E A N D R URA Report to the U R L T President of the U Y ...esident, ough e been , job al o e. e...
23
United States Department of Agriculture T A S K F O R C E A G R I C U L T U R E A N D R U R A L P R O S P E R I T Y Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Secretary Sonny Perdue, Chair
Transcript of E A N D R URA Report to the U R L T President of the U Y ...esident, ough e been , job al o e. e...
United States Department of Agriculture
T A S K F O R C E
AG
RICULT U R E A N D R U R A L PR OSPERITY
Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity
Secretary Sonny Perdue, Chair
Dear Mr. President,
On
Ap
ril 2
5, 2
01
7, y
ou
es
tab
lish
ed
the
Inte
rag
en
cy
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
on
Ag
ric
ultu
re a
nd
Ru
ral P
ros
pe
rity
thro
ug
h
Ex
ec
utiv
e O
rde
r 1
37
90
an
d a
pp
oin
ted
me
as
its C
ha
ir. Th
e p
urp
os
e a
nd
fun
ctio
n o
f this
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
ha
ve
be
en
to id
en
tify le
gis
lativ
e, re
gu
lato
ry
, an
d p
olic
y c
ha
ng
es
to p
rom
ote
ag
ric
ultu
re, e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt, jo
b
gro
wth
, infra
str
uc
ture
imp
rov
em
en
ts, te
ch
no
log
ica
l inn
ov
atio
n, e
ne
rgy
se
cu
rity
, an
d q
ua
lity o
f life in
ru
ral
America. This report fulfills your request that these recom
mended changes be identified and presented to
yo
u, in
co
ord
ina
tion
with
the
oth
er m
em
be
rs o
f the
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
.
In re
sp
on
se
to y
ou
r c
all to
ac
tion
to p
rom
ote
ag
ric
ultu
re a
nd
ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
in A
me
ric
a, th
e T
as
k F
orc
e
en
vis
ion
ed
a r
ura
l Am
eric
a w
ith w
orld
-cla
ss
res
ou
rce
s, to
ols
, an
d s
up
po
rt to
bu
ild ro
bu
st, s
us
tain
ab
le
comm
unities for generations to come. M
embers of the Task Force m
et, along with staff involved in separate
wo
rk
ing
gro
up
s, to
se
t prio
ritie
s a
nd
a fra
me
wo
rk
. Alo
ng
the
wa
y, w
e h
eld
se
ve
ral “
liste
nin
g s
es
sio
ns
” a
cro
ss
the
co
un
try
, so
tha
t we
he
ard
dire
ctly
from
the
co
mm
un
ities
tha
t co
mp
ris
e r
ura
l Am
eric
a.
With
the
vo
ice
of r
ura
l Am
eric
a le
ad
ing
the
wa
y, a
nd
in c
los
e c
olla
bo
ratio
n w
ith lo
ca
l, sta
te, a
nd
trib
al
leaders, more than 21 federal agencies, offices, and executive departm
ents identified over 100 actions the fe
de
ral g
ov
ern
me
nt s
ho
uld
co
ns
ide
r u
nd
erta
kin
g to
ac
hie
ve
this
vis
ion
. Th
es
e re
co
mm
en
da
tion
s w
ere
organized around five key indicators of rural prosperity: e-Connectivity, Quality of Life, Rural W
orkforce, T
ec
hn
olo
gic
al In
no
va
tion
, an
d E
co
no
mic
De
ve
lop
me
nt.
e-Connectivity for Rural America: In
tod
ay
’s in
form
atio
n-d
riv
en
glo
ba
l ec
on
om
y, e
-co
nn
ec
tivity
is
no
t sim
ply
an
am
en
ity - it h
as
be
co
me
es
se
ntia
l. E-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity, o
r e
lec
tron
ic c
on
ne
ctiv
ity, is
mo
re
tha
n ju
st c
on
ne
ctin
g h
ou
se
ho
lds
, sc
ho
ols
, an
d h
ea
lthc
are
ce
nte
rs to
ea
ch
oth
er a
s w
ell a
s th
e re
st
of th
e w
orld
thro
ug
h h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et. It is
als
o a
too
l tha
t en
ab
les
inc
rea
se
d p
rod
uc
tivity
for
farm
s, fa
cto
rie
s, fo
res
ts, m
inin
g, a
nd
sm
all b
us
ine
ss
es
. E-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity is
fun
da
me
nta
l for e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt, in
no
va
tion
, ad
va
nc
em
en
ts in
tec
hn
olo
gy
, wo
rk
forc
e re
ad
ine
ss
, an
d a
n im
pro
ve
d
quality of life. Reliable and affordable high-speed internet connectivity will transform
rural America
as
a k
ey
ca
taly
st fo
r p
ros
pe
rity
.
Improving Q
uality of Life: En
su
rin
g r
ura
l Am
eric
an
s c
an
ac
hie
ve
a h
igh
qu
ality
of life
is th
e
foundation of prosperity. Quality of life is a m
easure of human w
ell-being that can be identified though econom
ic and social indicators. Modern utilities, affordable housing, efficient transportation
an
d re
liab
le e
mp
loy
me
nt a
re e
co
no
mic
ind
ica
tors
tha
t mu
st b
e in
teg
rate
d w
ith s
oc
ial in
dic
ato
rs
like
ac
ce
ss
to m
ed
ica
l se
rv
ice
s, p
ub
lic s
afe
ty, e
du
ca
tion
an
d c
om
mu
nity
res
ilien
ce
to e
mp
ow
er r
ura
l
co
mm
un
ities
to th
riv
e. F
oc
us
ing
an
d d
eliv
erin
g k
ey
fed
era
l refo
rm
s w
ill en
ab
le r
ura
l Am
eric
an
s to
flourish and prosper in 21st Century comm
unities.
Supporting a Rural Workforce: T
o g
row
an
d p
ros
pe
r, ev
ery
ru
ral c
om
mu
nity
ne
ed
s jo
b
opportunities for its residents, and employers need qualified individuals to fill those needs. This
req
uire
s id
en
tifyin
g e
mp
loy
me
nt n
ee
ds
, attra
ctin
g a
va
ilab
le w
ork
ers
from
urb
an
an
d r
ura
l ce
nte
rs
alike, and providing the workforce w
ith training and education to best fill the available needs. There a
re m
an
y o
pp
ortu
nitie
s to
pa
rtn
er w
ith lo
ca
l bu
sin
es
se
s a
nd
org
an
iza
tion
s to
ide
ntify
ga
ps
, to
work w
ith all levels of educational institutions to provide career training and development, to fine-
tun
e e
xis
ting
train
ing
pro
gra
ms
, an
d to
gro
w a
pp
ren
tice
sh
ip o
pp
ortu
nitie
s to
de
ve
lop
the
req
uire
d
wo
rk
forc
e. P
rov
idin
g r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
, org
an
iza
tion
s, a
nd
bu
sin
es
se
s a
sk
illed
wo
rk
forc
e w
ith a
n
en
viro
nm
en
t wh
ere
pe
op
le c
an
thriv
e w
ill gro
w p
ros
pe
rou
s c
om
mu
nitie
s.
Harnessing Technological Innovation: B
y 2
05
0, th
e U
.S. p
op
ula
tion
is p
roje
cte
d to
inc
rea
se
to
alm
os
t 40
0 m
illion
pe
op
le, a
nd
ris
ing
inc
om
es
wo
rld
wid
e w
ill tran
sla
te in
to a
his
toric
glo
ba
l gro
wth
in fo
od
de
ma
nd
. To
fee
d a
hu
ng
ry
wo
rld
, we
will n
ee
d to
ha
rn
es
s in
no
va
tion
to in
cre
as
e o
utp
ut
ac
ros
s A
me
ric
an
farm
lan
ds
. In a
dd
ition
to in
cre
as
ed
cro
p y
ield
s, te
ch
no
log
ica
l inn
ov
atio
n c
an
imp
rov
e c
rop
qu
ality
, nu
tritio
na
l va
lue
, an
d fo
od
sa
fety
. Inn
ov
atio
ns
in m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, m
inin
g, a
nd
other non-agricultural industries can enhance worker efficiency and safety. At the core of these
de
ve
lop
me
nts
tha
t will fu
rth
er g
row
the
ru
ral e
co
no
my
is th
e e
xp
an
sio
n o
f ST
EM
ed
uc
atio
n, re
se
arc
h,
regulatory modernization, and infrastructure. Leveraging these innovations in an increasingly data-
driv
en
ec
on
om
y w
ill als
o re
qu
ire fu
rth
er d
ev
elo
pm
en
t of r
ura
l da
ta m
an
ag
em
en
t ca
pa
bilitie
s.
Economic Developm
ent: Infu
sin
g r
ura
l are
as
with
stro
ng
er b
us
ine
ss
es
an
d a
gric
ultu
ral e
co
no
mie
s
em
po
we
rs A
me
ric
a. E
xp
an
din
g fu
nd
ing
op
tion
s to
inc
rea
se
the
pro
du
ctiv
ity o
f farm
ers
an
d ra
nc
he
rs
will le
ad
to th
e e
nh
an
ce
d v
iab
ility a
nd
co
mp
etitiv
en
es
s o
f ru
ral A
me
ric
a. B
y p
rom
otin
g in
no
va
tive
farm
tec
hn
olo
gie
s, e
ne
rgy
se
cu
rity
, rec
rea
tion
, ag
rito
uris
m a
nd
su
sta
ina
ble
fore
st m
an
ag
em
en
t,
co
mm
un
ities
will b
e e
mp
ow
ere
d to
lev
era
ge
the
bo
un
ties
of r
ura
l Am
eric
a. In
ve
stin
g in
ru
ral
tran
sp
orta
tion
infra
str
uc
ture
is n
ee
de
d fo
r c
arry
ing
mo
re “
Ma
de
in A
me
ric
a”
pro
du
cts
to m
ark
ets
at
ho
me
an
d a
bro
ad
, an
d b
oo
stin
g o
ur c
ou
ntr
y’s
glo
ba
l co
mp
etitiv
en
es
s. R
ed
uc
ing
reg
ula
tory
bu
rde
ns
an
d a
ttrac
ting
priv
ate
ca
pita
l will s
up
po
rt o
ur u
ltima
te m
iss
ion
of e
mp
ow
erin
g R
ura
l Am
eric
a to
fee
d
the
wo
rld
.
Wh
ile o
the
r s
ec
tors
of th
e A
me
ric
an
ec
on
om
y h
av
e la
rge
ly re
co
ve
red
from
the
Gre
at R
ec
es
sio
n, r
ura
l
Am
eric
a h
as
lag
ge
d in
alm
os
t ev
ery
ind
ica
tor. Y
ou
r c
ha
rge
to id
en
tify a
nd
rec
om
me
nd
a p
ath
wa
y b
ac
k to
pro
sp
erity
for th
es
e fe
llow
citiz
en
s is
on
e w
e h
av
e ta
ke
n s
erio
us
ly. T
he
cre
atio
n o
f the
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
an
d y
ou
r
directives contained in an Executive Order w
ere, after all, not an Executive Suggestion. We are proud to issue
this final report on our endeavors. S
inc
ere
ly,
So
nn
y P
erd
ue
Un
ited
Sta
tes
Se
cre
tary
of A
gric
ultu
re
Oc
tob
er 2
1, 2
01
7
23
Contents
I. Th
e O
pp
ortu
nit
ies
of R
ura
l Am
eric
a • 7
II. Ta
sk
Fo
rc
e A
pp
ro
ac
h • 1
1
Th
e V
oic
e o
f Ru
ral A
me
ric
a • 1
2
Ou
r F
ed
era
l Fa
mily
• 13
Pu
tting
the
Re
co
mm
en
de
d A
ctio
ns to
Wo
rk • 1
3
III. An
sw
erin
g t
he
Ca
ll to
Ac
tio
n fo
r R
ura
l Am
eric
a • 1
5
Call to Action #1: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
• 17
Call to Action #2: Improving Q
uality of Life • 2
1
Call to Action #3: Supporting a Rural Workforce
• 26
Call to Action #4: Harnessing Technological Innovation
• 30
Call to Action #5:Developing the Rural Economy
• 35
Literature Cited • 43
45
I. The O
pportunities of Rural Am
erica
6
I. The Opportunities
of Rural America
Ru
ral A
me
ric
a in
clu
de
s 7
2%
of th
e n
atio
n’s
lan
d a
nd
46
millio
n p
eo
ple
1. Ru
ral a
rea
s e
nc
om
pa
ss
reg
ion
s
that focus on agricultural production as well as places w
here work is m
ore often found in industries such a
s m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, m
inin
g, a
nd
fore
str
y. T
he
y in
clu
de
loc
ale
s th
at a
re p
ros
pe
rou
s a
nd
rap
idly
-gro
win
g,
locales that are chronically depressed, and everything in between. Rural Am
erica is home to m
any different ra
cia
l an
d e
thn
ic d
em
og
rap
hic
s a
nd
a w
ide
arra
y o
f ec
on
om
ic a
ctiv
ities
. Th
es
e re
sid
en
ts liv
e in
a v
arie
ty o
f
se
tting
s, fro
m c
ou
ntie
s b
ord
erin
g s
ub
urb
s to
rem
ote
an
d is
ola
ted
are
as
.
Rural America has a diverse store of assets to draw
upon: abundant land and natural resources; scenic and cultural am
enities that attract new residents and visitors alike; a strong entrepreneurial spirit; and people
of all ages and occupations. People remain in or m
ove to rural areas for many reasons: to seek an active
lifes
tyle
, to ta
ke
ad
va
nta
ge
of lo
we
r c
os
ts o
f livin
g, to
en
co
un
ter le
ss
co
ng
es
tion
, to e
njo
y a
slo
we
r p
ac
e o
f
life, a
nd
to m
ore
clo
se
ly c
on
ne
ct to
na
ture
an
d re
cre
atio
na
l op
po
rtu
nitie
s. M
an
y p
eo
ple
retu
rn
to th
eir
ru
ral
roots to raise children and reconnect with fam
ily and friends, filling workforce gaps and bringing needed
lea
de
rsh
ip a
nd
pro
fes
sio
na
l sk
ills.
Am
eric
an
pro
sp
erity
an
d w
ell-b
ein
g a
re in
trin
sic
ally
tied
to r
ura
l Am
eric
a’s
ab
ility to
thriv
e in
the
ne
w g
lob
al
economy; to build and attract an educated w
orkforce and expand its population base; and to use its diverse and abundant natural resources to provide food, fiber, forest products, energy, and recreation.
From the forests of M
aine to the deserts of Arizona, from the M
ississippi Delta to the Upper Great Lakes, rural
comm
unities face diverse economic challenges that differ from
those found in urban areas. Less dense and relatively rem
ote populations are affected by difficulties in accessing transportation, telecomm
unications, h
ea
lthc
are
, ho
us
ing
, ec
on
om
ic d
ev
elo
pm
en
t res
ou
rce
s, a
nd
job
op
po
rtu
nitie
s. In
ma
ny
reg
ion
s, s
uc
h a
s
the
Mid
we
st a
nd
Gre
at P
lain
s, th
es
e c
ha
llen
ge
s a
re a
ss
oc
iate
d w
ith h
igh
rate
s o
f yo
un
g a
du
lts le
av
ing
the
reg
ion
, res
ultin
g in
few
er w
ork
ers
an
d a
n a
gin
g p
op
ula
tion
. Ind
ee
d, a
gin
g its
elf p
os
es
ch
alle
ng
es
, su
ch
as
red
uc
ing
wo
rk
forc
e c
ap
ac
ity a
nd
inc
rea
sin
g th
e d
em
an
d fo
r h
ea
lthc
are
, ho
us
ing
, an
d o
the
r s
erv
ice
s g
ea
red
to th
e n
ee
ds
of a
n o
lde
r p
op
ula
tion
.
Alo
ng
sid
e th
es
e c
ha
llen
ge
s, r
ura
l Am
eric
a p
os
se
ss
es
inh
ere
nt s
tren
gth
s w
hic
h c
an
be
us
ed
for e
nh
an
cin
g
the
pro
sp
erity
of its
pe
op
le a
nd
its c
on
trib
utio
n to
the
ec
on
om
ic w
ell-b
ein
g o
f the
na
tion
. To
da
y’s
ru
ral
areas are more econom
ically diverse than in the past, reflecting the national trend to greater reliance on s
erv
ice
job
s. W
hile
trad
ition
al r
ura
l se
cto
rs s
uc
h a
s a
gric
ultu
re, m
inin
g, a
nd
ma
nu
fac
turin
g e
mp
loy
a s
ma
ller
pe
rce
nta
ge
of th
e p
op
ula
tion
tha
n b
efo
re, th
ey
co
ntin
ue
to a
nc
ho
r th
e e
co
no
mie
s o
f mo
re th
an
ha
lf ou
r
co
un
ties
ac
ros
s th
e n
atio
n. T
he
se
se
cto
rs, d
isp
rop
ortio
na
tely
loc
ate
d in
ru
ral a
rea
s, e
xh
ibit h
igh
er-th
an
-
av
era
ge
pro
du
ctiv
ity g
row
th.
1 U
nless otherwise noted, throughout this report, rural is defined using nonm
etropolitan (nonmetro counties). The term
s “rural” and “nonm
etro” are used interchangeably. Both terms refer to counties outside of M
etropolitan Statistical Areas, defined by the Office of
Managem
ent and Budget (OM
B), which include cities of 50,000 or m
ore and counties connected to these cities through comm
uting. Studies designed to track and explain econom
ic and social changes most often choose the m
etro and nonmetro classification because it allow
s the use of w
idely available county-level data. How
ever, researchers and policy officials often employ m
ultiple definitions to distinguish rural fro
m u
rb
an
are
as
.
The dominance of traditional rural sectors varies across the country and reflects regions’ m
ost productive resources. For exam
ple, farm sales (gross sales of all farm
s in the United States that produce m
ore than $1000 per year) are concentrated in California, the U
pper Midw
est, the Great Plains, and parts of the E
as
tern
Se
ab
oa
rd. M
inin
g-d
ep
en
de
nt c
ou
ntie
s a
re p
rim
arily
in th
e M
ou
nta
in W
es
t, G
rea
t Pla
ins
, an
d p
arts
of A
pp
ala
ch
ia. F
ore
ste
d la
nd
s a
re p
red
om
ina
nt in
mo
un
tain
ou
s a
rea
s o
f the
ea
st a
nd
we
st. M
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g
ten
ds
to b
e m
ore
co
nc
en
trate
d in
the
ea
ste
rn
ha
lf of th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s, p
artic
ula
rly
the
Up
pe
r M
idw
es
t an
d
the
So
uth
.
FARMIN
G AREAS (2012 FARM SALES)
0250
500125
Miles
0250
125M
iles0
1,000500
Miles
Total FarmSales
1 Dot = $100,000,000
Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture
MIN
ING DEPEN
DENT CO
UN
TIES, 2015
0250
500125
Miles
0250
125M
iles0
1,100550
Miles
Source: USDA Economic Research Service Typology Codes,
using data from the Bureau of Econom
ic Analysis, 2015
FORESTRY-RELATED
BUSINESSES, 2014
0250
500125
Miles
0250
125M
iles0
1,100550
Miles
Num
ber of businesses
1 - 5
6 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 50
> 50
Source: Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2014
SHARE O
F EMPLOYM
ENT IN
M
ANU
FACTURIN
G, 2011-15
0250
500125
Miles
0250
125M
iles0
1,100550
Miles
Percent Employed
in Manufacturing
0% - 5%
6% - 10%
11% - 20%
21% - 25%
26% - 66%
Source: Census Bureau, American Com
munity Survey, 2011-15
89
I. The Opportunities of Rural Am
ericaI. The O
pportunities of Rural America
Ov
erc
om
ing
the
ch
alle
ng
es
an
d re
aliz
ing
the
op
po
rtu
nitie
s fo
r p
ros
pe
rity
in r
ura
l Am
eric
a re
qu
ires
ac
tion
on
mu
ltiple
fron
ts, in
clu
din
g p
rom
otin
g e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt, a
dv
an
cin
g in
no
va
tion
an
d te
ch
no
log
y,
en
su
rin
g a
we
ll-train
ed
an
d p
rod
uc
tive
wo
rk
forc
e, a
nd
imp
rov
ing
the
qu
ality
of life
in r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
.
Success depends, in large part, on promoting tw
o key drivers of long-term grow
th and prosperity: broad- b
as
ed
pro
du
ctiv
ity g
row
th in
the
ru
ral e
co
no
my
an
d c
on
ne
ctiv
ity o
f ru
ral p
eo
ple
to e
ac
h o
the
r, to u
rb
an
are
as
, an
d to
the
res
t of th
e w
orld
.
Ac
hie
vin
g in
cre
as
ed
pro
du
ctiv
ity u
su
ally
req
uire
s
inn
ov
atio
n a
nd
tec
hn
olo
gy
, as
we
ll as
ac
ce
ss
to c
ap
ital, in
fras
tru
ctu
re, a
nd
an
ad
eq
ua
tely
train
ed
wo
rk
forc
e fo
r b
us
ine
ss
es
. In tu
rn
, the
ru
ral w
ork
forc
e d
ep
en
ds
on
qu
ality
of life
in r
ura
l
are
as
, inc
lud
ing
the
as
su
ran
ce
tha
t ru
ral s
ch
oo
ls
and health services are of sufficient quality, e
ithe
r to
train
pro
du
ctiv
e w
ork
ers
from
the
loc
al
po
pu
latio
n o
r to
attra
ct e
mp
loy
ee
s a
nd
the
ir
fam
ilies
from
oth
er p
lac
es
. Dra
win
g a
nd
reta
inin
g
pe
op
le a
nd
bu
sin
es
se
s in
ru
ral a
rea
s p
rom
ote
s
ec
on
om
ic d
ev
elo
pm
en
t, b
ec
au
se
a la
rge
po
rtio
n
of e
mp
loy
me
nt g
row
th in
ru
ral e
co
no
mie
s - in
reta
il, he
alth
ca
re, la
w e
nfo
rce
me
nt a
nd
oth
er
pu
blic
-se
cto
r jo
bs
- de
pe
nd
s o
n g
row
th in
the
rural population and local consumer dem
and. Hence, im
proving quality of life in rural areas is not only a
n im
po
rta
nt g
oa
l, bu
t is a
lso
imp
orta
nt to
en
su
rin
g a
pro
du
ctiv
e r
ura
l wo
rk
forc
e a
nd
ma
xim
izin
g r
ura
l
pro
sp
erity
.
