A new federal effort aimed at helping rural areas needs input from private and nonprofit organizations, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday. "I believe that it's essential and necessary that this country focus more time and more attention on rural America and economic opportunity in rural America," Vilsack told about 180 people attending the Council on Foundations' Rural Philanthropy Conference in Kansas City.
"We have a devil of a time convincing the private sector to invest in rural America, whether it's debt or equity," he said. "And in tough economic times it becomes even more difficult because commercial banks are so fearful of taking a risk that some regulator may criticize. USDA has been called upon to do more in this space, but frankly our resources are limited."Vilsack is chairman of the White House Rural Council, which was created last month and is responsible for providing recommendations to President Barack Obama on investment in rural areas and coordinating with a variety of rural interests.
The council could benefit from ideas and methods that foundations have found successful in rural America, Vilsack said.
"You need to be engaged in this process in the sense that you need to know what we know," he said. "You need to be helping us. You need to be giving us advice. You can help us expand and leverage our resources to more regions." PD
—AP newswire report
