This summer, top Obama Administration officials, including Cabinet Secretaries, will fan out across the nation to hold a series of discussions on how communities, states, and the federal government can work together to strengthen rural America. The tour will provide an opportunity for the Obama Administration to listen to diverse voices throughout rural America, and to highlight its broader vision for growth and prosperity in these regions. These events, involving multiple Cabinet secretaries, will focus on such issues as broadband, rural health, economic development, infrastructure, education, energy, natural resources, and agriculture. Events will be held in Alaska, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. (Rural locations listed below.)
The week of July 12th, The Council on Foundations, in partnership with the Rural Funders Collaborative and the Arkansas philanthropic community, is convening their second gathering of rural philanthropic leaders to address and highlight the challenges and opportunities rural communities face, and develop the next steps for addressing them. This conference will develop strategies that demonstrate opportunity and impact from rural investments. Specifically, participants will focus on plans of action to enhance philanthropy's role in promoting the 4 E's (Education, Economic Development, Energy and Environment). Former President Clinton and officials from the Obama Administration are scheduled to join the over 100 philanthropic participants.
And in early August, the Midwest Rural Assembly is hosting a convening in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Expecting over 100 non-profit and local leaders, those gathered will share resources and strategies for rural economic and community development opportunities, hear from and talk with local and national policymakers about rural policy priorities and begin building a regional network to advance policies and initiatives that can help revitalize rural communities.
Reports on the outcomes of these convenings will follow.
Rural Tour events planned so far include:
July 1, 2009 - Vice President Joe Biden and Secretaries Gary Locke and Tom Vilsack will travel to Wattsburg, PA, to discuss rural broadband.
July 16, 2009 - Secretaries Ray LaHood and Tom Vilsack will travel to La Crosse, WI, to discuss rural economic development.
July 18, 2009 - Secretaries Steven Chu and Tom Vilsack will travel to Ringgold, VA, to discuss green jobs and a new energy economy, with a focus on weatherization and carbon sequestration.
July 20, 2009 - Secretaries Kathleen Sebelius, Eric Shineski, Hilda Solis and Tom Vilsack will travel to St. John's Parish, LA, to discuss rural healthcare.
August 12, 2009 - Secretaries Steven Chu, Shaun Donovan, Arne Duncan, Ken Salazar and Tom Vilsack will travel to Bethel, AK, to discuss rural infrastructure, green jobs, and a new energy economy, as well as climate change.
August 16, 2009 - Secretaries Ken Salazar and Tom Vilsack will travel to Zanesville, OH, to discuss green jobs and a new energy economy, with a focus on renewable energies.
August 17, 2009 - Secretaries Arne Duncan and Tom Vilsack will travel to Hamlet, NC, to discuss rural education.
September 28, 2009 - Secretaries Ken Salazar and Tom Vilsack will travel to Scottsbluff, NE, to discuss production agriculture.
September 30, 2009 - Secretaries Shaun Donovan and Tom Vilsack will travel to Las Cruces, NM, to discuss rural infrastructure.
