Jump to main content

This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

The White House Rural Forum Focuses on Rural Opportunities and Results

October 4, 2016 at 3:54 PM ET by DOUG O’BRIEN, SENIOR ADVISOR, USDA
Summary: 
The White House Rural forum will mark a culmination of the Obama Administration's historic focus and investment in rural America.

Tomorrow morning, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the first chair of the White House Rural Council, will convene a White House Rural Forum at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA to urge policy makers, foundations and non-profits, and the private sector to recognize the opportunities in America's rural communities to ensure continued social and economic progress. Vilsack will be joined by Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, rural leaders, and state and federal officials in this important event, marking a culmination of the Obama Administration's historic focus and investment in rural America.

Ahead of tomorrow’s convening, the President penned an op-ed on the strength and resilience of rural America.  As the President said: We certainly still have more work to do, but we’re moving in the right direction.  And that couldn’t be more important.  Because as a prominent rural Kansan – President Eisenhower – once said, “Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.”  In so many ways, from its resilience and ingenuity in the face of a challenge to the defining values that power it every day, rural America represents that beating heart.  That’s why these communities are so important – because when America’s rural communities are strong, America is strong.  Read the President’s Medium post HERE. 

To continue the progress made in rural America, the Administration and non-Federal organizations are announcing new investments and highlighting programs ahead of tomorrow’s convening.  Check out these announcements HERE.

Learn more about how the White House Rural Council has partnered with rural communities to achieve meaningful results HERE.

Read the White House Rural Council’s Rural Strategies that Work, which presents strategies for Federal work in rural America that has resulted in improved outcomes over the course of the Obama Administration. Authored by Secretary Vilsack, Office and Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, Domestic Policy Director Cecilia Muñoz and National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients, the memorandum presents policies and administrative actions that increase rural communities’ ability to access and leverage local and Federal resources.

Tune in HERE to the watch the White House Rural Forum live starting at 8:30am ET tomorrow, October 5. Join the conversation using the hashtag #RuralResults.