Rural Development Seven Strategies for Economic Development

Building 21st Century rural communities requires adoption of strategies that look not only within a community for defining its strengths and opportunities, but to regions where one community can compliment and draw upon the resources of another. Audio | Transcript

Strategic Partners: The ole adage that there is strength in numbers especially holds true when you build strong and strategic alliances. Audio | Transcript

Capital Markets: Stimulating local economies requires the infusion of new investment opportunities. Audio | Transcript

Regional Food Systems: Building markets for local and regionally grown agricultural products makes great economic sense. Audio | Transcript

Regional Collaboration: Smaller, more remote rural communities do not have to be stand-alone economic engines in an oasis, each looking only from within for sustainability. Audio | Transcript

Community Building: Creating great places to live, raise families, provide recreational opportunities, and infrastructure for high paying jobs is very important to our efforts at USDA. Audio | Transcript

Alternative Energy: America development and use of alternative energies is good for our country and good for our environment. Audio | Transcript

Broadband and Continuous Business Creation: Expanding access to high-speed broadband is one of our greatest challenges and our highest priority. Audio | Transcript