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USDA says Rural Development progress made

The head of the USDA Rural Development Office says the work they’re doing is having a positive impact on Rural America. Undersecretary Dallas Tonsager says the 2011 Rural Development Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report shows they have invested almost $29 Billion dollars and “created or saved an estimated 440-thousand” jobs through the rural business cooperative, utilities and housing programs…

“Provided housing opportunities for over 143,000 families, upgraded community facilities across the country, supported improvements to the national electric grid, funded renewable energy projects, expanded access to affordable, high-quality internet service for rural residents throughout the Community Connect and other broadband programs.”

Tonsager says they were able to spur much of that growth without taxpayer dollars…

“Roughly 63% of our fiscal year 2011 investments served to increase access to capital for rural businesses, communities and homebuyers without a direct cost to the federal government.”

Under the USDA “Blueprint for Stronger Service” – 43 Rural Development offices in 17 states are slated for closure.  Tonsager says they tried to minimize the impact…

“It’s very tough for us, a very significant percentage of our offices nationally. And, we want to keep that work going forward but we did have to recognize that the funding levels that are available to us for having employees in the fields has been restricted for some time now.”

Tonsager says they still have 450 Rural Development offices that will remain open.

AUDIO: Dallas Tonsager (21:00 mp3)

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