In o
ur in
cre
as
ing
ly d
igita
l ec
on
om
y, d
ista
nc
e b
etw
ee
n r
ura
l ec
on
om
ic in
pu
ts a
nd
ma
rk
ets
is le
ss
of a
ba
rrie
r
to b
us
ine
ss
gro
wth
. Ex
pa
nd
ing
av
aila
bility
of h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et o
r e
-co
nn
ec
tivity
allo
ws
ru
ral a
rea
s to
tak
e
ad
va
nta
ge
of th
is n
ew
rea
lity in
ad
ditio
n to
bro
ad
er d
om
es
tic a
nd
inte
rn
atio
na
l ma
rk
ets
. Un
fortu
na
tely
,
ru
ral a
rea
s re
ma
in le
ss
co
nn
ec
ted
to re
liab
le h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et to
da
y th
an
me
trop
olita
n a
rea
s a
nd
ha
ve
low
er u
sa
ge
rate
s c
om
pa
red
with
urb
an
are
as
. As
a re
su
lt, a
wid
e a
rra
y o
f dig
ital s
erv
ice
s a
nd
ac
tivitie
s -
from
e-c
om
me
rce
to te
leh
ea
lth to
dig
ital le
arn
ing
- are
be
co
min
g a
n in
cre
as
ing
ly im
po
rta
nt fe
atu
re fo
r a
pro
sp
ero
us
ru
ral life
.
Un
lea
sh
ing
the
po
ten
tial a
nd
ing
en
uity
of r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
is a
n in
teg
ral p
art o
f ma
kin
g A
me
ric
a g
rea
t
ag
ain
. Th
is re
po
rt s
ho
uld
se
rv
e a
s a
roa
dm
ap
to g
uid
e th
e fe
de
ral g
ov
ern
me
nt to
wa
rds
em
po
we
rin
g r
ura
l
Am
eric
a to
tak
e a
dv
an
tag
e o
f the
ma
ny
op
po
rtu
nitie
s th
at c
an
an
d d
o e
xis
t. F
ac
ilitatin
g a
nd
su
pp
ortin
g
ac
ce
ss
to w
orld
-cla
ss
res
ou
rce
s a
nd
too
ls th
at b
uild
rob
us
t, s
us
tain
ab
le c
om
mu
nitie
s fo
r g
en
era
tion
s to
co
me
is re
qu
ired
for s
uc
ce
ss
.
II. Task Force Approach
Photo credit: Getty Images
10I. The O
pportunities of Rural America
II. Task Force Approach T
he
Pre
sid
en
t’s E
xe
cu
tive
Ord
er d
irec
ted
the
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
to id
en
tify k
ey
leg
isla
tive
, reg
ula
tory
, an
d p
olic
y
changes to achieve rural prosperity in seven areas: rural American agriculture, econom
ic development,
job
gro
wth
, infra
str
uc
ture
imp
rov
em
en
ts, te
ch
no
log
ica
l inn
ov
atio
n, e
ne
rgy
se
cu
rity
, an
d q
ua
lity o
f life. T
o
improve custom
er service and maxim
ize efficiency across the federal government, interagency coordination
was also identified as a key place for change.
Th
is re
po
rt re
pre
se
nts
a s
um
ma
ry
of th
e re
co
mm
en
da
tion
s g
ath
ere
d b
y th
e T
as
k F
orc
e th
rou
gh
dire
ct
en
ga
ge
me
nt w
ith s
tak
eh
old
ers
, co
ns
ulta
tion
s w
ith s
tate
, loc
al, a
nd
trib
al g
ov
ern
me
nts
, as
we
ll as
fed
era
l
ag
en
cie
s w
ith e
qu
ity in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a.
The Voice of Rural America
The Task Force found significant guidance from rural stakeholders in the developm
ent of this report. B
eg
inn
ing
at th
e in
au
gu
ral p
ub
lic s
es
sio
n o
f the
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
he
ld o
n J
un
e 1
6, 2
01
7 a
t the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of
Ag
ric
ultu
re, a
nd
co
ntin
uin
g th
rou
gh
the
co
mm
en
ts s
ub
mitte
d o
n a
reg
ula
r b
as
is th
rou
gh
an
on
line
po
rta
l,
we
he
ard
from
the
pe
op
le o
f Am
eric
a. A
dd
ition
ally
, Ta
sk
Fo
rce
Ch
air
Se
cre
tary
Pe
rdu
e, a
lon
g w
ith s
en
ior
federal leadership hosted roundtables in Wisconsin, Georgia, N
ew H
ampshire, W
est Virginia, and North
Ca
rolin
a to
he
ar fro
m p
artn
ers
an
d u
nd
ers
tan
d th
e c
on
ce
rn
s o
f ru
ral c
itize
ns
.
Our Federal Fam
ilyT
o c
ap
italiz
e o
n th
e p
rog
ram
ma
tic s
pe
cia
lties
sp
an
nin
g th
e fe
de
ral g
ov
ern
me
nt, th
e T
as
k F
orc
e d
ivid
ed
into
four workgroups com
prised of representatives of federal departments, specific agencies, and subject m
atter experts. Each w
orkgroup focused on a specific topic, including: Quality of Life, Rural W
orkforce, Innovation a
nd
Te
ch
no
log
y, a
nd
Ec
on
om
ic D
ev
elo
pm
en
t. T
og
eth
er, th
ey
de
sig
ne
d a
roa
dm
ap
of g
oa
ls a
nd
stra
teg
ies
to m
ak
e o
ur c
ou
ntr
y g
rea
t ag
ain
thro
ug
h th
e p
ros
pe
rity
of r
ura
l Am
eric
a. C
olle
ctiv
ely
, the
wo
rk
gro
up
s
identified over 100 recomm
ended potential actions. To inform these recom
mendations, a robust and
in-d
ep
th a
na
lys
is fro
m th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re’s
Ec
on
om
ic R
es
ea
rch
Se
rv
ice
wa
s d
ev
elo
pe
d to
ide
ntify
the
op
po
rtu
nitie
s a
nd
ch
alle
ng
es
for a
gric
ultu
re a
nd
ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
in A
me
ric
a.
Task Force mem
bers include:
Putting the Recomm
ended Actions to W
ork To ensure that the findings of this report have a m
eaningful impact on rural Am
erica, the Task Force urges that w
ork and oversight continue to compel action. Leadership is still required to accom
plish many of its
goals, including to implem
ent the initial recomm
endations for which action plans have begun; to m
ove other ideas from
conception into action plans; to expand stakeholder participation; to set regional task force solutions; to increase the activities of state, local, and tribal partners; and to advance other suggestions fe
de
ral p
artn
ers
ma
y m
ak
e in
the
futu
re.
State, Local & Tribal
Governments
Stakeholders
Federal Departm
ents &
Agencies
LegislatorsINTERAGENCY W
ORKGRO
UPS1
. Qu
alit
y o
f Life
2. W
ork
forc
e
3. In
no
va
tio
n &
Te
ch
no
log
y
4. E
co
no
mic
De
ve
lop
me
nt
Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Report
• In
te
ra
ge
nc
y
Co
ord
ina
tio
n
• P
olic
y
Re
co
mm
en
da
tio
ns
• R
eg
ula
tio
n R
efo
rm
s
• L
eg
isla
tio
n
Co
ns
ide
ra
tio
ns
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of th
e T
rea
su
ry
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of D
efe
ns
e
• T
he
Atto
rn
ey
Ge
ne
ral
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of th
e In
terio
r
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of C
om
me
rce
• The Secretary of Labor
• The Secretary of H
ealth and H
uman Services
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of T
ran
sp
orta
tion
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of E
ne
rgy
• T
he
Se
cre
tary
of E
du
ca
tion
• T
he
Ad
min
istra
tor o
f the
En
viro
nm
en
tal P
rote
ctio
n A
ge
nc
y
• T
he
Ch
air
ma
n o
f the
Fe
de
ral
Co
mm
un
ica
tion
s C
om
mis
sio
n
• The Director of the O
ffice of M
an
ag
em
en
t an
d B
ud
ge
t
• The Director of the O
ffice of S
cie
nc
e a
nd
Te
ch
no
log
y P
olic
y
• The Director of the O
ffice of N
atio
na
l Dru
g C
on
trol P
olic
y
• T
he
Ch
air
ma
n o
f the
Co
un
cil
of E
co
no
mic
Ad
vis
ers
• T
he
As
sis
tan
t to th
e P
res
ide
nt
for D
om
es
tic P
olic
y
• T
he
As
sis
tan
t to th
e P
res
ide
nt
for E
co
no
mic
Po
licy
• T
he
Ad
min
istra
tor o
f the
Sm
all
Bu
sin
es
s A
dm
inis
tratio
n
• T
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes
Tra
de
Re
pre
se
nta
tive
• T
he
Dire
cto
r o
f the
Na
tion
al
Sc
ien
ce
Fo
un
da
tion
• T
he
he
ad
s o
f su
ch
oth
er e
xe
cu
tive
departments, agencies, and offices as the
Pre
sid
en
t or th
e S
ec
reta
ry
of A
gric
ultu
re
ma
y, fro
m tim
e to
time
, de
sig
na
te
1213
II. Task Force ApproachII. Task Force Approach
Th
e T
as
k F
orc
e p
rop
os
es
the
follo
win
g s
tru
ctu
re fo
r th
e c
on
tinu
atio
n a
nd
imp
lem
en
tatio
n o
f on
go
ing
fed
era
l
interagency action aimed at im
proving rural prosperity:
1.
Establish a Federal Comm
ission on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity –
Th
e C
om
mis
sio
n s
ho
uld
be
str
uc
ture
d s
imila
r to
the
cu
rre
nt T
as
k F
orc
e. T
his
gro
up
of C
ab
ine
t an
d fe
de
ral e
xe
cu
tive
lea
de
rs s
ho
uld
me
et n
o le
ss
tha
n b
i-an
nu
ally
to e
ns
ure
ap
pro
pria
te in
tera
ge
nc
y c
oo
rdin
atio
n a
nd
ex
ec
utio
n o
f the
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
ac
tion
s a
nd
futu
re a
gre
ed
-to a
ctiv
ities
. Fu
rth
er, th
e C
om
mis
sio
n s
ho
uld
pre
pa
re re
gu
lar
rep
orts
to th
e P
res
ide
nt, n
ot le
ss
tha
n o
nc
e a
ye
ar, to
de
mo
ns
trate
pro
gre
ss
on
Co
mm
iss
ion
ac
tion
s.
2.
Establish a Stakeholder Advisory Council to Advise the Comm
ission – T
he
Co
mm
iss
ion
sh
ou
ld
prio
ritiz
e o
n-g
oin
g, ro
bu
st s
tak
eh
old
er p
artic
ipa
tion
from
the
priv
ate
se
cto
r a
nd
no
n-fe
de
ral
governmental (State, Local & Tribal) interests. The role of the Advisory Council w
ould be to help id
en
tify, d
ev
elo
p a
nd
imp
lem
en
t ac
tion
s th
at le
ad
to p
ros
pe
rity
in r
ura
l Am
eric
a. T
he
Ad
vis
ory
Co
un
cil s
ho
uld
me
et o
n a
reg
ula
r b
as
is w
ith th
e C
om
mis
sio
n’s
Ma
na
gin
g D
irec
tor to
pro
vid
e in
pu
t on
rec
om
me
nd
atio
ns
, ac
tion
pla
ns
an
d o
pp
ortu
nitie
s fo
r fe
de
ral, s
tate
, trib
al, lo
ca
l an
d p
ub
lic p
riv
ate
pa
rtn
ers
hip
s.
3.
Establish a Managing Director to O
versee the Comm
ission and Advisory Council – A
Ma
na
gin
g
Dire
cto
r s
ho
uld
be
ap
po
inte
d a
nd
ch
arg
ed
with
es
tab
lish
ing
stra
teg
ic a
nd
co
mm
un
ica
tion
s p
lan
s fo
r
imp
lem
en
ting
the
wo
rk
of th
e C
om
mis
sio
n, in
clu
din
g d
ev
elo
pm
en
t an
d e
xe
cu
tion
of a
ctio
n p
lan
s.
Th
e M
an
ag
ing
Dire
cto
r s
ho
uld
als
o b
e ta
sk
ed
with
org
an
izin
g a
nd
ma
na
gin
g th
e m
ee
ting
s a
nd
wo
rk
product of the Comm
ission and Stakeholder Advisory Council. Additionally, the office would develop,
ex
ec
ute
an
d e
xp
an
d in
ter-a
ge
nc
y a
gre
em
en
ts, M
OU
s a
nd
cre
ate
ne
w a
gre
em
en
ts a
s n
ec
es
sa
ry
, as
we
ll
as
de
ve
lop
an
d m
an
ag
e im
ple
me
nta
tion
me
tric
s a
nd
me
as
ure
s to
gu
ide
the
inte
rag
en
cy
ac
tion
s a
nd
the
su
cc
es
s o
f the
Co
mm
iss
ion
.
III. Answering the
Call to Action for Rural Am
erica
14II. Task Force Approach
RURAL PROSPERITYRural Am
erica can make
our country great again.
ECONO
MIC
DEVELOPM
ENTINNOVATIO
N &
TECHNOLO
GYW
ORKFO
RCEQ
UALITY OF LIFE
Ac
ce
ss to
Ca
pita
l
Ta
x R
efo
rm
Na
tura
l Re
so
urc
es
Re
gu
lato
ry
Re
form
Glo
ba
l Ma
rke
t
Infra
stru
ctu
re
Bio
tec
hn
olo
gy
So
un
d S
cie
nc
e
Pro
du
ctiv
ity
Re
se
arc
h
De
ve
lop
me
nt
Av
aila
ble
Sk
illed
Tra
ine
d
Ed
uc
ate
d
Re
liab
le
Ed
uc
atio
na
l
Op
po
rtun
ities
Health ServicesRural Housing
Co
mm
un
ity
Re
silie
nc
y
Infra
stru
ctu
re
Photo credit: Getty Images
Call to Action #1: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural Am
ericaIn
tod
ay
’s in
form
atio
n-d
riv
en
glo
ba
l ec
on
om
y, e
-co
nn
ec
tivity
is n
ot s
imp
ly a
n a
me
nity
- it ha
s b
ec
om
e
es
se
ntia
l. E-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity, o
r e
lec
tron
ic c
on
ne
ctiv
ity, is
mo
re th
an
jus
t co
nn
ec
ting
ho
us
eh
old
s, s
ch
oo
ls,
an
d h
ea
lthc
are
ce
nte
rs to
ea
ch
oth
er a
s w
ell a
s th
e re
st o
f the
wo
rld
thro
ug
h h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et. It is
als
o a
too
l tha
t en
ab
les
inc
rea
se
d p
rod
uc
tivity
for fa
rm
s, fa
cto
rie
s, fo
res
ts, m
inin
g, a
nd
sm
all b
us
ine
ss
es
.
E-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity is
fun
da
me
nta
l for e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt, in
no
va
tion
, ad
va
nc
em
en
ts in
tec
hn
olo
gy
,
workforce readiness, and an im
proved quality of life. Reliable and affordable high-speed internet e
-co
nn
ec
tivity
will tra
ns
form
ru
ral A
me
ric
a a
s a
ke
y c
ata
lys
t for p
ros
pe
rity
.
Th
e e
xp
an
sio
n o
f hig
h-s
pe
ed
, hig
h-c
ap
ac
ity in
tern
et to
co
nn
ec
t ru
ral A
me
ric
a to
the
“d
igita
l su
pe
rh
igh
wa
y”
of g
lob
al c
om
me
rce
is a
ke
y in
fras
tru
ctu
re p
rio
rity
. E-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity fo
r r
ura
l Am
eric
a is
es
se
ntia
l for e
ns
urin
g
Am
eric
a’s
ec
on
om
ic c
om
pe
titive
ne
ss
an
d e
na
blin
g a
ll Am
eric
an
s to
be
plu
gg
ed
in to
a w
orld
of o
pp
ortu
nity
.
Ov
er th
e p
as
t de
ca
de
, hig
h-s
pe
ed
inte
rn
et h
as
be
en
tran
sfo
rm
atio
na
l for th
e U
.S. e
co
no
my
. It ha
s fa
cilita
ted
co
mm
erc
e a
nd
ge
ne
rate
d s
us
tain
ab
le e
co
no
mic
ac
tivity
. A re
ce
nt s
tud
y in
dic
ate
d th
at th
e r
ura
l bro
ad
ba
nd
industry supported nearly 70,000 jobs and over $100 billion in comm
erce in 2015 (Kuttner, 2016). In a
dd
ition
, the
U.S
. Ce
ns
us
Bu
rea
u e
stim
ate
s th
at U
.S.
reta
il e-c
om
me
rce
sa
les
am
ou
nte
d to
$1
11
.5 b
illion
in th
e
se
co
nd
qu
arte
r o
f 20
17
, an
inc
rea
se
of n
ea
rly
5%
from
the
prio
r q
ua
rte
r a
nd
16
.2%
ye
ar-o
ve
r-ye
ar g
row
th.
Un
fortu
na
tely
, too
ma
ny
Am
eric
an
s d
o n
ot e
xp
erie
nc
e th
e
benefits of robust internet service. As of 2014, 39 percent o
f the
ru
ral p
op
ula
tion
lac
ke
d a
cc
es
s to
bro
ad
ba
nd
at
sp
ee
ds
ne
ce
ss
ary
for a
dv
an
ce
d te
lec
om
mu
nic
atio
ns
an
d
data transfer capability (see chart for comparison w
ith urban and national populations). This e-connectivity gap n
ot o
nly
pre
ve
nts
ru
ral A
me
ric
an
s fro
m p
artic
ipa
ting
in
the
glo
ba
l ma
rk
etp
lac
e b
ut a
lso
limits
urb
an
Am
eric
an
s
0
10
20
30
40
50
Rura
lU
rban
U.S
.
19%
25%
39%
2%2%
4%5%
6%
10%
Perc
ent
So
urc
e: F
ed
era
l Co
mm
un
ica
tion
s C
om
mis
sio
n, 2016 B
roadband Progress R
eport(s
tatis
tics a
s o
f De
ce
mb
er 2
014
).
Am
ericans lacking access to fixed terrestrial broadbandservice at various speeds
With
no
4 M
bp
s/1
Mb
ps s
erv
ice
With
no
10
Mb
ps/1
Mbp
s s
erv
ice
With
no
25
Mb
ps/3
Mbp
s s
erv
ice
1617
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
e-CONNECTIVITY
from
ac
ce
ss
ing
the
inn
ov
atio
ns
an
d p
rod
uc
ts o
f ru
ral A
me
ric
a. A
dd
ition
ally
, this
dig
ital d
ivid
e m
ea
ns
ru
ral
Am
eric
an
bu
sin
es
se
s m
iss
op
po
rtu
nitie
s to
se
rv
e n
ew
glo
ba
l cu
sto
me
rs. T
he
lac
k o
f co
mp
lete
e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity
in r
ura
l are
as
ca
n b
e a
ttrib
ute
d
to m
an
y fa
cto
rs. It is
pa
rtic
ula
rly
ch
alle
ng
ing
an
d e
xp
en
siv
e to
de
plo
y b
roa
db
an
d n
etw
ork
s to
ru
ral A
me
ric
a—
na
me
ly d
ue
to lo
w
po
pu
latio
n d
en
sity
an
d c
ha
llen
gin
g
ge
og
rap
hy
. In a
dd
ition
to th
es
e
difficulties, broadband providers often face bureaucratic obstacles to
bu
ildin
g a
ne
two
rk
, inc
lud
ing
ard
uo
us
ap
plic
atio
n p
roc
es
se
s,
lac
k o
f ac
ce
ss
to in
fras
tru
ctu
re, a
nd
bu
rde
ns
om
e re
gu
lato
ry
rev
iew
s.
Ru
ral e
-co
nn
ec
tivity
su
pp
orts
ec
on
om
ic d
ev
elo
pm
en
t for th
e w
ho
le n
atio
n th
rou
gh
ac
ce
ss
to c
ap
ital a
nd
glo
ba
l ma
rk
ets
, job
train
ing
an
d w
ork
forc
e d
ev
elo
pm
en
t, in
no
va
tion
an
d te
ch
no
log
y a
nd
en
ha
nc
ed
qu
ality
of life
. Th
rou
gh
ou
t this
rep
ort, e
xa
mp
les
illus
trate
tha
t rob
us
t an
d re
liab
le e
-co
nn
ec
tivity
is a
critic
al
ing
red
ien
t for r
ura
l pro
sp
erity
.
Co
nn
ec
tivity
is e
sp
ec
ially
vita
l for th
e o
rig
ina
l “M
ad
e in
Am
eric
a”
ind
us
try
– a
gric
ultu
re –
to in
cre
as
e fa
rm
pro
du
ctiv
ity to
fee
d th
e w
orld
. Th
e U
.S. C
en
su
s B
ure
au
es
tima
tes
tha
t the
U.S
. po
pu
latio
n is
ex
pe
cte
d
to r
ise
to a
lmo
st 4
00
millio
n b
y 2
05
0. T
o s
up
ply
this
nu
mb
er o
f pe
op
le w
ith fo
od
, Am
eric
an
farm
s n
ee
d
reliable, real-time internet connectivity to oversee operations in the fields, m
anage finances, and respond to
inte
rn
atio
na
l ma
rk
et c
on
ditio
ns
. To
ma
tch
wo
rld
foo
d d
em
an
d, in
no
va
tive
tec
hn
olo
gie
s s
uc
h a
s p
rec
isio
n
ag
ric
ultu
re c
an
en
su
re A
me
ric
an
farm
s re
ac
h th
e n
ec
es
sa
ry
lev
els
of p
rod
uc
tivity
. Su
ch
me
tho
ds
req
uire
ev
ery
pa
rt o
f the
farm
to b
e c
on
ne
cte
d to
the
wo
rld
wid
e w
eb
, no
t jus
t the
farm
ho
us
e.
