Local Leaders Discuss the President’s Rural Tour

This week President Obama traveled through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois holding town hall meetings with residents in rural communities.  We heard from several state and local officials who attended the events on the impact of the President’s Rural Tour and what it meant to their communities:

Linn County Supervisor Lu Barron attended the Rural Economic Forum with the President in Peosta, Iowa:

[The] forum was a true cross-section of rural America, including farmers, small business owners and local governments and it provided us the opportunity to discuss critical issues facing rural communities and bring them to the attention of the President and key administration officials. It’s important for all of us to work with the Administration to strengthen our rural communities so they can thrive.

Decorah Mayor Don Arendt wrote us about the President’s town hall in Decorah:

The President’s visit to Decorah was a lifetime experience for me and Decorah area citizens.  It is the first time a president has visited Decorah while in office. It is an exciting time for all of us. President Obama’s speech and discussion made us proud to be Americans and assured us of his ability to lead our country.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who attended the Alpha Town Hall, echoed the President’s remarks:

The President is hard at work fighting for jobs every day. He is right to call on Congress to stop playing politics and focus on the real problem: job creation.  We need to prioritize the American people and get folks back to work.

Read more about the President’s Rural Tour and White House Rural Council events and new initiatives to continue strengthening the rural economy and to create jobs in rural areas.

Kellyn Blossom, Associate Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs