USDA’s StrikeForce Initiative Invests $23.5 Billion in Rural Communities, Expands to Four New States Including Montana

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the expansion of the Department’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative into high-poverty counties in Florida, Missouri, Montana, and Ohio. Launched in 2010, more than 1,500 StrikeForce partnerships have already helped USDA support nearly 190,000 projects and invest $23.5 billion in high-poverty areas in rural America.

In Montana, USDA invested more than $11.4 billion between 2009 and 2015. This includes nearly $1.7 billion in economic development to support affordable housing and create jobs; nearly $828 million in infrastructure development, including electricity, broadband and telecommunications, water, and community facilities; and more than $1.2 billion through conservation efforts to protect Montana’s land, water and air resources.

Full Story: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0012.xml&contentidonly=true

Many thanks to David Young for sharing