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USDA says rural programs, loans creating jobs
The USDA highlights in its Rural Development progress report for the 2011 Fiscal Year the 440,000 jobs that it says were “saved or created” through rural development programs last year. Dallas Tonsager, Under Secretary for Rural Development, tells Brownfield while he can’t quantify it, he believes many of those jobs are new. But, he says saving rural jobs is also “extremely critical.”
“People sometimes forget, you know, they think jobs just stay forever once they’re there. But, it takes hard work every day with the companies, the businesses, the development groups to try and sustain jobs in particular ways and so we try to work closely with those local communities in doing that.”
Tonsager says, typically, rural America has about 45 to 50 Million people. So, while not a huge percentage, he says, the 440,000 jobs are important in the key areas they try to work with adding that many of the new jobs are in the broadband sector.
But there were also jobs created and saved in other sectors of rural America,” says Tonsager, “For example, in Indiana, Morris Manufacturing & Sales Corporation, a family-owned auto parts maker used USDA business loan guarantees to restructure debt and expand their business. As a result, the firm rehired 100 laid off workers and hired 44 additional workers.”
Tonsager says much of the growth has occurred without any new federal spending.
“For instance,” says Tonsager, “Rural Development provided a direct loan last year for the construction of a new dental center in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. In addition to creating construction jobs today the facility will also employ 38 professional and support personnel when they clinic opens its door to deliver needed care in an underserved area.”
Applicants are required to estimate the number of jobs they believe will be created and/or saved through the rural development program they’re interested in.
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