USDA has begun a series of roundtables and community forums on job creation and economic growth in states throughout the country. The roundtables follow the Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth that President Obama hosted at the White House on December 3.The roundtables will be hosted by USDA Rural Development state directors and Farm Service Agency state executive directors. Participants will include business owners, community members, state and local officials, union members, non-profit organizations, economists and other interested parties. Participants will discuss on steps that can to be taken to grow the economy and put Americans back to work. Some of the roundtables may be regional in order to focus on shared interests, economic conditions and cooperative solutions.
The primary focus will be on ideas to accelerate job growth in rural America. Some of the topics to be discussed are:
- Exploring ways to rejuvenate and promote local businesses
- Creating jobs by rebuilding America’s infrastructure
- Creating new opportunities from existing ones, such as with value-added agricultural products
- Supporting job growth among small businesses
- Preparing workers for 21st century jobs
Jobs forums that are scheduled in January include:
- Hawaii: Jan. 4, 5
- North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota: Jan. 6
- Iowa, Missouri and Illinois: Jan. 8
- Nebraska: Jan. 8
- Tennessee: Jan. 14
- Kansas: Jan. 21
- Puerto Rico: Jan. 22
- Vermont: Feb. 3
- New Hampshire: Feb. 4
Additional forums will be scheduled in the weeks ahead. Check thier website for more information, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateJobRoundtableList.htm
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