more effectively by engaging the private sector and the non-profit sector.”
In addition to grant capacity, Vilsack tells Brownfield that foundations have investment capacity through which they can put money in companies and businesses.
“If we can tap both their investment potential and their grant potential we might be able to target those resources in a more effective way with USDA resources to bring more opportunities into rural communities,” said Secretary Vilsack.
The Obama Administration is working to ensure basic services for rural Americans and businesses, but Vilsack says rural living conditions can be improved with everyone working together. He says partnerships are needed to maximize limited resources.
Vilsack urged philanthropic support for communities to leverage greater resources around them, including not just increased investments, but smarter investments.
AUDIO: Tom Vilsack (3 min. MP3)
Tags: Consumer Issues, Missouri, USDA
Since the closing of RC&D offices under this administration, is there a way to utilize the the RC&D Councils that still exist? Most of those groups are non-profit and do work in rural areas as well as urban. Their resources are limited but with help I am sure that people and goals can be reached if these groups could get some funding to cary out the plans Mr. Vilsack is looking for.