Un
loc
kin
g r
ura
l pro
sp
erity
by
pro
mo
ting
e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity fo
r a
ll Am
eric
an
s a
lso
pro
vid
es
the
op
po
rtu
nity
to a
ch
iev
e a
hig
he
r q
ua
lity o
f life th
rou
gh
mo
de
rn
tele
wo
rk
ing
, tele
me
dic
ine
an
d
tele
he
alth
, an
d d
igita
l lea
rn
ing
. Fo
r
instance, the shifting digital economy
pro
vid
es
ne
w o
pp
ortu
nitie
s fo
r r
ura
l
Am
eric
an
s s
ee
kin
g th
e a
bility
to w
ork
from
ho
me
. Ac
co
rdin
g to
the
Bu
rea
u
of Labor Statistics, from 2003 to 2015,
the
sh
are
of w
ork
ers
do
ing
so
me
or a
ll of th
eir
wo
rk
aw
ay
from
the
ir
office increased from 19 to 24 percent
na
tion
wid
e.
16%
29%
37%
R
ural (N
ot in
MSA
)
40%
58%
56%
61%
58%
61%
24%
37%
45%
Urban (In
MSA
)
49%
66%
66%
71%
67%
69%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Hom
e In
ternet U
se b
y P
opula
tion D
ensity
Percent o
f U.S
. Civ
ilians A
ges 3
+, 1
998-2
015
Source: Natio
nal T
ele
com
munic
atio
ns a
nd In
form
atio
n A
dm
inis
tratio
n, D
igita
l Natio
n D
ata
Explo
rer
http
s://n
tia.d
oc.g
ov/d
ata
/dig
ital-n
atio
n-d
ata
-explo
rer
Photo credit: Getty Images
High-speed internet access can also address the gap in health
se
rv
ice
s in
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s. T
ele
he
alth
an
d te
lem
ed
icin
e
allo
w r
ura
l res
ide
nts
to c
on
ne
ct to
dis
tan
t he
alth
ca
re
pro
fes
sio
na
ls, c
on
du
ct re
mo
te m
on
itorin
g o
f ch
ron
ic m
ed
ica
l
co
nd
ition
s, a
nd
ac
ce
ss
sp
ec
ialis
ts th
at m
ay
no
t wo
rk
in th
eir
loc
al h
ea
lth fa
cilitie
s. R
em
ote
he
alth
ca
re th
rou
gh
tele
he
alth
an
d te
lem
ed
icin
e a
lso
red
uc
es
the
co
st o
f ca
re, im
pro
ve
s
pa
tien
t ou
tco
me
s, a
nd
red
uc
es
the
bu
rde
n o
n p
atie
nts
.
E-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity a
lso
allo
ws
ru
ral re
sid
en
ts to
ac
ce
ss
a b
roa
de
r ra
ng
e o
f ed
uc
atio
na
l op
po
rtu
nitie
s. D
igita
l
lea
rn
ing
is g
row
ing
rap
idly
an
d lik
ely
to b
e p
artic
ula
rly
imp
ac
tful fo
r m
ore
rem
ote
ru
ral a
rea
s th
at m
ay
no
t ha
ve
ac
ce
ss
to th
e s
am
e e
du
ca
tion
al re
so
urc
es
as
larg
er o
r m
ore
urb
an
co
mm
un
ities
. Ac
co
rdin
g to
the
Na
tion
al C
en
ter fo
r E
du
ca
tion
Sta
tistic
s, th
e s
ha
re o
f un
de
rgra
du
ate
stu
de
nts
tak
ing
dig
ital e
du
ca
tion
courses grew from
16 percent in 2003-04 to 32 percent in 2011-12. How
ever, many rural elem
entary a
nd
se
co
nd
ary
sc
ho
ols
do
no
t ha
ve
ad
eq
ua
te c
on
ne
ctiv
ity. T
he
Fe
de
ral C
om
mu
nic
atio
ns
Co
mm
iss
ion
estimates that 16 percent of schools in sm
all towns and 21 percent of schools in rural areas still lack a fiber
co
nn
ec
tion
.
Solving the broadband access gap in rural America w
ill require a concerted effort to encourage deployment
of n
ew
infra
str
uc
ture
an
d in
no
va
tive
bu
sin
es
s m
od
els
tha
t pro
mo
te c
ap
ital in
ve
stm
en
ts. T
he
de
ve
lop
me
nt
an
d im
ple
me
nta
tion
of o
the
r s
trate
gic
infra
str
uc
ture
sy
ste
ms
ac
ros
s th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s w
as
ke
y to
en
su
rin
g
past generations of rural Americans w
eren’t left behind as the rest of the world m
odernized, including rural electrification, rural telephone service, and the Eisenhow
er Interstate Highw
ay System. The econom
ic e
qu
aliz
er o
f ou
r d
ay
is h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et to
ev
ery
ru
ral c
om
mu
nity
an
d p
rod
uc
tion
site
, co
nn
ec
ting
ru
ral
Am
eric
a’s
po
ten
tial to
a w
orld
of o
pp
ortu
nity
.
Past efforts to connect rural America have resulted in the allocation of substantial am
ounts of federal funds fo
r b
roa
db
an
d d
ep
loy
me
nt a
nd
, wh
ile s
uc
h in
ve
stm
en
ts m
ad
e im
po
rta
nt c
on
trib
utio
ns
, ou
r c
ou
ntr
y h
as
no
t
fully
ac
hie
ve
d th
e c
on
ne
ctiv
ity n
ee
de
d fo
r s
uc
ce
ss
in th
e e
co
no
my
of to
da
y a
nd
tom
orro
w. A
ltho
ug
h c
ap
ital
investment is one aspect of bridging the divide, far too m
any government policies stifle netw
ork buildout. B
y s
trea
mlin
ing
the
de
plo
ym
en
t pro
ce
ss
, allo
win
g a
cc
es
s to
ex
istin
g in
fras
tru
ctu
re, a
nd
red
uc
ing
ba
rrie
rs
to b
uild
ou
t, r
isk
ca
n b
e re
du
ce
d a
nd
pro
vid
ers
ca
n b
e e
nc
ou
rag
ed
to e
xp
an
d n
etw
ork
s th
rou
gh
ou
t ru
ral
Am
eric
a.
As
we
mo
de
rn
ize
an
d re
du
ce
reg
ula
tion
s, w
e s
ho
uld
als
o c
on
sid
er th
e fu
ll ran
ge
of m
ea
ns
to c
on
ne
ct r
ura
l
comm
unities, including satellite, fixed wireless, and cellular netw
orks. These technologies can be less e
xp
en
siv
e to
de
plo
y th
an
trad
ition
al w
ired
ne
two
rk
s a
nd
are
rap
idly
imp
rov
ing
in q
ua
lity. A
tec
hn
olo
gy
-
ne
utra
l, se
rv
ice
-foc
us
ed
ap
pro
ac
h to
bro
ad
ba
nd
de
plo
ym
en
t ma
y a
llow
for m
ore
rap
id a
nd
wid
es
pre
ad
co
nn
ec
tivity
.
Ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
ca
n o
nly
tru
ly b
e a
ch
iev
ed
by
co
nn
ec
ting
ru
ral
Am
eric
a to
hig
h-s
pe
ed
inte
rn
et. It is
critic
al to
ac
t qu
ick
ly a
s th
e
ne
ed
for r
ura
l e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity is
gro
win
g e
ve
ry
da
y. W
e m
us
t als
o
ensure rural America w
on’t be left behind as we m
ove toward next-
ge
ne
ratio
n n
etw
ork
s lik
e 5
G, a
nd
em
erg
ing
tec
hn
olo
gie
s lik
e th
e
Inte
rn
et o
f Th
ing
s. P
rio
ritiz
ing
e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity fo
r r
ura
l Am
eric
a is
the
ke
y to
ge
ne
ratin
g p
ros
pe
rity
, inv
es
tme
nt, a
nd
inn
ov
atio
n.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images
1819
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
Objectives &
Recomm
ended Actions 1
. Establish Executive Leadership to Expand E-connectivity Across Rural Am
erica – T
he
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
recomm
ends that the Executive Office of the President develop and im
plement a strategy based on
best practices to deploy rural e-connectivity across the nation. The recomm
ended participating offices and agencies include the N
ational Economic Council, W
hite House O
ffice of Science and Technology Policy, O
ffice of American Innovation, Departm
ent of Agriculture, National Telecom
munications
an
d In
form
atio
n A
dm
inis
tratio
n u
nd
er th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of C
om
me
rce
, the
Fe
de
ral C
om
mu
nic
atio
ns
Comm
ission, the Department of Education, the Departm
ent of Health & H
uman Services, the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of th
e In
terio
r, an
d o
the
r D
ep
artm
en
ts a
nd
ag
en
cie
s n
ee
de
d.
2.
Assess State of Rural E-connectivity – Coordination by the Executive Office of the President of a
multi-sector assessm
ent of the current state of affordable rural high-speed internet access, including identification of infrastructure and service gaps. Such a data-driven analysis of service levels, reliability, and affordability should inform
the creation of the rural e-connectivity strategy. An analysis o
f tota
l ca
pita
l inv
es
tme
nt n
ec
es
sa
ry
for r
ura
l e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity s
ho
uld
be
co
nd
uc
ted
, inc
lud
ing
ex
istin
g
fed
era
l an
d n
on
-fed
era
l su
bs
idie
s.
3.
Reduce Regulatory Barriers to Infrastructure Deploym
ent – R
ev
ise
fed
era
l reg
ula
tion
s to
en
co
ura
ge
inv
es
tme
nt in
relia
ble
, hig
h-s
pe
ed
inte
rn
et in
ru
ral
are
as
, ex
pe
dite
ap
pro
va
l an
d in
tern
al re
vie
w tim
elin
es
an
d s
trea
mlin
e p
erm
itting
pro
ce
ss
es
to p
rom
ote
inc
rea
se
d b
uild
-ou
t of in
fras
tru
ctu
re. T
he
fed
era
l
go
ve
rn
me
nt s
ho
uld
co
ord
ina
te a
ny
reg
ula
tory
reform efforts w
ith those being pursued by the Adm
inistration’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens u
nd
er E
O 1
37
71
, “R
ed
uc
ing
Re
gu
latio
n a
nd
Co
ntro
lling
Re
gu
lato
ry
Co
sts
.”
4.
Assess Efficacy of Current Programs –
Sim
ulta
ne
ou
s w
ith th
e a
bo
ve
ac
tion
s, th
e T
as
k F
orc
e
rec
om
me
nd
s a
n a
ss
es
sm
en
t of e
xis
ting
fed
era
l gra
nts
an
d s
ub
sid
y p
rog
ram
s d
ev
ote
d to
or u
se
d fo
r
deploying e-connectivity. The assessment should include identification of duplicative and overlapping
pro
gra
ms
thro
ug
ho
ut th
e fe
de
ral g
ov
ern
me
nt, a
nd
rec
om
me
nd
atio
ns
to e
nh
an
ce
the
co
ord
ina
tion
of
va
rio
us
fun
din
g s
trea
ms
to m
ax
imiz
e im
pa
ct.
5.
Incentivize Private Capital Investment –
En
co
ura
ge
free
-ma
rk
et p
olic
ies
, law
s, a
nd
str
uc
ture
s a
t
fed
era
l, sta
te, tr
iba
l, an
d lo
ca
l go
ve
rn
me
nt le
ve
ls to
cre
ate
an
en
viro
nm
en
t co
nd
uc
ive
to in
ve
stm
en
t,
inc
lud
ing
pu
blic
-priv
ate
pa
rtn
ers
hip
s. S
uc
h p
artn
ers
hip
s c
an
brin
g in
no
va
tion
an
d in
ve
stm
en
t of
sustainable capital to bridge the e-connectivity gap in the fastest and most affordable m
anner.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
Call to Action #2: Im
proving Quality of Life
Ensuring rural Americans can achieve a high quality of life is the foundation of prosperity. Q
uality of life is a m
easure of human w
ell-being that can be identified though economic and social indicators. M
odern utilities, affordable housing, efficient transportation and reliable em
ployment are econom
ic indicators th
at m
us
t be
inte
gra
ted
with
so
cia
l ind
ica
tors
like
ac
ce
ss
to m
ed
ica
l se
rv
ice
s, p
ub
lic s
afe
ty, e
du
ca
tion
an
d
co
mm
un
ity re
silie
nc
e to
em
po
we
r r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
to th
riv
e. F
oc
us
ing
an
d d
eliv
erin
g k
ey
fed
era
l refo
rm
s
will enable rural Am
ericans to flourish and prosper in 21st Century comm
unities.
Rural America offers opportunities to attain a high quality of life often characterized by abundant natural
resources, a less hurried pace of life, and an affordable cost of living. As the modern econom
y becomes m
ore m
obile, the places that Americans choose to live is increasingly influenced by the quality of life in their hom
e c
om
mu
nitie
s. F
or e
xa
mp
le, o
ve
r th
e p
as
t 40
ye
ars
, a d
es
ire to
live
clo
se
to n
atu
ral a
me
nitie
s s
uc
h a
s la
ke
s,
se
as
ho
res
, mo
un
tain
s, a
nd
are
as
with
a m
od
era
te c
lima
te h
av
e d
riv
en
po
pu
latio
n g
row
th in
ma
ny
ru
ral
regions. This is especially seen in the Southeast, Great Lakes, Mountain W
est, and Pacific Coast regions. W
ithin
the
se
ou
tsid
e a
rea
s, s
uc
h fe
atu
res
dra
ma
tica
lly e
nh
an
ce
the
qu
ality
of life
for r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
an
d
ex
hib
it a la
rge
sh
are
of e
mp
loy
me
nt a
nd
ea
rn
ing
s in
rec
rea
tion
-rela
ted
ac
tivitie
s. M
an
y o
f the
se
rec
rea
tion
-
ba
se
d e
co
no
mie
s w
ere
ha
rd h
it by
the
Gre
at R
ec
es
sio
n, s
low
ing
in p
op
ula
tion
gro
wth
from
4.6
pe
rce
nt
during 2002-08 to only by 1.2 percent during 2010-16 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. How
ever, these a
rea
s c
on
tinu
e to
gro
w fa
ste
r th
an
oth
er ty
pe
s o
f ru
ral a
rea
s.
De
sp
ite th
e u
niq
ue
qu
ality
of life
tha
t so
me
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s c
an
pro
vid
e, o
the
rs fa
ce
lon
g-s
tan
din
g a
nd
emerging challenges. For exam
ple, there are two very different types of rural com
munities that tend to have
a c
on
sis
ten
tly h
igh
nu
mb
er o
f pe
op
le le
av
ing
. On
e ty
pe
ha
s h
igh
po
ve
rty
rate
s –
mo
re th
an
25
pe
rce
nt –
an
d
is h
ind
ere
d b
y lo
w e
du
ca
tion
al a
ttain
me
nt a
nd
hig
h u
ne
mp
loy
me
nt. T
he
oth
er ty
pe
is g
en
era
lly p
ros
pe
rou
s
bu
t ten
ds
to b
e re
mo
te, th
inly
se
ttled
, an
d la
ck
ing
in s
ce
nic
ap
pe
al fo
r p
ros
pe
ctiv
e re
sid
en
ts o
r to
uris
ts. In
general, quality of life deficits appear to be a main draw
back for these comm
unities.
In some places, housing affordability has becom
e a major challenge, either because housing costs have
risen rapidly or because incomes are insufficient for self-supported housing at m
arket rates. These burdens a
re in
cre
as
ing
am
on
g r
ura
l ren
ters
, in b
oth
hig
h-a
me
nity
are
as
an
d in
co
mm
un
ities
with
hig
h p
ov
erty
rate
s.
2021
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
In s
uc
h p
arts
of r
ura
l Am
eric
a, a
dd
res
sin
g th
e s
ho
rta
ge
of lo
ca
l job
s a
nd
a la
ck
of c
on
ne
ctio
n to
tho
se
job
op
po
rtu
nitie
s w
ill be
a m
ajo
r fa
cto
r in
ov
erc
om
ing
the
se
ch
alle
ng
es
.
Transportation is often a challenge for many rural com
munities as w
ell. According to the U.S. Bureau of T
ran
sp
orta
tion
Sta
tistic
s, p
eo
ple
livin
g b
elo
w th
e p
ov
erty
lev
el a
re le
ss
like
ly to
ow
n o
r h
av
e a
cc
es
s to
a p
ers
on
al v
eh
icle
to g
et to
wo
rk
. Co
mp
are
d to
oth
er c
om
mu
ters
, pe
op
le b
elo
w th
e p
ov
erty
lev
el a
re
mo
re lik
ely
to u
se
low
er-c
os
t op
tion
s s
uc
h a
s c
arp
oo
ling
, tak
ing
pu
blic
tran
sp
orta
tion
, or u
sin
g o
the
r
tran
sp
orta
tion
mo
de
s, b
ut s
uc
h o
ptio
ns
are
les
s a
va
ilab
le in
ru
ral a
rea
s. T
he
De
pa
rtm
en
t of T
ran
sp
orta
tion
’s
Fe
de
ral T
ran
sp
orta
tion
Ad
min
istra
tion
su
pp
orts
nu
me
rou
s s
ma
ll tow
n a
nd
ru
ral tra
ns
po
rta
tion
sy
ste
ms
in c
on
ne
ctin
g th
eir
citiz
en
s to
job
s, h
ea
lthc
are
, an
d o
the
r c
ritic
al d
es
tina
tion
s th
rou
gh
va
rio
us
pro
gra
ms
.
Additionally, other federal agencies provide funding for rural transit services for specific trip purposes, such as visits to m
edical facilities. How
ever, the presence of multiple funding stream
s often results in multiple
ne
two
rk
s s
erv
ing
the
sa
me
ru
ral a
rea
. So
me
sta
tes
an
d lo
ca
lities
aro
un
d th
e n
atio
n h
av
e in
stitu
ted
me
tho
ds
to optimize federal funding program
s into coordinated and unified systems to serve their citizens, yet
cre
atin
g a
nd
ad
min
iste
rin
g s
uc
h c
oo
rdin
atio
n is
an
ard
uo
us
tas
k. A
s a
res
ult
, ma
ny
ru
ral tra
ns
it se
rv
ice
s
remain expensive to subsidize and unable to fill the transportation needs of rural businesses and citizens.
Ru
ral ro
ad
sa
fety
is a
no
the
r q
ua
lity o
f life is
su
e th
at
fed
era
l, sta
te, a
nd
loc
al g
ov
ern
me
nts
are
wo
rk
ing
to
ad
dre
ss
. Ac
co
rdin
g to
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of T
ran
sp
orta
tion
,
more than half of all traffic fatalities in 2014 occurred
on
ru
ral ro
ad
s. In
ad
ditio
n, th
e fa
tality
rate
pe
r v
eh
icle
-
mile
-trav
ele
d in
ru
ral a
rea
s w
as
2.4
time
s h
igh
er th
an
the
fatality rate in urban areas, though that figure decreased b
y 2
4 p
erc
en
t be
twe
en
20
05
-14
. Mo
reo
ve
r, alm
os
t two
-
third
s o
f driv
ers
an
d p
as
se
ng
ers
in r
ura
l cra
sh
es
die
d a
t
the
sc
en
e in
20
14
, co
mp
are
d to
jus
t 35
pe
rce
nt in
urb
an
cra
sh
es
. Su
ch
ratio
s w
ere
du
e in
pa
rt d
ue
to h
igh
er s
pe
ed
crashes and increased distances to first responders and h
os
pita
ls.
Th
e m
od
ern
iza
tion
of b
uilt in
fras
tru
ctu
re fo
r r
ura
l utilitie
s is
als
o a
n im
po
rta
nt c
om
po
ne
nt o
f qu
ality
of life
an
d r
ura
l pro
sp
erity
. Th
is in
clu
de
s th
e fu
ll ins
talla
tion
of s
ma
rt g
rid
tec
hn
olo
gy
thro
ug
ho
ut r
ura
l po
we
r
systems. Rural electric cooperatives have begun deploying fiber optic netw
orks throughout their service a
rea
s to
me
et th
e c
urre
nt, g
row
ing
, an
d fu
ture
de
ma
nd
for s
ma
rt g
rid
se
rv
ice
s, s
uc
h a
s d
em
an
d s
ide
ma
na
ge
me
nt, d
istr
ibu
ted
ge
ne
ratio
n a
nd
ren
ew
ab
le in
teg
ratio
n, a
nd
sm
art h
om
e te
ch
no
log
ies
, as
we
ll
as
inc
rea
se
d g
rid
se
cu
rity
. Th
e a
bility
to d
yn
am
ica
lly m
an
ag
e e
ne
rgy
us
e is
critic
al to
en
su
rin
g n
etw
ork
reliability, enhancing system-w
ide efficiency and keeping electric rates affordable for rural residents and b
us
ine
ss
es
. Th
e h
igh
-sp
ee
d n
etw
ork
s, c
on
ne
ctin
g e
lec
tric
sy
ste
m
infra
str
uc
ture
an
d e
ve
n d
irec
t co
nn
ec
tion
s to
cu
sto
me
r lo
ca
tion
s, c
an
also provide a platform and catalyst for fiber to rural hom
es.
