Cultivating The Leader Within - Minority Enterprise Executive Council

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animal, marine, or forestry materials. From natural pet foods and biobased paint, to soy ink and toner, these companies are creating jobs in Ohio’s small towns and rural communities, and generating a link between agriculture and manufacturing. Creating new markets for the nation’s agricultural products through biobased manufacturing is one of the many steps the Administration has taken over the past three years to strengthen the rural economy. Since August 2011, the White House Rural Council has supported a broad spectrum of rural initiatives including a $350 million commitment in SBA funding to rural small businesses over the next 5 years, launching a series of conferences to connect investors with rural start-ups, creating capital marketing teams to pitch federal funding opportunities to private investors interested in making rural investments, making job search information available at 2,800 local USDA offices nationwide, making HHS loans available to help more than 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals recruit additional staff, and helping rural hospitals purchase software and hardware to implement health IT. Since taking office, President Obama’s Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council – chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – the President wants the federal government to be the best possible partner for rural businesses, entrepreneurs and people who want to live, work and raise their families in rural communities. Secretary Vilsack Releases Report Highlighting Obama Administration Accomplishments Supporting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Efforts Events Being Held Nationwide Today To Showcase Successful Projects, Deadline for Some 2012 Energy Applications Approaches WASHINGTON, March 20, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a report highlighting the ways in which USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) contributes to U.S. energy independence and helps rural small businesses and farmers become more energy efficient. The Secretary also reminded eligible farmers, ranchers and rural business owners that the deadline to apply for some types of funding this year is approaching. “The Obama Administration understands that helping our nation become more energy efficient is key to continuing the current economic recovery and reducing our reliance on foreign oil,” Vilsack said. “Stable energy costs are a prime factor in an employer’s decision to expand a business or hire new workers. That is why USDA has partnered with more than 13,000 of America’s farmers, ranchers and rural businesses to improve their bottom line by helping them find energy efficient solutions that will spur economic growth and prosperity in rural America.” The REAP program is part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above approach to energy that includes increasing domestic oil and gas production, developing new alternative energy sources, and reducing our reliance on oil through energy efficiencies. To coincide with the report’s release, Rural Development state offices across the nation are holding events today to demonstrate how REAP helps reduce energy use and supports the development of renewable energy sources. During the next several weeks, RD state offices also are continuing to conduct energy stakeholder roundtable meetings to highlight Rural Development programs that help businesses conserve energy. Vilsack said that since President Obama took office three years ago the REAP program has: • Supported 5,733 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide; • Generated or saved an estimated 6,500 megawatt hours of power; • Provided $192 million in grants and $165 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements; • Fostered partnerships that have leveraged an estimated $800 million from other sources. REAP is Rural Development’s most successful and competitive renewable energy and energy efficiency program. It was authorized under the 2002 Farm Bill and is administered by USDA Rural Development. Since the first REAP awards were made in 2003, the program has helped more than 13,000 rural small businesses and agricultural producers, saved enough energy to power nearly 600,000 American homes for a year, and funded more than1,000 solar projects and more than 560 wind projects. The program provides grants, loan guarantees, and a combination of grants and loan guarantees to rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Funds may be used to purchase renewable energy systems and to make energy efficiency improvements. REAP also provides grants for feasibility studies for renewable 46 Minority Enterprise Advocate • March – April 2012
systems, energy audits, and renewable energy development assistance for agricultural producers and rural small businesses. In 2011, grants and loan guarantees funded projects in all 50 States and territories. While applications for REAP guaranteed loans for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements are being accepted through June 29, 2012, applications for REAP grants and loan/grant combinations must be submitted no later than March 30th. For additional information on how to apply for REAP funding, see Page 2948 of the January 20 Federal Register, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ MN-RBS-REAP-AuditNOFA.pdf, or contact your USDA Rural Development state office. A list of these offices is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html. Since taking office, President Obama’s Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council – chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – the President wants the federal government to be the best possible partner for rural businesses and entrepreneurs and for people who want to live, work and raise their families in rural communities. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $165 billion in affordable loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Contact: Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498 Obama Administration Announces $15 Million Multi-Agency Challenge To Foster Job Creation and Business Innovation in Rural Communities Nationwide 13 Federal agencies leverage resources to strengthen regional industry clusters and advance rural economies WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012—The Obama Administration today announced a $15 million multi-agency Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator challenge to spur job creation and economic growth in distressed rural communities. This competition, which is being funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), was designed by the Taskforce for the Advancement of Regional Innovation Clusters and the White House Rural Council. President Obama recently announced the challenge as part of the Administration’s “We Can’t Wait” efforts to strengthen the economy, create jobs and support business growth, particularly expanding opportunity for rural Americans and supporting new and innovative businesses nationwide. The national effort will support rural partnerships by identifying and leveraging local assets and strengthening linkages to industry clusters. Strong industry clusters promote robust economic ecosystems and the development of a skilled workforce, both of which are critical to long-term regional success in rural areas. Last year’s 20 challenge winners–both rural and urban public-private partnerships– generated millions in matching funds and their projects are expected to help create hundreds of new businesses and thousands of new jobs. “We know that when rural America is growing, America as a whole is getting strong, and bringing everyone to the table creates more innovation and more jobs,” said U.S. Commerce Department Secretary John Bryson. “This Rural Jobs Accelerator challenge aligns federal efforts and resources to build on the historic investments that have been made in rural America over the past three years. The contest will help determine where there is the greatest potential to maximize regional industrial strengths, helping businesses in rural areas create more jobs and support an economy that is built to last.” “The ‘Rural Jobs Accelerator’ will speed up job creation, new business start-ups and expansions by building regional economic systems in rural areas,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA and our partners will work together to increase the power of local businesses, Tribes and officials to implement economic development strategies specially targeted to their regions.” The Rural Jobs Accelerator Challenge is expected to give out approximately 20 awards, depending on the number of eligible applications. To be eligible for an award, projects must benefit rural communities, but the applicant is not required to be located in a rural area. Nonprofits, higher education institutions, tribes and state and local governments can collaborate to apply for funding. Although businesses are not eligible to apply directly, applicants can also partner with the private sector on implementation. Minority Enterprise Advocate • March – April 2012 47
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