Lincoln– The USDA, under Secretary for Rural Development, Dallas Tonsager, today announced the publication of a guide outlining federal funding that is available to help rural communities promote economic development and enhance the quality of life for rural residents.
"Rural communities across the country are working hard to build their economies and provide services to their residents," Tonsager said during a speech here today at a conference of the National Rural Economic Developers Association.
"Creating great places to live, raise families, provide recreational opportunities, and infrastructure for high paying jobs in rural America is very important to the Obama Administration and our efforts at USDA. This publication will provide easy, one-stop access to federal funding sources," said Tonsager.
The publication Federal Resources for Sustainable Rural Communities is a collaborative effort among USDA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The guide highlights federal resources rural communities can use to promote economic competitiveness, protect healthy environments modernize infrastructure and provide services to residents.
It also has key information on funding and technical assistance opportunities available from the four agencies, as well as examples of how rural communities across the country have benefited from federal resources.
A copy of the resource guide is available on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities' website, www.sustainablecommunities.gov.