Sa
fe d
rin
kin
g w
ate
r a
nd
sa
nita
ry
wa
ste
dis
po
sa
l sy
ste
ms
are
vita
l for
ac
hie
vin
g a
hig
h q
ua
lity o
f life. A
dd
ition
ally
, wa
ter in
fras
tru
ctu
re is
es
se
ntia
l to m
an
y r
ura
l ind
us
trie
s, e
.g., fa
rm
ing
, ma
nu
fac
turin
g, a
nd
mining (Kearney et al., 2014). It is also im
portant to households, with
mo
re th
an
86
pe
rce
nt o
f the
U.S
. po
pu
latio
n re
lyin
g o
n p
ub
lic w
ate
r
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
supply systems (EPA, 2013). O
verall, water infrastructure is increasingly im
portant to making rural areas
attra
ctiv
e p
lac
es
to liv
e a
nd
as
a d
riv
er o
f ru
ral re
cre
atio
n a
nd
tou
ris
m.
Ma
ny
po
or a
nd
rem
ote
ru
ral a
rea
s a
lso
lag
in h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et c
on
ne
ctiv
ity a
nd
ea
sy
, fas
t ac
ce
ss
to o
the
r
forms of infrastructure. These often include highw
ays, airports, water and sew
er facilities, care centers, h
ou
sin
g o
ptio
ns
, an
d q
ua
lity e
du
ca
tion
al fa
cilitie
s. B
uild
ing
wa
ter tre
atm
en
t pla
nts
, ho
sp
itals
, sc
ho
ols
,
ho
me
s, tra
ns
po
rta
tion
sy
ste
ms
an
d o
the
r im
pa
ctfu
l co
mm
un
ity in
fras
tru
ctu
re n
ot o
nly
cre
ate
s jo
bs
, bu
t als
o
inc
rea
se
s lo
ng
-term
ag
gre
ga
te d
em
an
d fo
r g
oo
ds
an
d s
erv
ice
s w
ithin
a c
om
mu
nity
as
we
ll as
co
ntr
ibu
tes
to
ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
de
ve
lop
me
nt.
As a byproduct of differing levels of housing and infrastructure, the population of rural America is neither
ste
ad
y n
or g
row
ing
an
d d
oe
s n
ot m
atc
h w
ith its
po
ten
tial. In
fac
t, v
ary
ing
rate
s o
f gro
wth
an
d d
ec
line
in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a d
ep
en
d o
n a
ge
an
d o
the
r c
on
sid
era
tion
s th
at h
igh
ligh
t bo
th th
e c
ha
llen
ge
s a
nd
op
po
rtu
nitie
s
related to quality of life in rural comm
unities. In the years after high school, young adults seeking better e
du
ca
tion
al a
nd
ca
ree
r o
pp
ortu
nitie
s d
isp
rop
ortio
na
tely
lea
ve
ru
ral a
rea
s fo
r u
rb
an
de
stin
atio
ns
. Th
en
,
du
rin
g m
ore
ad
va
nc
ed
pe
rio
ds
of p
ers
on
al a
nd
pro
fes
sio
na
l life, A
me
ric
an
s te
nd
to m
igra
te to
sm
all c
ities
an
d r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
. Th
ere
fore
, the
po
pu
latio
n lo
ss
am
on
g th
os
e in
the
ir tw
en
ties
is p
artly
reg
ain
ed
by
ad
ults
in th
eir
thir
ties
wh
o b
rin
g te
ch
nic
al a
nd
lea
de
rsh
ip s
kills
ba
ck
to th
eir
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s a
nd
foc
us
on
rais
ing
the
ir c
hild
ren
.
Su
ch
a tre
nd
yie
lds
a p
os
itive
mig
ratio
n
pa
ttern
to r
ura
l are
as
by
ad
ults
in th
eir
late
30
s, a
nd
als
o in
the
ir m
id- 4
0s
an
d 5
0s
, wh
en
me
dia
n h
ou
se
ho
ld in
co
me
s re
ac
h th
eir
pe
ak
.
Th
is p
atte
rn
furth
er in
cre
as
es
am
on
g e
arly
retirees (ages 65-69), especially focused on a
rea
s w
ith fe
atu
res
su
ch
as
na
tura
l res
ou
rce
ac
ce
ss
an
d h
ea
lthc
are
op
tion
s. T
he
mig
ratio
n
of r
ura
l res
ide
nts
ind
ica
tes
the
critic
al ro
le th
at
quality of life, access to healthcare, effective s
ch
oo
ls, a
nd
oth
er v
ital s
erv
ice
s c
an
pla
y in
su
sta
inin
g r
ura
l po
pu
latio
ns
an
d fo
ste
rin
g
lon
g-te
rm
ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
.
Ov
era
ll, the
ru
ral p
op
ula
tion
is s
hrin
kin
g fo
r
the first time on record and it is not just due to
the
mig
ratio
n o
f yo
un
g a
du
lts to
urb
an
are
as
.
Fe
we
r b
irth
s, in
cre
as
ed
mo
rta
lity a
mo
ng
wo
rk
ing
-ag
e a
du
lts, a
nd
an
ag
ing
po
pu
latio
n a
re h
ea
lth fa
cto
rs
tha
t are
driv
ing
nu
me
rou
s o
the
r a
sp
ec
ts o
f ru
ral s
oc
ial a
nd
ec
on
om
ic life
. Fo
r e
xa
mp
le, m
an
y c
om
mu
nitie
s
are
ch
alle
ng
ed
in te
rm
s o
f ac
ce
ss
to m
ed
ica
l se
rv
ice
s a
nd
prim
ary
ca
re d
ue
to th
eir
rela
tive
rem
ote
ne
ss
from
po
pu
latio
n c
en
ters
. Th
e re
ce
nt r
ise
in r
ura
l mo
rta
lity ra
tes
am
on
g a
du
lts a
ge
s 3
5-5
4 c
an
be
tied
to a
dra
ma
tic in
cre
as
e in
mo
rta
lity fro
m n
atu
ral c
au
se
s - e
.g., h
ea
rt, liv
er, a
nd
res
pira
tory
dis
ea
se
s, o
r c
an
ce
r -
an
d to
the
op
ioid
ep
ide
mic
.
While the opioid epidem
ic affects both rural and urban areas, the rise in natural cause mortality is largely a
rural problem and represents a grow
ing threat to quality of life and rural prosperity. If these trends are left u
na
dd
res
se
d, th
e r
ura
l po
pu
latio
n w
ill no
t on
ly c
on
tinu
e to
de
clin
e b
ut th
e d
ep
en
de
nc
y ra
tio w
ill inc
rea
se
.
-20
-10 0
10
20
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
$0
$20,0
00
$40,0
00
$60,0
00
$80,0
00
Pe
rce
nt p
op
ula
tion
ch
an
ge
,
20
00
-20
10
(line
s)
Sourc
e: N
et m
igra
tion e
stim
ate
s fro
m th
e U
niv
ers
ity o
f Wis
consin
-Madis
on
and in
com
e fro
m th
e C
urre
nt P
opula
tion S
urv
ey.
Rural/urban population change from
net migration and U
.S.m
edian household income
Me
dia
n U
.S. h
ou
se
ho
ld
inco
me
, 20
15
(ba
rs)
Urb
an
Rura
l
Ag
e g
rou
p
2223
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
As a result, the number of people likely to be not w
orking (children and retirees) will overw
helm the num
ber of people w
ho are likely to be wage earners (w
orking-age adults) and it will becom
e increasingly difficult to a
ch
iev
e a
hig
h q
ua
lity o
f life.
Objectives &
Recomm
ended Actions 1
. Advance Educational O
pportunities –
Cre
ate
a s
trate
gy
for p
ub
lic-p
riv
ate
pa
rtn
ers
hip
s to
co
mp
lete
the connection of all rural Pre-K through Grade 12 and Comm
unity/Technical Colleges to high-speed, h
igh
-ca
pa
city
inte
rn
et to
ma
xim
ize
the
us
e o
f dig
ital
lea
rn
ing
, es
pe
cia
lly th
e d
ep
loy
me
nt o
f cu
rric
ula
for
ST
EM
su
bje
cts
mo
st re
lev
an
t to r
ura
l ec
on
om
ies
su
ch
as
ag
ric
ultu
re, m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, m
ilitary
, an
d b
us
ine
ss
.
Th
es
e o
pp
ortu
nitie
s s
ho
uld
inc
lud
e th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of
Agriculture, Department of Labor, and Departm
ent of E
du
ca
tion
, an
d o
the
r p
ertin
en
t ag
en
cie
s a
lign
ing
on
imp
lem
en
tatio
n a
lon
g w
ith k
ey
sta
ke
ho
lde
rs. A
prim
ary
ac
tivity
sh
ou
ld b
e c
on
du
ctin
g o
utre
ac
h a
nd
de
sig
nin
g
the
op
tima
l se
t of ro
les
for v
ario
us
go
ve
rn
me
nt a
ge
nc
ies
an
d p
riv
ate
se
cto
r o
rga
niz
atio
ns
.
2.
Modernize H
ealthcare Access –
As
su
re th
at th
e p
olic
ies
an
d ro
les
of th
e fe
de
ral g
ov
ern
me
nt s
up
po
rt
ac
ce
ss
to m
ed
ica
l trea
tme
nt fa
cilitie
s, in
clu
din
g h
ea
lth c
linic
s, te
lem
ed
icin
e, v
oc
atio
na
l an
d m
ed
ica
l
reh
ab
ilitatio
n fa
cilitie
s, d
en
tal c
linic
s, a
ss
iste
d liv
ing
, nu
rsin
g h
om
es
an
d m
em
ory
ca
re fa
cilitie
s.
Be
tter c
oo
rdin
atio
n o
f the
so
urc
es
of c
ap
ital th
at s
up
po
rt h
igh
-ne
ed
pro
vid
ers
in r
ura
l are
as
is n
ee
de
d,
inc
lud
ing
cu
rre
nt fe
de
ral fu
nd
s a
nd
po
ten
tial n
ew
priv
ate
fun
ds
. Imp
lem
en
tatio
n o
f be
st p
rac
tice
s
can be identified and facilitated to enhance access to primary care and specialty providers through
tele
me
dic
ine
. Imp
rov
ed
ac
ce
ss
to m
en
tal a
nd
be
ha
vio
ral c
are
, pa
rtic
ula
rly
ac
ce
ss
to p
rev
en
tion
,
trea
tme
nt, a
nd
rec
ov
ery
res
ou
rce
s is
vita
l to a
dd
res
s th
e n
atio
nw
ide
op
ioid
cris
is a
nd
oth
er s
ub
sta
nc
e
mis
us
e in
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s. T
he
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
rec
om
me
nd
s a
mu
lti-ag
en
cy
ap
pro
ac
h to
alig
n fe
de
ral
policies and programs for rural healthcare m
odernization within the Departm
ent of Health &
Hum
an Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Departm
ent of Housing & U
rban Development,
De
pa
rtm
en
t of In
terio
r, De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd
oth
er re
late
d a
ge
nc
ies
. Th
e o
bje
ctiv
e w
ou
ld
be to prioritize actions and streamline current funds and financing tools of federal, state, tribal and
local governments, as w
ell as private sector organizations. Within existing resources, a m
ore efficient deploym
ent of current taxpayer resources can more effectively address the rural healthcare needs.
3.
Innovate Options for Rural H
ousing – D
ev
elo
p a
se
t
of s
ha
red
be
st p
rac
tice
s fo
r in
cre
as
ing
ho
me
ow
ne
rsh
ip,
red
uc
ing
ho
me
les
sn
es
s in
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s, a
nd
bu
ildin
g ro
bu
st c
om
mu
nity
infra
str
uc
ture
. Su
ch
pra
ctic
es
sh
ou
ld in
clu
de
rec
om
me
nd
atio
ns
for fe
de
ral,
sta
te, tr
iba
l an
d lo
ca
l ac
tion
to s
tren
gth
en
inv
es
tme
nts
in r
ura
l ho
us
ing
an
d p
rov
ide
tec
hn
ica
l as
sis
tan
ce
. Th
e
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
rec
om
me
nd
s o
ptio
ns
su
ch
as
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t
of Housing & U
rban Development, Departm
ent of Veterans Affairs, Departm
ent of Agriculture, Department
of Labor, and Department of Education jointly evaluating
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
fed
era
l ru
ral h
ou
sin
g p
olic
ies
an
d p
rog
ram
s, a
nd
targ
etin
g e
xis
ting
res
ou
rce
s to
be
st s
up
po
rt
su
sta
ina
ble
ho
us
ing
in r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
. To
op
timiz
e r
ura
l ho
us
ing
op
tion
s fo
r th
e w
ork
forc
e n
ee
de
d
in th
e c
urre
nt a
nd
futu
re e
co
no
mie
s, p
riv
ate
se
cto
r o
rga
niz
atio
ns
’ res
ou
rce
de
plo
ym
en
t to r
ura
l are
as
ca
n a
lso
be
inc
en
tiviz
ed
.
4.
Improve Transportation O
ptions – T
arg
ete
d in
ve
stm
en
t with
in c
urre
nt p
rog
ram
s th
at a
re o
utc
om
es
-
driv
en
ca
n fu
rth
er a
dd
res
s th
e d
isp
rop
ortio
na
tely
hig
h fa
tality
rate
on
ru
ral ro
ad
s, in
clu
din
g m
ulti-
ag
en
cy
co
llab
ora
tion
on
po
licie
s. S
tate
s a
nd
loc
al tra
ns
it sy
ste
ms
ca
n s
av
e ta
x d
olla
rs a
nd
mo
re
effectively serve rural citizens’ mobility needs to job sites, education centers, and healthcare facilities,
by
stre
am
linin
g fe
de
ral p
olic
ies
, pro
gra
ms
, an
d fu
nd
s th
at s
up
po
rt r
ura
l pu
blic
tran
sit s
ys
tem
s.
Interagency coordination could include the Department of Transportation, the Departm
ent of Health
& Hum
an Services, the Department of Labor, and other relevant agencies better aligning policies for
ru
ral tra
ns
it se
rv
ice
s b
as
ed
on
loc
ally
-cre
ate
d r
ura
l co
mm
un
ity e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt s
trate
gie
s.
5.
Modernize Rural U
tilities – A
dv
an
ce
an
d e
xp
ed
ite
the
imp
orta
nt in
fras
tru
ctu
re m
od
ern
iza
tion
an
d
tec
hn
olo
gy
inv
es
tme
nts
tha
t ca
n b
e p
rio
ritiz
ed
for
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s’ e
lec
tric
po
we
r a
nd
wa
ter s
ys
tem
s.
Ex
istin
g re
so
urc
es
ca
n b
e u
tilize
d to
furth
er in
ve
st in
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s’ w
ate
r in
fras
tru
ctu
re. F
or s
ma
rt
grid deployment, enhancem
ents to federal financing p
rog
ram
s a
t the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re c
an
be
ex
ec
ute
d in
furth
er c
on
jun
ctio
n w
ith th
e D
ep
artm
en
t
of E
ne
rgy
. In a
dd
ition
, the
Fe
de
ral C
om
mu
nic
atio
ns
Co
mm
iss
ion
an
d th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re c
an
furth
er c
oo
rdin
ate
pro
gra
ms
on
the
ins
talla
tion
of
hig
h-s
pe
ed
e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity in
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s.
6.
Improve Com
munity Resiliency Planning –
Alig
n fe
de
ral e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt p
olic
y a
nd
res
ou
rce
s in
a m
an
ne
r th
at e
nh
an
ce
s r
ura
l pro
sp
erity
. Th
e T
as
k F
orc
e re
co
mm
en
ds
tha
t a s
trate
gy
is b
uilt o
ut th
at in
clu
de
s b
es
t pra
ctic
es
in s
ite s
ele
ctio
n, w
ork
forc
e d
ev
elo
pm
en
t, u
tility a
nd
tran
sp
orta
tion
infra
str
uc
ture
, an
d u
se
pe
rm
itting
. It co
uld
als
o e
nc
ou
rag
e c
om
mu
nity
res
ilien
ce
at th
e lo
ca
l lev
el b
y re
qu
irin
g th
at fe
de
ral p
lan
nin
g s
trate
gie
s, s
uc
h a
s th
e E
co
no
mic
De
ve
lop
me
nt
Administration’s Com
munity Econom
ic Development Strategies (CEDS), include identification of
stra
teg
ic in
du
str
ies
for r
ura
l reg
ion
s a
nd
pla
ns
for d
isa
ste
r p
rep
are
dn
es
s a
nd
rec
ov
ery
. Fo
r e
xa
mp
le,
co
ord
ina
tion
be
twe
en
the
va
rio
us
ag
en
cie
s a
nd
pro
gra
ms
of th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re c
an
enhance the effectiveness of all federal agencies’ efforts to support economic grow
th and resiliency in ru
ral A
me
ric
a, in
clu
din
g C
ED
S, w
hic
h c
an
be
us
ed
to d
riv
e fe
de
ral in
ve
stm
en
t in r
ura
l are
as
pe
r th
es
e
loc
ally
-cre
ate
d p
ros
pe
rity
pla
ns
.
Photo credit: Getty Images
2425
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
Call to Action #3: Supporting a Rural W
orkforceT
o g
row
an
d p
ros
pe
r, ev
ery
ru
ral c
om
mu
nity
ne
ed
s jo
b o
pp
ortu
nitie
s fo
r its
res
ide
nts
, an
d e
mp
loy
ers
ne
ed
qualified individuals to fill those needs. This requires identifying employm
ent needs, attracting available w
ork
ers
from
urb
an
an
d r
ura
l ce
nte
rs a
like
, an
d p
rov
idin
g th
e w
ork
forc
e w
ith tra
inin
g a
nd
ed
uc
atio
n to
be
st
fill the available needs. There are many opportunities to partner w
ith local businesses and organizations to id
en
tify g
ap
s, to
wo
rk
with
all le
ve
ls o
f ed
uc
atio
na
l ins
titutio
ns
to p
rov
ide
ca
ree
r tra
inin
g a
nd
de
ve
lop
me
nt,
to fine-tune existing training programs, and to grow
apprenticeship opportunities to develop the required w
ork
forc
e. P
rov
idin
g r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
, org
an
iza
tion
s, a
nd
bu
sin
es
se
s a
sk
illed
wo
rk
forc
e w
ith a
n
en
viro
nm
en
t wh
ere
pe
op
le c
an
thriv
e w
ill gro
w p
ros
pe
rou
s c
om
mu
nitie
s.
Since 1970, rural employm
ent has grown slow
er than in urban areas (60 percent compared w
ith 120 percent in urban areas), according to the Bureau of Econom
ic Analysis. Rural employm
ent recovery was especially
slow after the Great Recession (2007-09), a fact concerning to future rural prosperity. N
otwithstanding, there
we
re 1
9 m
illion
wo
rk
ers
in R
ura
l Am
eric
a in
20
16
, wh
ich
wa
s a
pp
rox
ima
tely
13
pe
rce
nt o
f the
U.S
. tota
l.
Ce
rta
in in
du
str
ies
, su
ch
as
ag
ric
ultu
re, fo
res
try
, min
ing
, an
d m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, a
re e
sp
ec
ially
imp
orta
nt to
ru
ral A
me
ric
a a
nd
all a
cc
ou
nt fo
r la
rge
r s
ha
res
of e
mp
loy
me
nt a
nd
ea
rn
ing
s in
ru
ral c
om
pa
red
to u
rb
an
are
as
. Th
e B
ure
au
of E
co
no
mic
An
aly
sis
es
tima
tes
tha
t farm
employm
ent (both self-employed farm
operators and their hired w
orkers) accounted for about 6 percent of all nonmetro
em
plo
ym
en
t in 2
01
5, c
om
pa
red
to le
ss
tha
n 1
pe
rce
nt in
me
tro
are
as
. Ad
ditio
na
lly, fa
rm
em
plo
ym
en
t lea
ds
to d
ow
ns
trea
m
job
s, w
hic
h c
an
lea
d to
ru
ral e
co
no
mic
gro
wth
. Wh
ile p
rod
uc
tion
ag
ric
ultu
re h
ires
1.2
millio
n w
ork
ers
an
nu
ally
ac
co
rdin
g to
the
U.S
. Ce
ns
us
Bu
rea
u, fa
rm
ers
fac
e in
sta
bility
du
e to
the
lac
k o
f
av
aila
ble
Am
eric
an
citiz
en
s a
nd
law
ful p
erm
an
en
t res
ide
nt
workers to fill these jobs. This has led som
e farmers to hire illegal
foreign labor and the underutilization of the H-2A visa program
to h
ire le
ga
l fore
ign
wo
rk
ers
. Wh
en
farm
ers
fac
e th
is in
sta
bility
, the
y
50
10
0
15
0
20
0
25
0
19
70
19
75
19
80
19
85
19
90
19
95
20
00
20
05
20
10
20
15
Ind
ex (1
97
0=
10
0)
So
urc
e: B
ure
au
of E
co
no
mic
An
aly
sis
. Em
plo
ym
en
t is m
ea
su
red
as n
um
be
r of jo
bs;
rura
l/urb
an
sta
tus is
ba
se
d o
n 2
01
3 m
etro
po
litan
de
sig
na
tion
s.
Gra
y b
ars
ind
ica
te re
ce
ssio
ns.
U.S. rural and urban em
ployment
Urb
an
Ru
ral
often elect to downsize their operations or plant m
ore mechanized com
modities, w
hich negatively impacts
the
loc
al la
bo
r m
ark
et.
Tu
rn
ing
to m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, th
e B
ure
au
of E
co
no
mic
An
aly
sis
rep
orts
tha
t the
ind
us
try
em
plo
ys
a la
rge
r
share of the nonmetro w
orkforce compared to the m
etro workforce (11 percent versus 6 percent in m
etro areas). Additionally, other m
ore consumer-oriented services have sim
ilar shares of jobs and earnings in both n
on
me
tro a
nd
me
tro a
rea
s, a
s d
oe
s th
e re
cre
atio
n s
ec
tor.
