Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started to receive and distribute the first of $28 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.

"President Obama responded extraordinarily to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression and his efforts and that of the USDA will have a significant impact not only in rural communities but in communities across the country struggling with today's tough economic times," said Vilsack. "Implementation of programs in the act will help stimulate local economies, create jobs as well as protect and restore the environment."
Visit USDA's website to learn more about how the funds are beginning to be distributed.