USDA expands StrikeForce rural poverty program
PINEVILLE, Ky., Jan. 17, 2014 –USDA has expanded its StrikeForce
Initiative, which targets pockets of persistent poverty, into Kentucky,
Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia. Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the expansion today in Pineville, Ky., where he
was joined Governor Steve Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers, R.-Ky.
The program, officially the StrikeForce for Rural Growth and
Opportunity, began in 2010, with the goal of using public-private partnerships
to stimulate investments in poor, rural areas. It now operates in 20 states.
"The StrikeForce strategy of partnering public
resources with local expertise is helping to grow rural economies and create
jobs in persistent poverty communities," Vilsack said in a news release.
"This is a strategy that is working in rural America and I am pleased that
we continue to build on these efforts to bring assistance to areas that need it
the most."
Vilsack said the initiative is producing concrete results. Through
StrikeForce, USDA has partnered with over 400 community organizations,
businesses, foundations, universities and other groups to support 80,300
projects and ushered more than $9.7 billion in investments into rural America,
including:
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has seen a 14 percent increase
in the total direct farm loan applications received in StrikeForce areas since
the beginning of the initiative;
In fiscal 2013, FSA provided nearly $9.3 million for
microloans in StrikeForce areas. Approximately 84 percent of the loans went to
socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers;
Last year, the number of landowners applying for Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs in StrikeForce areas increased
by 82 percent over the previous year;
In fiscal 2013, the Rural Housing Community Facilities
Program obligated a total of $68 million to fund hospitals, libraries and other
projects in StrikeForce areas – a 4.5 percent increase over 2012;-Between 2012
and 2013, the Food and Nutrition Service doubled the redemption of SNAP
benefits at farmers markets from $2 million to over $4 million in StrikeForce
states.
In 2012, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service increased the
number of children in StrikeForce states receiving free or reduced price school
breakfasts by 7.4 percent.
"Through StrikeForce, we are able to reach people in
new ways and bring resources to them directly," said Vilsack. "We are
learning better ways to help communities leverage their assets and bring
opportunity to their residents."
USDA looks for census tracts with over 20 percent poverty
(according to American Community Survey data) to identify sub-county pockets of
poverty. As areas of persistent poverty are identified, USDA staff work with
state, local and community officials to increase awareness of USDA programs and
help build program participation through intensive community outreach.
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