Lastly, healthcare and the ability to recruit and retain healthcare providers and facilities is also critically im
po
rta
nt to
ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
an
d u
nfo
rtu
na
tely
the
slo
we
r o
ve
rall p
op
ula
tion
gro
wth
ha
s h
isto
ric
ally
de
trac
ted
from
an
ov
era
ll gro
wth
in to
tal h
ea
lthc
are
em
plo
ym
en
t.
With
in th
es
e s
ec
tors
an
d o
the
rs, th
ere
is m
uc
h o
pp
ortu
nity
for
gro
wth
in r
ura
l Am
eric
a. T
his
is s
ho
wn
by
ev
alu
atin
g o
cc
up
atio
ns
em
plo
yin
g 1
50
,00
0 o
r m
ore
pe
op
le in
ru
ral c
ou
ntie
s in
20
15
. Se
ve
n
of these 33 occupations were projected by the Bureau of Labor
Sta
tistic
s to
gro
w b
y 1
0 p
erc
en
t or m
ore
na
tion
ally
be
twe
en
20
14
and 2024 (see table). The top four occupations are all healthcare- related: personal care aides; nursing, psychiatric, and hom
e health aides; licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses; and re
gis
tere
d n
urs
es
. Th
eir
ed
uc
atio
na
l req
uire
me
nts
ran
ge
from
no
formal credential (for personal care aides, w
ho earned a median
sa
lary
of $
21
,92
0 p
er y
ea
r in
20
16
, an
d w
ho
se
em
plo
ym
en
t is p
roje
cte
d to
gro
w b
y 2
6%
na
tion
ally
ov
er te
n
years) to a four-year college degree (for registered nurses, who earned a m
edian salary of $68,450 per year in 2016, and w
hose employm
ent is projected to grow by 16%
nationally over ten years). By contrast, rural o
cc
up
atio
ns
se
rv
ing
a n
atio
na
l or in
tern
atio
na
l ma
rk
et m
ay
mo
re n
ea
rly
mir
ror th
e n
atio
na
l gro
wth
rate
.
Fo
r e
xa
mp
le, c
us
tom
er s
erv
ice
rep
res
en
tativ
es
, an
oc
cu
pa
tion
pro
jec
ted
to g
row
by
10
% in
ten
ye
ars
, ma
y
be
em
plo
ye
d in
ru
ral c
all c
en
ters
se
rv
ing
bro
ad
er m
ark
ets
. Bu
sin
es
s a
cc
ou
nta
nt a
nd
au
dito
r e
mp
loy
me
nt
is p
roje
cte
d to
gro
w b
y 1
1%
ov
er te
n y
ea
rs a
t the
na
tion
al le
ve
l, inc
lud
ing
ru
ral b
us
ine
ss
es
tha
t are
tied
to
na
tion
al p
rod
uc
t ma
rk
ets
.
Occupations w
ith 150,000 or more rural w
orkers and with projected national grow
th rates of 10 percent or higher, 2014-2024.
Occupation
National Job
Growth,
2014-24
National M
edian W
age, 2016Education Required
Experience Required
On-The-Job
Training Required
Pe
rso
na
l ca
re a
ide
s2
6%
$2
1,9
20
No
form
al c
re
de
ntia
lN
on
eS
ho
rt-t
erm
Nu
rsin
g, p
sy
ch
iatr
ic, a
nd
ho
me
he
alth
aid
es
24
%$
25
,15
9H
igh school diploma or
eq
uiv
ale
nt
No
ne
Sh
ort-t
erm
Licensed practical and licensed v
oc
atio
na
l nu
rse
s1
6%
$4
4,0
90
Po
st-s
ec
on
da
ry
no
n-d
eg
re
e a
wa
rd
No
ne
No
ne
Re
gis
tere
d n
urs
es
16
%$
68
,45
0B
ac
he
lor's
de
gre
eN
on
eN
on
e
Co
ns
tru
ctio
n la
bo
rers
13
%$
33
,43
0N
o fo
rm
al c
re
de
ntia
lN
on
eS
ho
rt-t
erm
Ac
co
un
tan
ts a
nd
au
dito
rs1
1%
$6
8,1
50
Ba
ch
elo
r's
de
gre
eN
on
eN
on
e
Cu
sto
me
r s
erv
ice
rep
res
en
tativ
es
10
%$
32
,30
0H
igh school diploma or
eq
uiv
ale
nt
No
ne
Sh
ort-t
erm
Sources: BLS Employm
ent Projections (https://ww
w.bls.gov/em
p/); Occupational Em
ployment Statistics
(https://ww
w.bls.gov/oes/); and the 2015 and 2016 Am
erican Comm
unity Surveys.
Photo credit: Getty Images
2627
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
Mo
reo
ve
r, it is n
ec
es
sa
ry
to lo
ok
glo
ba
lly a
s a
me
an
s fo
r jo
b c
rea
tion
. U.S
. ag
ric
ultu
ral e
xp
orts
su
pp
ort
ou
tpu
t, e
mp
loy
me
nt, in
co
me
, an
d p
urc
ha
sin
g p
ow
er in
bo
th th
e fa
rm
an
d n
on
farm
se
cto
rs. T
he
De
pa
rtm
en
t
of A
gric
ultu
re’s
Ec
on
om
ic R
es
ea
rch
Se
rv
ice
es
tima
tes
tha
t in 2
01
5 e
ac
h d
olla
r o
f ag
ric
ultu
ral e
xp
orts
stim
ula
ted
an
oth
er $
1.2
7 in
bu
sin
es
s a
ctiv
ity. A
dd
ition
ally
, ev
ery
$1
billio
n o
f U.S
. ag
ric
ultu
ral e
xp
orts
in
20
15
su
pp
orte
d a
pp
rox
ima
tely
8,0
00
Am
eric
an
job
s th
rou
gh
ou
t the
ec
on
om
y. T
ota
l ag
ric
ultu
ral e
xp
orts
in 2
01
5 s
up
po
rte
d 1
,06
7,0
00
full-tim
e c
ivilia
n jo
bs
, wh
ich
inc
lud
ed
75
1,0
00
job
s in
the
no
nfa
rm
se
cto
r,
ac
co
rdin
g to
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re.There are significant opportunities for the rural w
orkforce to p
ros
pe
r a
nd
gro
w, b
ut re
vie
win
g a
va
ilab
le d
ata
an
d id
en
tifyin
g
ga
ps
to m
atc
h c
urric
ula
an
d tra
inin
g p
rog
ram
s a
re re
qu
ired
to
be
st s
erv
e e
mp
loy
er n
ee
ds
. Su
cc
es
sfu
l wo
rk
forc
e d
ev
elo
pm
en
t
stra
teg
ies
str
ive
to c
rea
te w
ell-e
du
ca
ted
an
d s
kille
d
individuals whose qualifications m
eet the requirements of the
co
nte
mp
ora
ry
ec
on
om
y. C
are
er m
ap
pin
g w
ithin
ed
uc
atio
na
l
systems – beginning at K-12 and continuing through higher
ed
uc
atio
n –
is n
ec
es
sa
ry
to h
elp
pre
pa
re th
e w
ork
forc
e o
f the
future to fit rural economies. M
any rural comm
unities perform
we
ll rela
tive
to u
rb
an
are
as
in m
an
y m
ea
su
res
of s
ch
oo
l qu
ality
an
d in
the
rate
of c
olle
ge
atte
nd
an
ce
am
on
g
their young adults, which is m
ore difficult to achieve for the most rem
ote rural areas and for those with
rela
tive
ly la
rge
sh
are
s o
f low
-inc
om
e re
sid
en
ts. U
ltima
tely
, stro
ng
prim
ary
an
d s
ec
on
da
ry
sc
ho
ols
tha
t foc
us
curricula and offer strong career guidance are fundamental to generating a robust and ready w
orkforce n
ee
de
d in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a.
As we develop the w
orkforce of the future, it is also important to prepare current, available w
orkers to fill both existing and new
ly created jobs. Higher education is becom
ing increasingly unaffordable and many
co
lleg
es
an
d u
niv
ers
ities
fail to
he
lp s
tud
en
ts g
rad
ua
te w
ith th
e s
kills
ne
ce
ss
ary
to s
ec
ure
hig
h p
ay
ing
job
s
in today’s workforce. Along w
ith fine tuning available public and private training programs, expanding
ap
pre
ntic
es
hip
s m
ay
en
ab
le m
ore
Am
eric
an
s to
ob
tain
rele
va
nt s
kills
an
d h
igh
-pa
yin
g jo
bs
. Ap
pre
ntic
es
hip
s
pro
vid
e p
aid
, rele
va
nt w
ork
pla
ce
ex
pe
rie
nc
es
an
d o
pp
ortu
nitie
s to
de
ve
lop
sk
ills th
at a
re v
alu
ed
by
em
plo
ye
rs.
Objectives &
Recomm
ended Actions 1
. Connect Rural Skillsets to Jobs of the Future –
Be
fore
we
ca
n p
rov
ide
su
itab
le re
so
urc
es
, we
mu
st
identify existing job demands, skillset gaps, and com
munity needs. A robust interagency effort is
ne
ed
ed
to s
tud
y c
urre
nt g
ap
s a
nd
job
de
ma
nd
s in
all s
ec
tors
to b
ette
r s
pe
cia
lize
ou
r e
du
ca
tion
al a
nd
training efforts. We recom
mend that interested agencies com
plete a study which clearly identifies
these gaps. That survey will then be used to prom
ote curricula rationalization methods in K-12
education, secondary educational institutions, and technical training programs. This effort w
ill b
ette
r lin
k e
du
ca
tion
al a
nd
ca
ree
r g
uid
an
ce
giv
en
at a
n e
arly
ag
e to
loc
al e
co
no
mic
ne
ed
s. W
e m
us
t
also focus on developing universally adaptable skills that provide flexibility in a rapidly changing environm
ent. This research is the integral first step to best serve rural comm
unities and ensure we are
train
ing
for jo
bs
tha
t are
ne
ed
ed
, bu
t als
o p
rov
ide
an
ad
ap
tab
le w
ork
forc
e a
s n
ew
sk
illse
t are
ne
ed
ed
.
2.
Promote and Expand Apprenticeship Program
s – The Task Force identified clear needs in the healthcare and trade industry sectors w
hile rural businesses and comm
unities struggle to find talent
Photo credit: Getty Images
to fill jobs in these sectors. The Task Force recomm
ends that federal agencies promote and assist local
bu
sin
es
se
s in
the
ex
pa
ns
ion
of a
pp
ren
tice
sh
ip p
rog
ram
s. In
the
ne
ar te
rm
, we
su
pp
ort c
rea
ting
an
inte
rag
en
cy
wo
rk
gro
up
to id
en
tify p
rio
ritie
s a
nd
de
ve
lop
ap
pre
ntic
es
hip
pro
gra
ms
for r
ura
l Am
eric
a.
3.
Connect Veterans to Underutilized Training Program
s –
Despite a clear effort to reach these available and talented in
div
idu
als
tha
t are
rea
dy
an
d w
illing
to w
ork
, pro
gra
ms
are
no
t
easily accessible and often siloed within the federal agencies;
the
refo
re, n
ot m
ax
imiz
ing
the
po
ten
tial ta
len
t lyin
g w
ithin
this
po
pu
latio
n. T
he
fed
era
l go
ve
rn
me
nt m
us
t do
be
tter to
co
nn
ec
t,
stre
am
line
, an
d e
limin
ate
du
plic
atio
n a
cro
ss
the
ag
en
cie
s to
be
tter re
ac
h a
nd
se
rv
e v
ete
ran
s. W
e re
co
mm
en
d a
n in
tera
ge
nc
y
inventory of available veterans’ programs, a focused effort to
elim
ina
te d
up
lica
tion
by
cre
atin
g a
on
e s
top
sh
op
for b
ette
r
cu
sto
me
r s
erv
ice
, an
d im
ple
me
ntin
g m
etr
ics
to m
ea
su
re
ve
tera
ns
’ ac
ce
ss
an
d u
se
of tra
inin
g p
rog
ram
s.
4.
Improve Rural Access to Education and Training
– J
ob
op
po
rtu
nitie
s, tra
inin
g p
rog
ram
s a
nd
ed
uc
atio
na
l ma
teria
ls a
re n
ot e
as
ily a
cc
es
sib
le b
y b
us
ine
ss
es
an
d jo
bs
ee
ke
rs. A
s w
e w
ork
to e
limin
ate
inte
rag
en
cy
silo
s, th
ere
are
wa
ys
to b
ette
r m
ark
et th
e re
so
urc
es
alre
ad
y a
va
ilab
le to
ru
ral p
op
ula
tion
s
us
ing
ex
istin
g re
so
urc
es
.
a. Im
prove Interagency Collaboration –
Th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of E
du
ca
tion
an
d th
e D
ep
artm
en
t
of A
gric
ultu
re s
ho
uld
stre
ng
the
n th
e c
olla
bo
ratio
n b
etw
ee
n th
e tw
o d
ep
artm
en
ts, th
eir
sta
ke
ho
lde
rs a
nd
pa
rtn
ers
to im
pro
ve
ac
ce
ss
to q
ua
lity e
du
ca
tion
in r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
an
d
create opportunity for children in rural America. The interagency coordination w
ill (1) increase in
ve
stm
en
t with
in e
xis
ting
res
ou
rce
s fo
r a
wid
e ra
ng
e o
f da
yc
are
, prim
ary
, ele
me
nta
ry
, an
d
secondary education facilities, including traditional public and charter schools, (2) improve
the access of rural comm
unities to resources provided by both Departments, (3) m
ake capital a
va
ilab
le th
rou
gh
US
DA
for s
tren
gth
en
ing
ex
istin
g o
r c
on
str
uc
ting
ne
w e
du
ca
tion
al fa
cilitie
s, a
nd
(4) provide capacity building and technical assistance.b
. Catalog Federal Training Programs
– F
ed
era
l go
ve
rn
me
nt tra
inin
g p
rog
ram
s s
ho
uld
be
ca
talo
gu
ed
on
a s
ing
le o
nlin
e p
latfo
rm
to im
pro
ve
ac
ce
ss
to th
es
e m
ate
ria
ls a
nd
pro
gra
ms
.
c. Encourage Interagency Use of Federal Infrastructure
– T
he
De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re h
as
a
broad physical network w
ith local and regional offices across America. W
e encourage all federal a
ge
nc
ies
to p
artn
er w
ith th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re to
ho
us
e c
erta
in e
du
ca
tion
al m
ate
ria
ls o
r
host periodic training programs in those local offices.
5.
Ensure Access to Lawful, Agricultural W
orkforce – Production agriculture is often a key economic
driv
er in
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s. M
an
y o
n-fa
rm
job
s a
re s
ea
so
na
l an
d v
ery
ph
ys
ica
lly d
em
an
din
g. F
arm
ers
often have difficulty finding American citizen and law
ful permanent resident w
orkers to fill these jobs. This can lead som
e farmers to scram
ble to find workers to plant, prune, and harvest fruits and
ve
ge
tab
les
or to
ten
d to
live
sto
ck
. As
lab
or in
sta
bility
gro
ws
, se
as
on
al fa
rm
ers
are
inc
rea
sin
gly
turn
ing
to H-2A visa program
to ensure that their foreign-born workers are w
orking legally in the United States.
The inefficiencies and administrative burden of the H
-2A program are w
ell-comm
unicated by farmers.
The White H
ouse is addressing farmers’ concerns through an interagency effort to im
plement policy
and regulatory changes to improve the program
H-2A program
. The goal of this initiative is to ensure th
at fa
rm
ers
ha
ve
ac
ce
ss
to th
e la
wfu
l wo
rk
forc
e th
at is
ne
ed
ed
.
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
2829
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
Photo credit: Getty Images
Call to Action #4: Harnessing Technological Innovation
By
20
50
, the
U.S
. po
pu
latio
n is
pro
jec
ted
to in
cre
as
e to
alm
os
t 40
0 m
illion
pe
op
le, a
nd
ris
ing
inc
om
es
wo
rld
wid
e w
ill tran
sla
te in
to h
isto
ric
glo
ba
l gro
wth
in fo
od
de
ma
nd
. To
fee
d a
hu
ng
ry
wo
rld
, we
will
ne
ed
to h
arn
es
s in
no
va
tion
to in
cre
as
e o
utp
ut a
cro
ss
Am
eric
an
farm
lan
ds
. In a
dd
ition
to in
cre
as
ed
cro
p
yie
lds
, tec
hn
olo
gic
al in
no
va
tion
ca
n im
pro
ve
cro
p q
ua
lity, n
utr
ition
al v
alu
e, a
nd
foo
d s
afe
ty. In
no
va
tion
s
in manufacturing, m
ining, and other non-agricultural industries can enhance worker efficiency and
sa
fety
. At th
e c
ore
of th
es
e d
ev
elo
pm
en
ts th
at w
ill furth
er g
row
the
ru
ral e
co
no
my
is th
e e
xp
an
sio
n o
f
STEM education, research, regulatory m
odernization, and infrastructure. Leveraging these innovations in
an
inc
rea
sin
gly
da
ta-d
riv
en
ec
on
om
y w
ill als
o re
qu
ire fu
rth
er d
ev
elo
pm
en
t of r
ura
l da
ta m
an
ag
em
en
t
ca
pa
bilitie
s.
Fro
m a
gric
ultu
re to
ma
nu
fac
turin
g to
min
ing
, inn
ov
ativ
e te
ch
no
log
ies
an
d p
rac
tice
s d
riv
e lo
ng
-term
gro
wth
an
d p
ros
pe
rity
in r
ura
l Am
eric
a. T
he
Un
ited
Sta
tes
is th
e w
orld
lea
de
r in
ag
ric
ultu
ral p
rod
uc
tion
an
d
tec
hn
olo
gy
, an
d r
ura
l Am
eric
a is
ho
me
to m
an
y o
f the
be
st, a
nd
mo
st in
no
va
tive
farm
ers
in th
e w
orld
. Ov
er
the
pa
st 3
0 y
ea
rs, U
.S. a
gric
ultu
ral p
rod
uc
tivity
ha
s in
cre
as
ed
by
ne
arly
50
pe
rce
nt, a
nd
by
alm
os
t 14
pe
rce
nt
in the 21st century (Wang et al., 2017). H
igh productivity has enabled U.S. agriculture to be the world’s m
ost d
ep
en
da
ble
so
urc
e o
f foo
d s
urp
lus
es
to h
elp
fee
d a
hu
ng
ry
wo
rld
.
Ac
co
rdin
g to
the
U.S
. Ce
ns
us
, the
U.S
. po
pu
latio
n is
pro
jec
ted
to in
cre
as
e to
40
0 m
illion
pe
op
le b
y 2
05
0. A
s th
e w
orld
’s
lea
de
r in
farm
pro
du
ctio
n a
nd
inn
ov
atio
n, th
e U
nite
d
Sta
tes
ca
n le
ve
rag
e e
me
rgin
g a
gric
ultu
ral te
ch
no
log
ies
an
d
inn
ov
ativ
e p
rac
tice
s to
me
et th
e e
co
no
mic
op
po
rtu
nity
an
d
the
hu
ma
nita
ria
n im
pe
rativ
e. F
urth
er, w
hile
wo
rk
ing
to m
ee
t
this
ch
alle
ng
e in
jus
t 32
gro
win
g s
ea
so
ns
, it is c
ritic
al th
at
pro
du
ctiv
ity g
row
th n
ot re
ly o
n m
ore
cu
ltiva
ted
lan
d, w
ate
r,
or e
ne
rgy
, bu
t ins
tea
d h
arn
es
s th
e p
ow
er o
f inn
ov
atio
n a
nd
tec
hn
olo
gy
. Th
e U
.S. c
on
trib
ute
s to
glo
ba
l foo
d s
ec
urity
no
t
on
ly b
y b
ein
g a
bre
ad
ba
sk
et, b
ut a
lso
thro
ug
h a
dv
an
ce
s in
foo
d, a
gric
ultu
ral a
nd
nu
tritio
n s
cie
nc
es
, an
d th
eir
wo
rld
-
wid
e d
iss
em
ina
tion
.
0.0
0.8
1.5
2.3
3.0
19
61
-70
19
71
-80
19
81
-90
19
91
-00
20
01
-14
2015-2050projection
Ave
rag
e a
nn
ua
l gro
wth
rate
So
urc
e: U
SD
A E
co
no
mic
Re
se
arc
h S
erv
ice
, International Agricultural P
roductivityd
ata
pro
du
ct.
Sources of growth in global agricultural output
Ou
tpu
t
gro
wth
Pro
du
ctiv
ity
gro
wth
Incre
ase
d
inp
ut u
se
Exp
an
sio
n
of a
g la
nd
2.9%
2.2%
2.5%
En
ab
ling
tec
hn
olo
gic
al in
no
va
tion
in a
gric
ultu
re
will im
prove the efficiency of the American farm
er, in
cre
as
e s
us
tain
ab
le u
se
of A
me
ric
an
res
ou
rce
s,
an
d e
nh
an
ce
the
qu
ality
of A
me
ric
an
ag
ric
ultu
ral
ou
tpu
t, a
ll wh
ile c
rea
ting
ne
w A
me
ric
an
job
s
an
d in
cre
as
ing
ru
ral in
co
me
s. O
ve
r th
e p
as
t two
de
ca
de
s, A
me
ric
an
farm
ers
ha
ve
led
hig
h ra
tes
of
ad
op
tion
of te
ch
no
log
ies
inc
lud
ing
au
tom
ate
d
farm
eq
uip
me
nt, s
ate
llite a
nd
ae
ria
l ima
ge
ry
,
variable rate technology (VRT), genome editing
an
d g
en
om
ic s
ele
ctio
n, a
nd
hig
h-s
pe
ed
inte
rn
et.
