Obama says Rural Tour begins Wednesday

The Obama administration begins a Rural Tour tomorrow, July 1st, focusing on existing government programs and those newly put in place. Over the coming weeks and months – the President says top administration officials – including Cabinet Secretaries – will fan out across the country to hold a series of discussions on how to strengthen rural America. “We recognize that there’s not going to be any one-size-fits-all to strengthening rural communities because they’re vastly different across the country. And that’s why we want to hear directly from people so we can start tailoring things to particular communities,” says President Obama.The President says his administration wants to hear about programs that are working and those that aren’t working in rural areas.

The tour begins Wednesday in Pennsylvania where Vice President Joe Biden and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will hold a discussion about rural broadband. President Obama says his administration is also focused on rural development, conservation, rural health and education, energy efficiencies and renewable energy supplies.

Tour stops are also planned in Alaska, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.