By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rural initiatives seem to be getting federal attention lately. Both President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have been on the stump announcing new programs and grants aimed at making rural Americans more comfortable, more profitable and more connected to the world.
Last June the president signed an Executive Order “establishing the first White House Rural Council to accelerate the ongoing work of promoting economic growth in rural America. The Council is focused on increasing rural access to capital, spurring agricultural innovation, expanding digital and physical infrastructure in rural areas and creating economic opportunities through conservation and outdoor recreation,” according to information from the White House.

A number of town hall-type meetings and forums have taken place to bring this message to those in rural areas and to hear comments and concerns from local citizens.

Last week the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration held a webinar to discuss rural small business development that included sessions with representatives from the Delta Regional Authority and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Both agencies work with communities in the Mississippi Delta region and throughout Appalachia to promote and strengthen business development, telecommunications, job training and infrastructure needs, among others.

While part of the attention is undoubtedly because of next year’s elections, a massive 2012 farm bill is under discussion as well, and is bringing added attention to rural issues. Budget cuts within programs overseen by the farm bill seem assured as the nation struggles with tough economic times. Many feel these cuts could mean more troubles for already trouble-laden rural areas.
The USDA has a full plate of “helping rural America” initiatives, including providing $103 million in grants for rural broadband service. On Aug. 22, Vilsack announced 16 states will receive funds to go toward 23 projects to provide broadband services to rural communities either underserved or without service.
“Without broadband, rural communities, agricultural producers and business owners face a substantial challenge,” he said. “These loans and grants will bring the benefits of broadband, including new educational, business and public health and safety opportunities, to residents living in some of the most remote parts of our nation.”

Included are Kentucky, which will get more than $2 million; Ohio, more than $570,000; and Missouri, just over $1 million.

Earlier this month Vilsack announced “an agreement with the Council on Foundations to provide new sources of capital, new job opportunities, workforce investment strategies and identification of additional resources that can be used to spur economic growth in rural America,” according to information from the USDA.

He noted the partnership sets a path to greater economic opportunities for rural communities by ensuring a better use of resources.

Closer to home
While federal initiatives sometime take an extended period of time to trickle down to local communities, some local folks have learned to take on issues themselves. Earlier this summer, Cooperative Extension personnel from five states gathered for the second annual Ken-Tenn Institute for Sustainable Development.

The goal is to stop the trend of families leaving their communities for better opportunities, and develop sustainable business prospects. Originally intended for Kentucky and Tennessee, this year extension agents and specialists came from Colorado, West Virginia and North Carolina, as well.

“It was great,” said Alison Davis, director of the Community Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. “We covered topics related to agriculture, fine arts, youth entrepreneurship and planned tours in the region highlighting successes in these areas. We tried to be program-specific for the agents, but also showed the need for a community development philosophy.”

Davis said agents were exposed to the full range of community and economic development programs in each of the five states. “Agents were enthusiastic about specific programs they would take back to their community,” she said. “We hope that the relationships that began during the conference will grow and become permanent.”

Two weeks ago, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s office released information stating the USDA had “awarded $500,000 in grants to 43 Kentucky farm families and rural small businesses to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations.”

The awards come by way of the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which makes funds available to farmers and small rural businesses to become more energy efficient and to make purchases and install renewable energy systems.

“These investments are important to Kentucky’s agriculture and rural economy,” said Beshear. “They will provide enormous benefit to Kentucky’s farm families and rural small businesses as they face rising energy costs.”
While most of the U.S. population lives in or near urban areas, most of the land area – including food production – is still considered rural. As the election draws closer and the farm bill hits Congressional floors for heated debate, rural communities are likely to get more attention.