Pre
cis
ion
ag
ric
ultu
re te
ch
no
log
ies
tha
t op
timiz
e
inp
ut a
pp
lica
tion
us
ing
VR
T a
re p
lay
ing
an
inc
rea
sin
g ro
le in
farm
pro
du
ctio
n. T
o d
ete
rm
ine
the
op
tima
l ap
plic
atio
n o
f inp
uts
, farm
ers
req
uire
data on field conditions to calibrate production practices. Technologies such as global positioning system
(GPS) guided machinery, soil and yield m
apping, embedded sensor netw
orks, and aerial imagery increase
capabilities to collect data with sufficient tem
poral and spatial resolution. The addition of GPS technologies on farm
vehicles has enabled greater automation of routine farm
tasks, and provided field operators access to tim
ely, accurate crop data to improve seeding of field crop row
s. Integrated networks of soil sensors that
provide data on moisture and nitrogen fixation, satellites, and unm
anned aircraft systems (UAS) equipped
with
mu
ltisp
ec
tral s
en
so
rs p
rov
ide
ma
ps
of c
rop
yie
ld v
aria
bility
. VR
T e
na
ble
s fa
rm
ers
to in
cre
as
e c
rop
yie
lds
, wh
ile re
du
cin
g w
ate
r u
sa
ge
, an
d m
inim
izin
g th
e n
ee
d fo
r fe
rtiliz
er, c
he
mic
als
, an
d p
es
ticid
es
.
If the
ea
se
of u
se
an
d c
os
t of im
ple
me
nta
tion
of p
rec
isio
n a
gric
ultu
re te
ch
no
log
ies
ca
n b
e im
pro
ve
d, th
ey
have the potential to boost profits for more producers as w
ell as yield environmental benefits. U
tilizing k
ey
pre
cis
ion
farm
ing
tec
hn
olo
gie
s c
an
pro
du
ce
a 3
-18
pe
rce
nt b
oo
st in
cro
p y
ield
via
targ
ete
d fe
rtiliz
ing
,
pla
ntin
g, s
pra
yin
g, a
nd
irrig
atio
n, a
cc
ord
ing
to G
old
ma
n S
ac
hs
Glo
ba
l Inv
es
tme
nt R
es
ea
rch
. In a
dd
ition
,
ca
se
stu
die
s c
on
du
cte
d b
y A
gP
ixe
l fou
nd
the
re a
re s
av
ing
s to
be
ga
ine
d w
ith b
ette
r u
se
of p
rod
uc
ts s
uc
h
as nitrogen, herbicide, and water that can add up to $28 per acre. Such gains could m
ean the difference b
etw
ee
n s
uc
ce
ss
es
or fa
ilure
for m
an
y a
gric
ultu
re-b
as
ed
bu
sin
es
se
s.
Bio
tec
hn
olo
gy
is a
no
the
r a
rea
of U
. S. le
ad
ers
hip
, be
ing
a s
ec
tor
tha
t ha
s d
riv
en
inn
ov
atio
n in
fue
ls, c
he
mic
als
, ma
nu
fac
turin
g, a
nd
ag
ric
ultu
re. In
20
16
, bio
tec
h c
rop
s w
ere
gro
wn
on
ov
er 1
70
millio
n
ac
res
in th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s, in
clu
din
g o
ve
r 9
2%
of c
orn
, so
yb
ea
n a
nd
co
tton
tota
l ac
rea
ge
, ac
co
rdin
g to
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re’s
Na
tion
al A
gric
ultu
ral S
tatis
tics
Se
rv
ice
. Glo
ba
lly, th
e b
iote
ch
no
log
y
se
cto
r is
a d
riv
er o
f the
“fo
urth
ind
us
tria
l rev
olu
tion
,” a
nd
pre
se
nts
an
inc
red
ible
op
po
rtu
nity
for A
me
ric
an
farm
ers
an
d r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
to thrive at the forefront of innovation. Scientific advances in b
iote
ch
no
log
y fro
m u
niv
ers
ities
ha
ve
he
lpe
d c
rea
te w
orld
cla
ss
firms that export superior crop seed and other biotech innovations
in w
orld
ma
rk
ets
. Ad
va
nc
em
en
ts in
ge
no
me
ed
iting
an
d g
en
om
ic
se
lec
tion
ha
ve
pro
du
ce
d fa
vo
rab
le c
rop
an
d liv
es
toc
k tra
its,
0 5
10
15
20
25
30
Yie
ld
ma
pp
ing
$25.01
Ave
rag
e p
rod
uctio
n c
ost s
avin
gs (d
olla
rs p
er a
cre
) from
tech
no
log
y a
do
ptio
n*
GP
S =
glo
bal p
ositio
nin
g s
yste
m. V
RT
= v
aria
ble
rate
technolo
gy.
*P
er a
cre
pro
ductio
n c
osts
inclu
de e
xpenses fo
r seed, fe
rtilizer, p
estic
ides, p
aid
/unpaid
labor, m
achin
ery
expenses (n
ot c
apita
l investm
ents
), fuel a
nd re
pairs
, and c
usto
m s
erv
ices.
Sourc
e: U
SD
A E
conom
ic R
esearc
h S
erv
ice m
odel e
stim
ate
s u
sin
g d
ata
from
US
DA
, 2010
Agric
ultu
ral R
esouce M
anagem
ent S
urv
ey, p
hases II a
nd III.
Corn production cost savings from
precision agriculturetechnology adoption$13.45
GP
S s
oil
ma
pp
ing
$14.98
Gu
ida
nce
syste
m
$21.87
Yie
ld m
ap
pin
g
an
d V
RT
$20.56
So
il ma
pp
ing
an
d V
RT
Photo credit: Getty Images
3031
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
including resistance to drought, disease, and heat; enhancements to nutritional value; and increased
resource efficiency. Those technologies, combined w
ith public and private research and development
inv
es
tme
nts
, ha
ve
en
ab
led
U.S
. farm
ers
to in
cre
as
e th
e s
up
ply
an
d q
ua
lity o
f cro
p a
nd
live
sto
ck
co
mm
od
ities
us
ing
few
er re
so
urc
es
an
d a
t low
er c
os
ts o
f pro
du
ctio
n.
Pro
du
ctiv
ity im
pro
ve
me
nt in
prim
ary
ind
us
trie
s
can increase the profitability, competitiveness, and
gro
wth
of u
ps
trea
m m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g s
ec
tors
su
ch
as
foo
d m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, te
xtile
s, a
nd
wo
od
pro
du
cts
.
It ca
n a
lso
cre
ate
job
s in
the
pro
ce
ss
ing
ind
us
trie
s
- transportation and finance - which are needed to
support those sectors. How
ever, productivity growth
ha
s s
low
ed
ov
er th
e p
as
t thre
e d
ec
ad
es
, es
pe
cia
lly
in the forestry and fisheries sector. Employm
ent in th
e m
inin
g s
ec
tor, w
hic
h a
cc
ou
nts
for a
hig
he
r s
ha
re
of e
mp
loy
me
nt in
ru
ral a
rea
s c
om
pa
red
to u
rb
an
ce
nte
rs, h
as
tren
de
d d
ow
nw
ard
in re
ce
nt y
ea
rs. In
ge
ne
ral, s
tud
ies
ha
ve
fou
nd
an
urb
an
inn
ov
atio
n
ad
va
nta
ge
ov
er r
ura
l are
as
in n
on
-ma
nu
fac
turin
g
se
cto
rs, e
sp
ec
ially
se
rv
ice
se
cto
rs.
No
n-a
gric
ultu
ral r
ura
l ind
us
trie
s th
at h
av
e s
ho
wn
hig
h le
ve
ls o
f inn
ov
atio
n in
clu
de
the
tele
co
mm
un
ica
tion
s
and comm
ercial electronics industries (Wojan & Parker, 2017). W
ith these markets leading the w
ay in rural in
no
va
tion
, the
ne
ed
for h
igh
-sp
ee
d in
tern
et a
cc
es
s in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a is
he
igh
ten
ed
.
Pro
sp
ec
ts fo
r in
no
va
tion
in a
gric
ultu
ral a
nd
foo
d in
du
str
ies
are
ev
ide
nc
ed
by
the
ir a
ttrac
tive
ne
ss
to p
riv
ate
-se
cto
r v
en
ture
ca
pita
l. Re
ce
nt y
ea
rs h
av
e
se
en
a s
ha
rp
inc
rea
se
in v
en
ture
ca
pita
l dire
cte
d a
t the
se
se
cto
rs, e
sp
ec
ially
for in
form
atio
n te
ch
no
log
y a
nd
bio
tec
hn
olo
gy
inn
ov
atio
ns
. Ac
co
rdin
g to
Ag
Fu
nd
er, d
urin
g 2
01
4-1
5, v
en
ture
ca
pita
l fun
ds
inv
es
ted
at le
as
t $6
.9 b
illion
in a
ran
ge
of a
gric
ultu
re-re
late
d in
no
va
tion
s, in
clu
din
g p
rec
isio
n a
gric
ultu
re
an
d e
-co
mm
erc
e fo
od
ma
rk
etin
g. M
os
t of th
es
e v
en
ture
ca
pita
l inv
es
tme
nts
have been directed at U.S. firms, but som
e have involved major investm
ents w
ith firms located in Europe, Israel, China, and elsew
here.
Fe
de
ral a
nd
sta
te re
se
arc
h in
stitu
tes
us
e a
va
rie
ty o
f me
an
s to
co
llab
ora
te w
ith th
e p
riv
ate
se
cto
r. So
me
of
the venture capital startups are spinoffs from innovations developed in these laboratories or through joint
research efforts with private firm
s. Other m
ajor contributors are the more than 100 federally-funded U.S.
Land Grant Colleges and Universities, w
hich are key providers of STEM training as w
ell as innovators across m
any sectors, and have contributed to U.S. world leadership in m
any high-technology fields. Innovations em
anating from these institutions find their w
ay into industries through scientific publications, patents, d
irec
t un
ive
rsity
-ind
us
try
pa
rtn
ers
hip
s, a
nd
ST
EM
-train
ed
gra
du
ate
s. F
urth
erm
ore
, the
se
ins
titutio
ns
he
lp
create internationally-competitive firm
s and industries.
Ma
ny
of th
e in
no
va
tive
an
d h
igh
-tec
h a
dv
an
ce
s d
isc
us
se
d a
bo
ve
em
an
ate
from
ed
uc
atin
g r
ura
l Am
eric
an
s.
En
su
rin
g th
at a
ll ru
ral A
me
ric
an
s h
av
e a
cc
es
s to
ed
uc
atio
na
l op
po
rtu
nitie
s is
critic
al to
en
ha
nc
ing
50 75
100
125
150
175
19871991
19951999
20032007
20112015
Index (1987=100)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Multifactor Productivity Tables.
Gray bars indicate recessions.
Productivity in selected U.S. industries
Crop and anim
al production
Mining
Manufacturing
Photo credit: Getty Images
pro
du
ctiv
ity a
nd
co
mp
etitiv
en
es
s th
rou
gh
ou
t Am
eric
a. E
du
ca
tion
al a
ch
iev
em
en
t hig
hly
co
rre
late
s w
ith
me
as
ure
s o
f reg
ion
al e
co
no
mic
pro
sp
erity
an
d re
ce
nt d
ata
sh
ow
tha
t ru
ral A
me
ric
an
s a
re in
cre
as
ing
ly w
ell
ed
uc
ate
d. A
cc
ord
ing
to th
e U
.S. C
en
su
s B
ure
au
, on
ly 1
5 p
erc
en
t of r
ura
l ad
ults
ag
es
25
an
d o
lde
r d
o n
ot
ha
ve
a h
igh
sc
ho
ol d
iplo
ma
, an
d n
ea
rly
3 o
ut o
f 10
ru
ral a
du
lts n
ow
ha
ve
an
as
so
cia
te’s
or b
ac
he
lor’s
de
gre
e
or higher. These data suggests rural America is w
ell-positioned to ensure the flow of new
technologies and in
no
va
tion
s th
at a
re re
qu
ired
for r
ura
l pro
sp
erity
.
De
sp
ite A
me
ric
an
lea
de
rsh
ip in
tec
hn
olo
gic
al in
no
va
tion
in
ag
ric
ultu
re, fe
de
ral re
gu
latio
ns
are
cu
rre
ntly
limitin
g b
oth
pre
cis
ion
ag
ric
ultu
re a
nd
bio
tec
hn
olo
gy
ap
plic
atio
ns
. Fo
r e
xa
mp
le, U
AS
ca
n
pro
vid
e a
eria
l cro
p s
urv
ey
s w
ith g
rea
ter re
so
lutio
n th
an
sa
tellite
imagery, and at a frequency desired by farm
ers. How
ever, the Federal A
via
tion
Ad
min
istra
tion
reg
ula
tion
s o
n c
om
me
rcia
l UA
S o
pe
ratio
ns
limit th
e a
bility
of fa
rm
ers
to c
on
du
ct th
es
e s
urv
ey
s fo
r p
rec
isio
n
ag
ric
ultu
re a
pp
lica
tion
s.
On
the
bio
tec
hn
olo
gy
fron
t, b
ette
r c
oo
rdin
atio
n o
f the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re, E
nv
iron
me
nta
l Pro
tec
tion
Agency, and Food and Drug Administration regulations on genetic m
odification of crops and livestock is needed to reduce barriers to com
mercialization of safe, beneficial and im
proved genetically engineered e
ntitie
s. O
ur re
gu
lato
ry
sy
ste
m m
us
t pro
tec
t pu
blic
he
alth
, we
lfare
, sa
fety
, an
d o
ur e
nv
iron
me
nt w
hile
pro
mo
ting
ec
on
om
ic g
row
th, in
no
va
tion
, co
mp
etitiv
en
es
s, a
nd
job
cre
atio
n.
In a
dd
ition
, the
gro
win
g r
ura
l ne
ed
s fo
r la
rge
da
ta c
olle
ctio
n a
nd
pro
ce
ss
ing
req
uire
the
ne
ce
ss
ary
co
mm
un
ica
tion
s in
fras
tru
ctu
re to
ha
nd
le th
e q
ua
ntitie
s o
f da
ta n
ee
de
d. B
ig D
ata
is p
rolife
ratin
g a
cro
ss
all
as
pe
cts
of th
e g
lob
al a
gric
ultu
ral s
up
ply
ch
ain
an
d w
ill req
uire
po
licy
de
ve
lop
me
nt th
at p
rote
cts
farm
ers
’
priv
ac
y, U
.S. c
om
pa
nie
s, a
nd
U.S
. na
tion
al s
ec
urity
inte
res
ts, if th
e in
form
atio
n re
vo
lutio
n is
to b
e fu
lly
rea
lize
d in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a.
Objectives &
Recomm
ended Actions 1
. Coordinate Federal Farm
Production and Food Safety R&D
– T
o s
us
tain
ab
ly fe
ed
the
wo
rld
, en
su
re
a s
afe
foo
d s
up
ply
, an
d k
ee
p fa
milie
s o
n th
e fa
rm
, mo
de
rn
sc
ien
ce
an
d te
ch
no
log
y m
us
t be
ap
plie
d.
Th
e U
.S. n
ee
ds
res
ea
rch
an
d d
ev
elo
pm
en
t, a
s w
ell a
s a
reg
ula
tory
sy
ste
m th
at p
rom
ote
s ra
the
r th
an
discourages innovation and discovery. The National Science and Technology Council (N
STC) should e
xte
nd
the
ch
arte
r o
f the
Su
bc
om
mitte
e o
n F
oo
d a
nd
Ag
ric
ultu
re to
co
ord
ina
te s
trate
gie
s a
cro
ss
the
federal government to advance innovation in food and agriculture R&D. The Task Force recom
mends
tha
t the
su
bc
om
mitte
e c
ata
log
, co
ord
ina
te, a
nd
lev
era
ge
on
go
ing
inv
es
tme
nts
in te
ch
no
log
y to
driv
e
inn
ov
atio
n in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a a
nd
de
live
r s
afe
, tran
sfo
rm
ativ
e te
ch
no
log
ies
to fa
rm
ers
an
d c
on
su
me
rs.
The subcomm
ittee should also develop an R&D strategy that identifies and creates opportunities for th
e te
ch
no
log
y s
ec
tor to
inv
es
t in r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
.
2.
Improve Rural M
anagement of Big Data
– T
he
U.S
. go
ve
rn
me
nt n
ee
ds
a p
lan
an
d a
stro
ng
er v
isio
n fo
r
ho
w b
ig d
ata
ca
n b
e b
ette
r le
ve
rag
ed
to re
vo
lutio
niz
e th
e a
gric
ultu
ral s
ec
tor. T
he
NS
TC
Su
bc
om
mitte
e
on
Fo
od
an
d A
gric
ultu
re s
ho
uld
de
ve
lop
be
st p
rac
tice
s fo
r b
ig d
ata
ma
na
ge
me
nt in
ag
ric
ultu
ral
ap
plic
atio
ns
.
Photo credit: Getty Images
3233
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
3.
Increase Public Acceptance of Biotech Products –
Th
e
De
pa
rtm
en
t of S
tate
, the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re, a
nd
oth
er
rele
va
nt a
ge
nc
ies
sh
ou
ld d
ev
elo
p a
co
mm
un
ica
tion
s s
trate
gy
to in
cre
as
e a
cc
ep
tan
ce
of b
iote
ch
pro
du
cts
an
d o
pe
n a
nd
ma
inta
in m
ark
ets
for U
.S. fa
rm
ers
ab
roa
d. T
o c
om
ple
me
nt
this
stra
teg
y, th
e U
.S. T
rad
e R
ep
res
en
tativ
e s
ho
uld
initia
te
inte
rag
en
cy
de
libe
ratio
ns
to id
en
tify a
n in
tern
atio
na
l stra
teg
y
that removes unjustified trade barriers and expands m
arkets fo
r A
me
ric
an
pro
du
cts
.
4.
Develop a Streamlined, Science-based Regulatory Policy for Biotechnology –
Th
e fe
de
ral
government should continue efforts to m
odernize the federal regulatory system for biotechnology
products. These efforts will im
prove transparency, coordination, and predictability of the system
and support public confidence by assessing products in a risk-based manner, providing
predictable pathways for com
mercialization. These efforts should be continued to ensure the
success of consumers, farm
ers, and their products. More efficient and effective com
munication
must be em
ployed to build evidence-based confidence in the safety of products for health and the environm
ent. It is critical that these improvem
ents: (1) maintain high standards that are based on
the best available science and that deliver appropriate health and environmental protection; (2)
establish transparent, coordinated, predictable, and efficient regulatory practices across agencies w
ith overlapping jurisdiction; and (3) promote public confidence in the oversight of the products of
bio
tec
hn
olo
gy
thro
ug
h c
lea
r a
nd
tran
sp
are
nt p
ub
lic a
nd
dip
lom
atic
en
ga
ge
me
nt. T
he
Ta
sk
Fo
rce
recomm
ends that the Administration:
a. Coordinate Federal Regulation of Biotechnology Products – Reaffirm
strong support of the C
oo
rdin
ate
d F
ram
ew
ork
for th
e R
eg
ula
tion
of B
iote
ch
no
log
y, a
nd
the
co
rre
sp
on
din
g N
atio
na
l
Stra
teg
y fo
r M
od
ern
izin
g th
e R
eg
ula
tory
Sy
ste
ms
for B
iote
ch
no
log
y P
rod
uc
ts.
b. Coordinate Interagency Action Through the O
ffice of Science and Technology Policy –
Endorse and empow
er the Biotechnology Working Group, led by the W
hite House O
ffice of S
cie
nc
e a
nd
Te
ch
no
log
y P
olic
y, to
co
ntin
ue
co
op
era
tion
ac
ros
s re
lev
an
t go
ve
rn
me
nt a
ge
nc
ies
and improve science-based regulatory approaches directed in 2015 by the W
hite House
mem
orandum to federal agencies, including: updating science-based regulations navigable by
sm
all a
nd
mid
-siz
ed
inn
ov
ato
rs a
nd
pro
mo
ting
un
de
rsta
nd
ing
of h
ow
a r
isk
- an
d s
cie
nc
e b
as
ed
regulatory approach effectively protects consumers.
c. Expedite Com
mercialization of Biotechnology Products
– C
rea
te a
foru
m le
d b
y th
e W
hite
House O
ffice of Science and Technology Policy that connects regulators with the funding and R&D
ag
en
cie
s to
inc
rea
se
aw
are
ne
ss
an
d s
pe
ed
the
sa
fe c
om
me
rcia
liza
tion
of n
ov
el b
iote
ch
no
log
y
pro
du
cts
.
5.
Enable Rural Uses of Unm
anned Technologies – F
ed
era
l reg
ula
tion
s c
urre
ntly
res
tric
t ma
ny
agricultural uses of unmanned aircraft system
s (UAS). The FAA should expedite regulatory waiver
ap
pro
va
ls fo
r lo
w-a
ltitud
e U
AS
op
era
tion
s in
ru
ral e
nv
iron
me
nts
. Sta
te a
nd
loc
al g
ov
ern
me
nts
sh
ou
ld
be
en
ab
led
to p
rop
os
e in
cre
as
ed
UA
S o
pe
ratio
ns
in th
eir
juris
dic
tion
s to
be
co
ns
ide
red
by
the
FA
A fo
r
stre
am
line
d re
gu
lato
ry
wa
ive
r a
pp
rov
als
. Th
es
e c
ou
ld in
clu
de
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s s
ee
kin
g re
du
ce
d
res
tric
tion
s o
n U
AS
op
era
tion
s fo
r p
rec
isio
n a
gric
ultu
re a
pp
lica
tion
s a
nd
imp
rov
ed
pro
du
ctio
n
mo
nito
rin
g c
ap
ac
ity.
