Baton Rouge, LA - USDA is focused on
trying to address the challenge of persistent poverty rural areas. While poverty is
a rural, suburban and urban challenge, the reality is that nearly 85 percent of
America's persistent poverty counties are in rural areas. USDA's StrikeForce
for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative is part of our commitment to
growing economies, increasing investments and creating opportunities in
poverty-stricken rural communities. StrikeForce was officially launched in 2010
as a pilot project in persistent poverty areas in rural Arkansas, Georgia and
Mississippi.
In
2012, StrikeForce efforts expanded into persistent poverty counties in
Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. In 2013, Secretary Vilsack announced new
efforts to bring the StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity to Alabama,
Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Texas, Utah and Virginia. In 2014, Strike Force efforts expanded into Kentucky,
Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
There
are now over 700
persistent poverty counties (PDF, 2.2MB), parishes, boroughs, Colonies and tribal
reservations in twenty states receiving StrikeForce attention.
Since
its inception, StrikeForce has formed over 400 community based partnerships and
supported 80,300 projects and opportunities to strengthen America's rural
economy.
Learn
more about how StrikeForce is encouraging
growth and creating opportunity (PDF,
270KB) |Spanish (PDF, 161KB), and how you can get involved.
For
full detail, visit USDA StrikeForce at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=STRIKE_FORCE
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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
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