3: Economic Opportunity and Quality of Rural Life

Support Increased Economic Opportunities and Improved Quality of Life in Rural America

Other Information:

Rural America, home to one-fifth of the Nation’s population, is a collage of people and economic activities. Today, seven out of eight rural counties are dominated by varying mixes of manufacturing, services and other non-farming activities. Of the 65 million people who live in rural America, only 2 million are engaged directly in production agriculture. While farm income is an important source of revenue for some rural families, most rural residents are not dependent on agriculture. Many family farmers rely on local, off -farm employment to supplement their farm income. A diversity of other enterprises, including renewable energy and “place”-based opportunities, such as support services for agriculture, forestry and mining, recreation, and manufacturing, provide many of the jobs and income in rural America. USDA enhances economic opportunities and quality of life for rural residents by helping to provide local demographic information, financial and technical assistance for business and industry, water and waste disposal, community facilities, advanced telecommunications and broadband infrastructure, electric utilities, and housing. The Department strives to ensure that rural residents have equal opportunity to share in the Nation’s prosperity and technological advancement. USDA is the leading advocate for rural America. USDA facilitates the achievement of Presidential initiatives by encouraging, for example, minority home ownership and the production of renewable energy. The Department will continue to work with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and private-sector interests to achieve a coordinated effort for the realization of Presidential initiatives as well as other activities important to rural America.

Objective(s):

3.1: Economic Opportunities Leveraging the Private Sector

3.2: Housing, Utilities and Community Facilities

Content