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
Call to Action #5: Developing the Rural Econom
yIn
fus
ing
ru
ral a
rea
s w
ith s
tron
ge
r b
us
ine
ss
es
an
d a
gric
ultu
ral e
co
no
mie
s e
mp
ow
ers
Am
eric
a. E
xp
an
din
g
fun
din
g o
ptio
ns
to in
cre
as
e th
e p
rod
uc
tivity
of fa
rm
ers
an
d ra
nc
he
rs w
ill lea
d to
the
en
ha
nc
ed
via
bility
an
d
co
mp
etitiv
en
es
s o
f ru
ral A
me
ric
a. B
y p
rom
otin
g in
no
va
tive
farm
tec
hn
olo
gie
s, e
ne
rgy
se
cu
rity
, rec
rea
tion
,
ag
rito
uris
m a
nd
su
sta
ina
ble
fore
st m
an
ag
em
en
t, c
om
mu
nitie
s w
ill be
em
po
we
red
to le
ve
rag
e th
e b
ou
ntie
s
of r
ura
l Am
eric
a. In
ve
stin
g in
ru
ral tra
ns
po
rta
tion
infra
str
uc
ture
is n
ee
de
d fo
r c
arry
ing
mo
re “
Ma
de
in
Am
eric
a”
pro
du
cts
to m
ark
ets
at h
om
e a
nd
ab
roa
d, a
nd
bo
os
ting
ou
r c
ou
ntr
y’s
glo
ba
l co
mp
etitiv
en
es
s.
Re
du
cin
g re
gu
lato
ry
bu
rde
ns
an
d a
ttrac
ting
priv
ate
ca
pita
l will s
up
po
rt o
ur u
ltima
te m
iss
ion
of e
mp
ow
erin
g
Ru
ral A
me
ric
a to
fee
d th
e w
orld
.
Economic developm
ent is enhanced by a supportive environment for business: an environm
ent that e
nc
ou
rag
es
inn
ov
atio
n a
nd
lev
era
ge
s e
xis
ting
res
ou
rce
s. R
ura
l are
as
ha
ve
es
pe
cia
lly h
igh
co
nc
en
tratio
ns
of n
atu
ral re
so
urc
e-re
late
d in
du
str
ies
an
d m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g, p
rov
idin
g c
on
sid
era
ble
op
po
rtu
nity
for m
ee
ting
productivity goals. Additionally, the large number of baby boom
ers still to retire represents significant potential grow
th for many rural places. H
owever, these opportunities m
ay also introduce challenges. The s
tea
dy
de
clin
e in
the
em
plo
ym
en
t sh
are
s o
f farm
ing
, min
ing
, an
d m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g o
ve
r th
e p
as
t ha
lf ce
ntu
ry
is d
ue
in p
art to
lab
or-s
av
ing
pro
du
ctiv
ity. W
itho
ut s
ub
sta
ntia
l gro
wth
in th
e d
em
an
d fo
r th
es
e p
rod
uc
ts,
rap
id p
rod
uc
tivity
inc
rea
se
s m
ay
furth
er d
ep
res
s r
ura
l em
plo
ym
en
t in th
es
e s
ec
tors
. Th
e c
ha
llen
ge
for r
ura
l
ec
on
om
ic d
ev
elo
pm
en
t is to
se
lec
t stra
teg
ies
tha
t en
co
ura
ge
bo
th e
xp
an
din
g m
ark
ets
for e
xis
ting
pro
du
cts
an
d e
xp
lorin
g p
os
sib
ilities
of n
ew
pro
du
cts
tha
t mig
ht re
qu
ire n
ew
typ
es
of jo
bs
an
d s
kills
.
Ex
pa
nd
ing
ma
rk
ets
thro
ug
h tra
de
is o
ne
stra
teg
y fo
r g
en
era
ting
an
d s
us
tain
ing
ec
on
om
ic g
row
th. P
rog
ram
s a
nd
po
licie
s th
at
pro
mo
te o
ve
rse
as
ma
rk
et d
ev
elo
pm
en
t, s
uc
h a
s a
ss
ista
nc
e in
un
de
rsta
nd
ing
fore
ign
ma
rk
et re
qu
irem
en
ts a
nd
es
tab
lish
ing
ne
two
rk
s, e
xis
t in m
an
y s
ec
tors
an
d a
t bo
th th
e fe
de
ral a
nd
sta
te le
ve
l. Mo
re g
en
era
lly, U
.S. a
nd
glo
ba
l trad
e a
re g
rea
tly
affected by the growth and stability of w
orld markets, including
ch
an
ge
s in
wo
rld
po
pu
latio
n, e
co
no
mic
gro
wth
, an
d in
co
me
.
Other factors affecting trade are global supply conditions,
ch
an
ge
s in
ex
ch
an
ge
rate
s, d
om
es
tic s
up
po
rt p
olic
ies
, an
d
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
3435
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
both tariff and non-tariff protections. Trade agreements generally increase trade, alter relative prices,
an
d c
an
ch
an
ge
pro
du
ctio
n s
ys
tem
s a
nd
su
pp
ly c
ha
ins
. Alth
ou
gh
inc
rea
se
d a
cc
es
s a
nd
su
pp
ort fo
r e
xp
ort
ma
rk
ets
ca
n b
e a
gro
wth
op
po
rtu
nity
for r
ura
l Am
eric
a, th
ey
ca
n a
lso
inc
rea
se
co
mp
etitio
n fro
m im
po
rts
.
How
ever, the effects of trade may not be distributed evenly across regions or sectors. For exam
ple, some
ma
nu
fac
turin
g in
du
str
ies
are
clu
ste
red
in r
ura
l rath
er th
an
urb
an
are
as
. Fo
od
ma
nu
fac
turin
g, m
ac
hin
ery
ma
nu
fac
turin
g, a
nd
wo
od
pro
du
ct m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g jo
bs
ac
co
un
t for la
rge
r s
ha
res
of r
ura
l ma
nu
fac
turin
g jo
bs
tha
n u
rb
an
ma
nu
fac
turin
g jo
bs
, wh
ile c
om
pu
ters
, ele
ctro
nic
s, a
nd
ch
em
ica
l pro
du
ctio
n a
cc
ou
nt fo
r la
rge
r
sh
are
s o
f urb
an
ma
nu
fac
ture
rs.
In 2
01
5, A
me
ric
an
farm
ers
an
d ra
nc
he
rs re
lied
up
on
ex
po
rts
for 1
9 p
erc
en
t of fa
rm
inc
om
e, a
cc
ord
ing
to th
e D
ep
artm
en
t
of A
gric
ultu
re. In
20
16
, the
ir e
xp
orts
tota
led
ov
er $
13
9 b
illion
,
ma
kin
g th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s th
e w
orld
’s to
p a
gric
ultu
ral e
xp
orte
r.
Ex
po
rt s
uc
ce
ss
su
pp
orts
live
liho
od
s o
f ma
ny
fam
ily fa
rm
s
aro
un
d th
e c
ou
ntr
y a
nd
he
lps
to p
rov
ide
rev
en
ue
to s
up
po
rt
sc
ho
ols
, pu
blic
se
rv
ice
s, s
ma
ll bu
sin
es
se
s, a
nd
millio
ns
of jo
bs
for r
ura
l Am
eric
a th
at a
re o
uts
ide
ag
ric
ultu
ral in
du
str
ies
.
Sin
ce
the
ag
ri-fo
od
se
cto
r a
cc
ou
nts
for a
larg
er s
ha
re o
f no
nm
etro
em
plo
ym
en
t tha
n o
f me
tro e
mp
loy
me
nt,
gro
wth
in U
.S. a
gric
ultu
ral e
xp
orts
is o
f gre
ate
r re
lativ
e im
po
rta
nc
e to
the
ec
on
om
ic p
ros
pe
rity
of n
on
me
tro
comm
unities. In 2017, a report using a computable general equilibrium
(CGE) model explored the econom
ic effects of a hypothetical 10-percent increase in foreign dem
and for U.S. agricultural exports (Zahniser et al. 2017). This dem
and shift was found to result in a 6.7-percent increase in the volum
e of such exports, worth
$9.7 billion at 2013 prices, and a net increase in total U.S. employm
ent (all economic sectors) of about
41
,50
0 jo
bs
—a
bo
ve
an
d b
ey
on
d th
e n
ea
rly
1.1
millio
n fu
ll-time
civ
ilian
job
s th
at U
.S. a
gric
ultu
ral e
xp
orts
currently support. Some 40 percent of these new
jobs would be created in rural (nonm
etro) counties. The a
gri-fo
od
se
cto
r’s
sh
are
of re
gio
na
l em
plo
ym
en
t is th
e m
ain
de
term
ina
nt o
f the
pe
rce
nta
ge
ch
an
ge
in to
tal
regional employm
ent in this simulation. M
ost parts of the agri-food sector (i.e., production agriculture plus food and beverage m
anufacturing) would see an increase in em
ployment, w
hile employm
ent in other trade- e
xp
os
ed
ind
us
trie
s - m
os
t no
tab
ly n
on
-foo
d-a
nd
-be
ve
rag
e m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g a
nd
min
ing
- wo
uld
de
cre
as
e.
Growth in m
ining, especially shale gas and oil production, may also offer econom
ic opportunities in rural a
rea
s, e
sp
ec
ially
if en
erg
y p
ric
es
ris
e. W
hile
sh
ale
ga
s a
nd
oil p
rod
uc
tion
ha
s g
row
n ra
pid
ly s
inc
e 2
00
5,
growth in som
e production areas has slowed or reversed due in part to declining prices. H
owever, other
are
as
wh
ere
pro
du
ctio
n is
still e
xp
an
din
g m
ay
co
ntin
ue
to e
xp
erie
nc
e ra
pid
gro
wth
.
Mo
ve
me
nt o
f ag
ric
ultu
re, m
inin
g, fo
res
try
, ma
nu
fac
ture
d, a
nd
milita
ry
freig
ht w
ou
ld n
ot b
e p
os
sib
le w
itho
ut tra
ns
po
rta
tion
co
nn
ec
tivity
co
as
t-to-c
oa
st, b
ord
er-to
-bo
rde
r, an
d b
etw
ee
n m
etro
po
litan
are
as
. Ru
ral A
me
ric
a is
ho
me
to m
an
y o
f the
na
tion
’s m
os
t critic
al
tran
sp
orta
tion
infra
str
uc
ture
as
se
ts, in
clu
din
g 4
44
,00
0 b
rid
ge
s, 2
.98
millio
n m
iles
of ro
ad
wa
ys
, an
d 3
0,5
00
mile
s o
f Inte
rsta
te h
igh
wa
ys
,
ac
co
rdin
g to
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of T
ran
sp
orta
tion
. Mo
re th
an
ha
lf of a
ll
pu
blic
roa
d m
iles
are
loc
ally
-ow
ne
d r
ura
l roa
ds
. Ra
ilroa
ds
mo
ve
d 1
.7
millio
n to
ns
of A
me
ric
an
freig
ht in
20
15
. By
20
45
, the
Un
ited
Sta
tes
Department of Transportation projects total freight on all m
odes (rail, truck, air, water, pipeline) to reach
25
billio
n to
ns
, va
lue
d a
t $3
7 tr
illion
. Th
e s
yn
erg
etic
rela
tion
sh
ip b
etw
ee
n tra
ns
po
rta
tion
inv
es
tme
nt a
nd
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images
economic developm
ent is based on accessible intermodal connections and sufficient infrastructure capacity
that can efficiently move freight and people. Transportation also has a broader role in shaping developm
ent p
atte
rn
s a
nd
imp
ac
ting
loc
atio
n d
ec
isio
ns
of b
us
ine
ss
es
an
d p
eo
ple
. Ru
ral tra
ns
po
rta
tion
ac
ce
ss
ibility
an
d c
on
ne
ctiv
ity a
re c
ritic
al to
tran
sp
orta
tion
-de
pe
nd
en
t bu
sin
es
s s
ec
tors
in r
ura
l are
as
. Th
e n
atio
n’s
rural transportation network provides the first and last link in the supply chain from
farm to m
arket, while
su
pp
ortin
g th
e to
uris
m in
du
str
y, e
na
blin
g th
e p
rod
uc
tion
of e
ne
rgy
, an
d s
up
po
rtin
g m
ilitary
mo
ve
me
nts
.
Milita
ry
ins
talla
tion
s a
nd
co
ntra
ct s
pe
nd
ing
of th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of D
efe
ns
e a
re o
the
r im
po
rta
nt e
co
no
mic
driv
ers
in m
an
y r
ura
l loc
atio
ns
. Ru
ral m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g fa
cilitie
s a
nd
ve
nd
ors
are
bu
oy
ed
by
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t,
pro
vid
ing
go
od
s a
nd
se
rv
ice
s fo
r o
ur n
atio
n’s
milita
ry
forc
es
. Ac
co
rdin
g to
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of D
efe
ns
e,
alm
os
t ha
lf of a
ll the
ir s
erv
ice
co
ntra
ct s
pe
nd
ing
oc
cu
rs in
ru
ral a
rea
s, to
the
tun
e o
f $5
.4 b
illion
do
llars
in
Fis
ca
l Ye
ar 2
01
5. T
he
op
po
rtu
nity
to in
cre
as
e s
uc
h a
n e
co
no
mic
driv
er is
su
bs
tan
tial a
s th
e to
tal r
ura
l sh
are
of a
ll typ
es
of c
on
trac
t sp
en
din
g w
as
on
ly a
bo
ut $
10
billio
n o
f the
tota
l $2
73
billio
n.
MN
MN
WA
WA
MT
MT
ID ID
ND
ND
ME
ME
WI
WI
OR
OR
SDSD
MI
MI
NH
NH
VTVT
NY
NY
WY
WY
IA IAN
EN
E
MA
MA
IL IL
PAPA
CTCT
RIRI
CA
CA
UT
UT
NV
NV
OH
OH
IN IN
NJNJ
CO
CO
WV
WV
MO
MO
KSKS
DEDE
MD
MD
VAVA
KYKY
DC
DC
AZAZ
OK
OK
NM
NM
TN TNN
CN
C
TX TX
ARAR
SCSC
ALAL
GA
GA
MS
MS
LA LA
FL FL
Department of Defense Installations in Rural A
reas (337 total)
AKAK
HI
HI
bpw | D
ISD
I
PRPR
GU
GU
Installations shown represent D
epartment of
Defense (D
oD) A
ctive, Reserve and N
ationalG
uard Com
ponents.
DoD
Installations in Rural A
reasR
ural Areas
<= 250 sq mi
251 - 1,000 sq mi
1,001 - 3,000 sq mi
3,001 - 4,607 sq mi
This map is show
n at the National Scale. Defense installations that appear to be in N
on-Rural Areas at the National Scale are included in Rural Areas w
hen zoomed in to the County Level. Rural
Areas are defined as US Counties in Non-M
etropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that also fall w
ithin US Census Tracks that have a Rural-Urban Com
muting Area (RU
CA) Code of 4-10. All data are current as of Fiscal Year 2015 and w
as acquired / processed from all DoD Com
ponents and the Washington H
eadquarters Services (WH
S).
3637
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
In a
dd
ition
to m
ilitary
ins
talla
tion
s s
up
po
rte
d b
y r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
aro
un
d th
e c
ou
ntr
y, th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of D
efe
ns
e, in
co
op
era
tion
with
the
sta
tes
, ma
inta
ins
ov
er 3
,50
0 N
atio
na
l Gu
ard
an
d R
es
erv
e c
en
ters
mo
stly
in r
ura
l are
as
to tra
in m
ilitary
forc
es
an
d m
ain
tain
eq
uip
me
nt.
Th
es
e c
en
ters
als
o s
erv
e a
s lo
ca
l dis
as
ter re
lief a
nd
su
pp
ort c
en
ters
for
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s. D
efe
ns
e a
lso
relie
s o
n th
ou
sa
nd
s o
f ve
nd
ors
an
d
ma
nu
fac
turin
g fa
cilitie
s in
ru
ral a
rea
s to
se
rv
e th
e d
efe
ns
e in
du
str
ial
ba
se
by
pro
vid
ing
go
od
s a
nd
se
rv
ice
s fo
r o
ur n
atio
n’s
milita
ry
forc
es
.
De
fen
se
als
o h
as
ov
er 5
,00
0 fo
rm
erly
us
ed
de
fen
se
site
s, m
os
tly in
ru
ral
are
as
, aw
aitin
g re
me
dia
tion
tha
t wo
uld
allo
w fo
r e
ve
ntu
al e
co
no
mic
red
ev
elo
pm
en
t by
loc
al c
om
mu
nitie
s.
In F
isc
al Y
ea
r 2
01
5, m
ore
tha
n 4
2 p
erc
en
t of A
ctiv
e D
uty
en
liste
d p
ers
on
ne
l ca
me
from
no
n-u
rb
an
are
as
.2 In
ad
ditio
n, v
ete
ran
s a
re o
ve
rre
pre
se
nte
d in
ru
ral A
me
ric
a b
y a
lmo
st 2
0 p
erc
en
t an
d c
an
pro
vid
e v
alu
ab
le a
nd
ne
ed
ed
sk
illse
ts. A
hu
ge
op
po
rtu
nity
ex
ists
for r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
to re
ac
h th
es
e k
ey
po
pu
latio
ns
. Ac
co
rdin
g
to the American Com
munity Survey, in total, the share of all post-9/11 veterans residing in rural areas in
2015 was 11.9 percent w
hile the share of all pre-9/11 veterans residing in rural areas was 15.5 percent.
Veterans are not evenly spread across the rural-urban landscape, either. Many areas w
ith post-9/11 and c
om
bin
ed
ve
tera
n c
on
ce
ntra
tion
s w
ere
ne
ar m
ilitary
ins
talla
tion
s, re
se
rv
e c
en
ters
, or tra
inin
g a
rea
s, w
he
re
tran
sitio
nin
g v
ete
ran
s a
re m
os
t like
ly to
rem
ain
on
ce
the
y le
av
e m
ilitary
se
rv
ice
.
Ac
ce
ss
to c
ap
ital to
su
pp
ort in
ve
stm
en
ts in
en
trep
ren
eu
rsh
ip,
inn
ov
atio
n, a
nd
gro
wth
ma
y b
e m
ore
da
un
ting
in r
ura
l are
as
wh
ere
few
er a
ltern
ativ
es
to c
on
ve
ntio
na
l ba
nk
loa
ns
ex
ist,
rela
tive
to u
rb
an
are
as
, wh
ich
als
o h
av
e e
as
ier a
cc
es
s to
ve
ntu
re
ca
pita
l, an
ge
l inv
es
ting
, an
d e
me
rgin
g c
row
ds
ou
rcin
g m
od
els
.
Lending of all types to small businesses is consistently low
er in
ru
ral a
rea
s c
om
pa
red
to u
rb
an
are
as
, an
d h
as
ye
t to re
co
ve
r
from the Great Recession of 2007-09. Because new
, small firm
s a
re th
e m
ajo
r s
ou
rce
of e
mp
loy
me
nt g
row
th in
bo
th u
rb
an
an
d
ru
ral e
co
no
mie
s, lim
ited
cre
dit a
va
ilab
ility to
da
y m
ay
ad
ve
rse
ly
affect near-term and long-term
job growth. For exam
ple, recent re
se
arc
h s
ug
ge
sts
tha
t sm
alle
r, ind
ep
en
de
nt m
an
ufa
ctu
rin
g
plants had higher survival rates than larger plants and multi-unit plants, such as branch plants (Low
2017). O
f co
urs
e, th
ere
are
two
sid
es
to th
e c
red
it ma
rk
et a
nd
a d
ec
line
in th
e d
em
an
d fo
r s
ma
ll bu
sin
es
s c
red
it du
e
to lo
we
r n
ew
bu
sin
es
s fo
rm
atio
n ra
tes
ma
y b
e p
art o
f the
ex
pla
na
tion
.
Th
e h
ea
lthc
are
se
cto
r a
lso
pro
vid
es
am
ple
op
po
rtu
nitie
s fo
r r
ura
l ec
on
om
ic d
ev
elo
pm
en
t. F
or e
ve
ry
job
in a
ru
ral h
os
pita
l, an
ad
ditio
na
l 0.3
4 jo
bs
are
cre
ate
d in
oth
er b
us
ine
ss
es
in th
e lo
ca
l ec
on
om
y. F
or e
ve
ry
dollar in salary and benefits a rural hospital pays staff, an additional 19 cents in secondary wages and
benefits is generated in the local economy (Doeksen et al., 2016). As of Septem
ber 2017, 60 percent of Health
Professional Shortage Areas, as identified by the Department of H
ealth & Hum
an Services, are in rural A
me
ric
a a
nd
en
co
mp
as
s 2
2.2
millio
n r
ura
l res
ide
nts
.
2 N
on-urban areas defined as Town & Rural segm
ents. These areas contain households that are classified with one of those tw
o urbanicity classifications. The population density scores w
here they are found range from 0 to 40. This category includes exurbs, tow
ns, farming
co
mm
un
ities
, an
d a
wid
e ra
ng
e o
f oth
er r
ura
l are
as
. Th
e to
wn
as
pe
ct o
f this
cla
ss
co
ve
rs th
e th
ou
sa
nd
s o
f sm
all to
wn
s a
nd
villa
ge
s
sc
atte
red
thro
ug
ho
ut th
e r
ura
l he
artla
nd
, as
we
ll as
the
low
-de
ns
ity a
rea
s fa
r b
ey
on
d th
e o
ute
r b
eltw
ay
s a
nd
su
bu
rb
an
rin
gs
of A
me
ric
a’s
major m
etros. Households in the exurban segm
ents have slightly higher densities and are more affluent than their rural neighbors. DoD
Population Representation report 2015 (https://ww
w.cna.org/research/pop-rep) page 125.
Photo credit: Getty Images
0
300
600
900
1,200
1,500
200001
02 03
04 05
06 07
08 09
2010 11
12 13
142015
Dollars per capita (inflation-adjusted 2015)
Source: Federal Financial Institutions E
xamination C
ouncil, Com
munity R
einvestment
Act data. The C
onsumer P
rice Index is used to convert the nominal (current-dollar)
statistics to real (inflation-adjusted) amounts (2015=100); gray bars indicate recessions.
Small business loans
$754
UrbanR
ural
$499
Ov
era
ll, ide
ntify
ing
ke
y re
gu
lato
ry
refo
rm
s, s
trea
mlin
ing
pro
ce
ss
es
, an
d im
pro
vin
g in
tera
ge
nc
y c
oo
rdin
atio
n
is re
qu
ired
to c
rea
te c
on
ditio
ns
in w
hic
h th
e r
ura
l ec
on
om
y c
an
thriv
e. F
or e
xa
mp
le, th
e c
os
t of p
rov
idin
g
or re
sto
rin
g c
lea
n w
ate
r fo
r a
co
mm
un
ity o
f on
ly a
few
hu
nd
red
citiz
en
s c
an
be
up
wa
rds
of h
un
dre
ds
of
thousands to millions of dollars. W
ithout the financial assistance of the federal government, these projects
would be im
possible to afford. While federal agencies can often provide m
ost of the funding necessary, either in the form
of loans or grants, comm
unities must still provide som
e portion of the financing. In addition to the cost of the construction, com
munities m
ust also be able to afford to get their projects th
rou
gh
the
ap
pro
va
l pro
ce
ss
. Ev
en
for s
ma
ll pro
jec
ts, th
e c
om
ple
xity
of th
e e
nv
iron
me
nta
l rev
iew
pro
ce
ss
alo
ne
, req
uir
ing
the
co
ord
ina
tion
of v
ario
us
sta
te a
nd
fed
era
l ag
en
cie
s a
nd
the
se
rv
ice
s o
f a p
rofe
ss
ion
al
environmental consulting firm
, can cost more than $20,000. W
hile that may be affordable for a city, for a
sm
all r
ura
l co
mm
un
ity th
is e
xtra
co
st c
an
be
a d
ea
l-bre
ak
er. T
ha
t me
an
s fo
r s
om
e c
om
mu
nitie
s, re
sid
en
ts
mu
st g
o w
itho
ut e
ve
n th
e m
os
t ba
sic
of p
ub
lic s
erv
ice
s.
Objectives &
Recomm
ended Actions 1
. Access to Capital –
Ru
ral b
us
ine
ss
me
n a
nd
wo
me
n, e
ntre
pre
ne
urs
, as
we
ll as
be
gin
nin
g fa
rm
ers
an
d
ranchers, often have difficulty accessing capital to help them start, grow
, and expand their businesses. They are often either too large or too sm
all to qualify for, or gain access to, available loans and lending p
rog
ram
s. In
ad
ditio
n, W
all S
tree
t an
d S
ilico
n V
alle
y h
av
e s
tru
gg
led
to a
cc
es
s r
ura
l ma
rk
ets
wh
ich
are
therefore not primed to take their cash. Agricultural lenders tend to operate far differently than venture
capital firms and global private investors. W
ith the number of sm
all and comm
unity banks declining, w
e n
ee
d to
he
lp c
om
mu
nitie
s id
en
tify a
nd
de
ve
lop
pro
jec
ts a
pp
rop
ria
te fo
r p
riv
ate
inv
es
tme
nt. T
he
Task Force recomm
ends that future strategies include:
a. Equity Financing
– A
llow
ing
ne
w o
blig
atio
ns
in fe
de
ral a
nd
sta
te lo
an
an
d c
red
it pro
gra
ms
to b
e
used to meet equity requirem
ents, or a first-loss-position, could help rural comm
unities bring additional financing to the table.
b. Debt Financing
– W
ith re
ne
we
d fo
cu
s a
nd
go
als
for a
gric
ultu
ral a
nd
no
n-a
gric
ultu
ral le
nd
ing
in
rural counties by both the Department of Agriculture and Sm
all Business Administration (SBA),
SB
A is
ab
le to
pro
vid
e lo
an
s u
p to
$5
.5 m
illion
.
c. Bundle/Repackage Projects and Deals – A legal/finance vehicle to bundle projects can bring
the
ne
ce
ss
ary
sc
ale
to a
ttrac
t priv
ate
se
cto
r in
tere
st a
nd
tak
e a
dv
an
tag
e o
f ec
on
om
ies
of s
ca
le to
de
live
r c
os
t sa
vin
gs
.
d. Regional and State Collaboration –
Pro
jec
ts c
an
dra
w u
po
n la
rge
r re
ve
nu
e s
trea
ms
wh
en
approached regionally. There are more financing options and deeper expertise w
hen state wide
an
d re
gio
na
l en
tities
are
inv
olv
ed
.
2.
Leverage Existing Market O
pportunities – Larger and more strategic public-private sector
opportunities should be sought for rural America. Locally-transform
ative actions create jobs and lift u
p lo
ca
l ec
on
om
ies
. Ma
ny
of th
es
e o
pp
ortu
nitie
s la
ng
uis
h in
reg
ula
tory
un
ce
rta
inty
, or s
tru
gg
le w
ith
volatile economic risk profiles. Am
ong the expertise within the federal fam
ily, lies the opportunity to m
ake a big difference in the lives of rural families, farm
ers and ranchers. We should engage the private
financial sector and work to identify opportunities already in their pipeline. The federal governm
ent could provide guidance to find w
ays to help capital markets expedite deal execution that quickly
benefit rural economies.
3839
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
3.
Create a Rural Prosperity Investment Portal –
A w
eb
ba
se
d p
orta
l en
ab
ling
ru
ral b
as
ed
inv
es
tme
nt
pa
rtn
ers
hip
s –
pu
blic
or p
riv
ate
– w
ill se
rv
e a
s a
ma
tch
ma
kin
g to
ol fo
r p
roje
ct p
rom
ote
rs to
rea
ch
do
me
stic
an
d in
tern
atio
na
l inv
es
tors
. Th
e p
orta
l ca
n m
ob
ilize
inv
es
tme
nts
, pro
mo
te e
co
no
mic
gro
wth
an
d c
rea
te m
ore
job
s a
cro
ss
ru
ral A
me
ric
a. In
pa
rtn
ers
hip
with
the
Op
po
rtu
nity
Pro
jec
t, th
e p
rop
os
ed
Co
mm
iss
ion
on
Ag
ric
ultu
re a
nd
Ru
ral P
ros
pe
rity
sh
ou
ld c
oo
rdin
ate
with
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of C
om
me
rce
an
d th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re to
en
ga
ge
the
tec
h s
ec
tor th
rou
gh
the
cre
atio
n o
f dig
ital to
ols
tha
t
ex
pa
nd
ru
ral p
ros
pe
rity
, su
ch
as
an
inv
es
tme
nt p
orta
l. Th
e O
pp
ortu
nity
Pro
jec
t inv
olv
es
co
llab
ora
tion
ac
ros
s g
ov
ern
me
nt a
ge
nc
ies
, loc
al g
ov
ern
me
nts
, tec
h c
om
pa
nie
s, c
om
mu
nity
org
an
iza
tion
s, a
nd
more, to create new
digital solutions that help families, businesses, local officials, and other m
embers
of th
e p
ub
lic a
cc
es
s e
co
no
mic
op
po
rtu
nity
. To
da
te, o
ve
r 4
5 d
igita
l too
ls h
av
e b
ee
n c
rea
ted
by
tec
h
co
mp
an
ies
thro
ug
h th
e O
pp
ortu
nity
Pro
jec
t.
4.
Build a Better Tax Code – Rural Americans w
ho work hard every day to provide food, fiber, fuel,
ma
nu
fac
ture
d g
oo
ds
, an
d s
erv
ice
s fo
r th
eir
fello
w c
itize
ns
sh
ou
ldn
’t be
ov
erb
urd
en
ed
by
the
tax
co
llec
tor. R
efo
rm
s to
fed
era
l tax
po
licy
are
lon
g o
ve
rdu
e. M
os
t fam
ily fa
rm
s a
nd
ru
ral e
ntre
pre
ne
urs
op
era
te a
s s
ma
ll bu
sin
es
se
s, w
he
re th
e lin
e b
etw
ee
n s
uc
ce
ss
an
d fa
ilure
is ra
zo
r th
in. A
dd
to th
at th
e
co
mp
lex
ity a
nd
co
sts
of m
ere
ly c
om
ply
ing
with
the
tax
co
de
, an
d th
eir
bu
dg
ets
are
stre
tch
ed
ev
en
tigh
ter. T
he
fed
era
l go
ve
rn
me
nt s
ho
uld
bu
ild a
be
tter ta
x c
od
e to
en
co
ura
ge
inv
es
tme
nt, c
rea
te jo
bs
an
d h
elp
Am
eric
an
s k
ee
p m
ore
of th
eir
ha
rd-e
arn
ed
mo
ne
y.
5.
Increase Agricultural, Forestry and Food Production – W
ith w
orld
foo
d d
em
an
d e
xp
ec
ted
to d
ou
ble
in 4
0 y
ea
rs, le
ad
ers
hip
is n
ec
es
sa
ry
to m
ee
t this
ec
on
om
ic o
pp
ortu
nity
an
d h
um
an
itaria
n im
pe
rativ
e.
Keeping future generations on the farm is one of the best w
ays to ensure that the demand for food,
fiber, and energy production is met. Fam
ily-run operations provide economic and social continuity
to th
eir
co
mm
un
ities
ac
ros
s g
en
era
tion
s, s
o fe
de
ral p
olic
ies
sh
ou
ld e
nc
ou
rag
e th
eir
tran
sfe
r to
fam
ily
me
mb
ers
willin
g to
rem
ain
on
the
farm
. Fo
r e
xa
mp
le, k
ey
co
mm
un
ity s
tak
eh
old
ers
, inc
lud
ing
gro
ce
ry
sto
res
, dis
trib
uto
rs, v
alu
e-c
ha
in a
cto
rs, u
niv
ers
ities
, an
d m
ore
, will s
oo
n b
e a
ble
to e
ng
ag
e a
nd
fran
ch
ise
a c
om
mu
nity
ec
on
om
ic d
ev
elo
pm
en
t mo
de
l as
we
ll as
sh
are
su
cc
es
s s
torie
s. In
ad
ditio
n,
local, regional, and state leaders will be convened to engage in a discussion on effective m
ethods of e
co
no
mic
de
ve
lop
me
nt a
nd
co
ord
ina
tion
with
fed
era
l inv
es
tme
nt a
s w
ell a
s to
dis
cu
ss
ho
w fe
de
ral,
regional, state and local incentives and regulations can support and/or hinder agriculture in their area. T
his
co
ord
ina
tion
will re
su
lt in“A
gric
ultu
ral C
om
mu
nity
Ec
on
om
ic D
ev
elo
pm
en
t” m
od
el to
ol k
its b
ein
g
de
ve
lop
ed
an
d d
ep
loy
ed
for th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re, r
ura
l pa
rtn
ers
, an
d fa
rm
ers
.
6.
Remove Regulatory Barriers to Developing and Accessing N
atural Resources – R
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
are often rich in natural and renewable natural resources, energy sources, and m
inerals. These com
munities should be able to responsibly and sustainably access, use, and profit from
those local a
ss
ets
with
ou
t un
du
e fe
de
ral re
str
ictio
ns
an
d in
terv
en
tion
. Th
e T
as
k F
orc
e re
co
mm
en
ds
tha
t the
following actions be initiated w
ithin the federal government: im
prove interagency coordination to re
du
ce
pro
ce
ss
bu
rde
n th
rou
gh
en
viro
nm
en
tal a
na
lys
is a
nd
decision-making efficiencies; stream
line consultation processes u
sin
g s
tan
da
rd d
ec
isio
n-m
ak
ing
tem
pla
tes
an
d im
ple
me
ntin
g
regulatory changes; integrate digital service systems to im
prove custom
er service, and reduce delivery of services; develop and test the issuance of perm
its electronically (e-Permitting); and,
de
ve
lop
an
d im
ple
me
nt a
mo
de
rn
ize
d ‘s
pe
cia
l us
e’ p
erm
itting
system, including a w
eb-based ePermit system
that offers Photo credit: Getty Im
ages
co
nv
en
ien
ce
an
d a
hig
h-q
ua
lity u
se
r e
xp
erie
nc
e to
the
pu
blic
. Co
mp
on
en
ts o
f this
sy
ste
m a
re a
lrea
dy
tak
ing
sh
ap
e b
etw
ee
n th
e D
ep
artm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd
De
pa
rtm
en
t of In
terio
r.
7.
Regain American Energy Dom
inance – R
ura
l Am
eric
a is
a
so
urc
e o
f res
ou
rce
s th
at c
an
fue
l the
na
tion
an
d th
e w
orld
.
Bo
os
ting
pro
du
ctio
n o
f all s
ou
rce
s o
f en
erg
y fro
m n
atu
ral g
as
,
oil, c
oa
l, nu
cle
ar, a
nd
ren
ew
ab
les
is e
ss
en
tial to
Am
eric
a’s
na
tion
al s
ec
urity
inte
res
t an
d r
ura
l Am
eric
a’s
ec
on
om
y. T
he
fed
era
l go
ve
rn
me
nt m
us
t en
su
re a
reg
ula
tory
en
viro
nm
en
t
wh
ich
ca
n u
nle
as
h th
is p
ote
ntia
l wh
ile k
ee
pin
g A
me
ric
an
s s
afe
an
d h
ea
lthy
. Th
is in
cre
as
e in
pro
du
ctio
n o
f do
me
stic
fue
ls w
ill
brin
g jo
bs
ba
ck
to r
ura
l Am
eric
a a
nd
pro
mo
te e
ne
rgy
se
cu
rity
.
We
mu
st a
lso
co
ntin
ue
res
ea
rch
an
d d
ev
elo
pm
en
t for n
ew
so
urc
es
of e
ne
rgy
to e
ns
ure
tha
t Am
eric
a le
ad
s th
e w
orld
in in
no
va
tive
en
erg
y s
ou
rce
s. O
ve
rall, th
is
boost in energy production will benefit rural com
munities, boost U.S. tax revenues, and increase our
po
we
r in
the
glo
ba
l en
erg
y m
ark
et.
8.
Rebuild and Modernize Rural Am
erica’s Infrastructure – T
he
ec
on
om
ic s
uc
ce
ss
of fu
ture
ge
ne
ratio
ns
an
d r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
de
pe
nd
s o
n re
ha
bilita
ting
tran
sp
orta
tion
infra
str
uc
ture
, clo
sin
g th
e
infra
str
uc
ture
ga
ps
with
in r
ura
l co
mm
un
ities
, an
d e
nh
an
cin
g c
on
ne
ctio
n to
me
trop
olita
n a
rea
s.
a. Increase “M
ade in America” O
utputs –
Inc
rea
sin
g “
Ma
de
in A
me
ric
a”
ou
tpu
t in a
gric
ultu
re,
ma
nu
fac
turin
g, fo
res
try
, an
d m
inin
g re
qu
ires
inv
es
tme
nt in
ca
pa
city
an
d m
od
ern
iza
tion
of r
ura
l
infra
str
uc
ture
to c
on
ne
ct r
ura
l pro
du
ctio
n fa
cilitie
s a
nd
bu
sin
es
se
s to
na
tion
wid
e a
nd
glo
ba
l
co
mm
erc
e. In
cre
as
ed
ou
tpu
t will re
su
lt in u
nle
as
hin
g th
e fu
ll po
ten
tial o
f the
U.S
. ec
on
om
y a
nd
the
cre
atio
n o
f ru
ral jo
b o
pp
ortu
nitie
s, e
ns
urin
g th
at r
ura
l are
as
are
attra
ctiv
e a
nd
pro
sp
ero
us
pla
ce
s to
live
for g
en
era
tion
s to
co
me
.
b. Address Com
mercial Infrastructure Gaps –
Th
e k
ey
infra
str
uc
ture
ga
ps
tha
t ne
ed
to b
e
addressed are those that carry comm
erce for rural America, especially in the first and last m
ile. T
ran
sp
orta
tion
infra
str
uc
ture
of a
ll mo
de
s –
roa
ds
, brid
ge
s, ra
ilwa
ys
, an
d w
ate
rw
ay
s –
mu
st b
e
up
gra
de
d a
nd
ex
pa
nd
ed
with
the
ca
pa
city
ne
ed
ed
to a
cc
om
mo
da
te th
e a
dd
ition
al c
rop
s a
nd
products that are made in Am
erica’s rural economies, including food, fiber, forests, and factory-
ma
de
co
mm
od
ities
an
d s
pe
cia
lty-g
oo
ds
.
c. Develop the “Digital Superhighw
ay” –
Th
e “
dig
ital s
up
erh
igh
wa
y”
for c
on
ne
ctiv
ity m
us
t
be
bu
ilt ou
t to s
up
po
rt r
ura
l ec
on
om
ies
’ co
nn
ec
tion
to a
ll ap
plic
atio
ns
of g
lob
al c
om
me
rce
,
inc
lud
ing
su
pp
ort o
f da
ta tra
ns
fer n
ee
de
d fo
r th
e In
tern
et o
f Th
ing
s a
nd
futu
re d
ep
loy
me
nt
of a
uto
no
mo
us
ve
hic
les
. In th
e s
ho
rt te
rm
, be
tter c
olla
bo
ratio
n a
mo
ng
the
De
pa
rtm
en
t of
Tra
ns
po
rta
tion
, De
pa
rtm
en
t of A
gric
ultu
re, A
rm
y C
orp
s o
f En
gin
ee
rs, D
ep
artm
en
t of E
ne
rgy
, an
d
oth
ers
will e
na
ble
the
stra
teg
ic re
ha
bilita
tion
an
d b
uild
-ou
t of th
e in
fras
tru
ctu
re n
ee
de
d to
ca
rry
freig
ht to
, with
in, a
nd
from
ru
ral p
rod
uc
tion
site
s in
tod
ay
’s
an
d to
mo
rro
w’s
ec
on
om
y.
d. Expand State and Local Transportation Capacity –
Em
po
we
rm
en
t of s
tate
an
d lo
ca
l go
ve
rn
me
nts
to e
xp
an
d
an
d m
ain
tain
infra
str
uc
ture
will e
ns
ure
ru
ral tra
ns
po
rta
tion
ca
pa
city
su
pp
orts
loc
al a
nd
reg
ion
al d
em
an
ds
for fre
igh
t
flow.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images
4041
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
9.
Cutting Red Tape – To ensure the quickest and most effective deploym
ent of new investm
ents in in
fras
tru
ctu
re, fe
de
ral e
nv
iron
me
nta
l pe
rm
itting
mu
st b
e s
imp
ler a
nd
sp
ee
die
r. Re
gu
lato
ry
refo
rm
s,
stre
am
linin
g p
roc
es
se
s, a
nd
imp
rov
ing
inte
rag
en
cy
co
ord
ina
tion
mu
st o
cc
ur to
cre
ate
co
nd
ition
s in
wh
ich
the
ru
ral e
co
no
my
ca
n th
riv
e fro
m th
e fa
rm
ga
te a
nd
sm
all b
us
ine
ss
up
thro
ug
h th
e v
alu
e-a
dd
ed
ch
ain
. Ou
r fe
de
ral a
ctio
ns
mu
st a
lso
be
as
cu
sto
me
r-ce
ntr
ic a
s p
os
sib
le a
nd
we
mu
st e
ns
ure
tha
t ou
r
regulations and policies are up-to-date, necessary, and effectively achieving their purposes, while
simultaneously being as affordable and consistent as possible. If inconsistencies or interferences w
ith reform
initiatives, or actions that eliminate jobs or inhibit job creation are identified, w
e must take
ste
ps
to le
ss
en
or re
mo
ve
the
ir n
eg
ativ
e im
pa
cts
. On
e s
uc
h a
ctio
n th
at c
an
be
tak
en
in th
e s
ho
rt te
rm
is to fully implem
ent One Federal Decision (O
FD) and FAST-41 policies and recomm
endations within
en
viro
nm
en
tal a
uth
oriz
atio
n a
ctio
ns
. All fe
de
ral a
ge
nc
ies
sh
ou
ld a
ctiv
ely
pa
rtic
ipa
te in
all F
AS
T-4
1
an
d O
FD
wo
rk
ing
gro
up
s to
en
su
re th
at a
ny
les
so
ns
lea
rn
ed
are
ap
plie
d to
imp
rov
e e
nv
iron
me
nta
l
au
tho
riz
atio
n p
roc
es
se
s.
10
. Increase Access to Global Market –
Ba
se
d o
n fa
ir tra
de
prin
cip
les
, inte
rn
atio
na
l ma
rk
et a
cc
es
s m
us
t
be
ag
gre
ss
ive
ly p
urs
ue
d a
nd
su
pp
orte
d. P
hy
sic
al in
fras
tru
ctu
re a
nd
e-c
on
ne
ctiv
ity m
us
t be
imp
rov
ed
an
d m
ain
tain
ed
to c
on
ne
ct fa
rm
s a
nd
ru
ral c
om
mu
nitie
s to
the
wo
rld
. Am
eric
an
ag
ric
ultu
re n
ee
ds
and deserves policies that support and build on this success - by opening markets abroad; by ensuring
fair and science-based regulatory treatment for Am
erican products of all kinds; and by implem
enting s
tron
g e
nfo
rce
me
nt p
olic
ies
tha
t ho
ld tra
din
g p
artn
ers
to th
eir
co
mm
itme
nts
. In th
e n
ex
t thre
e y
ea
rs,
our administration w
ill take on challenges ranging from high tariffs on dozens of products – including
meats, dairy, rice, soy, w
heat, fresh fruit and vegetables, and more – to unscientific regulation of
biotechnology products and other goods; inappropriate use of geographical indications in ways that
shut out American producers of w
ines, cheeses, and other high-value products; and escalating levels of d
om
es
tic s
up
po
rts
in la
rge
em
erg
ing
ec
on
om
ies
. We
will a
dd
res
s th
es
e th
rou
gh
fair
ne
go
tiatio
ns
, us
e
of W
orld
Tra
de
Org
an
iza
tion
an
d F
ree
Tra
de
Ag
ree
me
nt d
isp
ute
se
ttlem
en
t rig
hts
, an
d a
ll oth
er m
ea
ns
at o
ur d
isp
os
al.
Photo credit: USDA Flickr
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4243
III. Answering the Call to Action for Rural Am
ericaIII. Answ
ering the Call to Action for Rural America
