USDA Rural Development State Director Thomas G. Fern announced today that USDA has scheduled several ‘USDA Resource Day’ events throughout Kentucky as part of USDA’s StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity.
A valued partner of USDA, the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Cooperative Extension) will host the seven locations for the information sharing events.
“Our goal is to assist the public in learning about the wide variety of programs available through USDA,” said Fern. “USDA has a significant number of resources that can bring much needed assistance to residents and communities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
In 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack established USDA’s StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity to address the specific challenges associated with rural poverty. Since then, StrikeForce teams have collaborated with more than 500 community partners and public entities to bring targeted assistance to rural areas experiencing chronic poverty. In January 2014, Vilsack designated 73 of Kentucky’s most impoverished counties to be included in the StrikeForce Initiative.
“We are pleased to host the seven locations as part of our continued partnership commitment with USDA to assist the citizens of Kentucky,” said Dr. Jimmy Henning, PhD., Director of UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Cooperative Extension Service).
Each USDA Resource Day event is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (EDT). No reservations are needed to attend. The locations and dates are:
- Oct. 22 - New Castle (Henry County), 2151 Campbellsburg Road
- Oct. 22 - Manchester (Clay County EXCEL Center), 86 Muddy Gap Road
- Oct. 30 - Lebanon (Marion County), 416 Fairgrounds Road
- Nov. 4 - Richmond (Madison County), 230 Duncannon Lane
- Nov. 10 - Grayson (Carter County), 94 Fairground Drive
- Nov. 12 - Hopkinsville (Christian County), 2850 Pembroke Road
- Nov. 17 - Morgantown (Butler County), 112 E GL Smith Street
Nine USDA agencies will have representatives and/or materials available at the various sites: Agricultural Marketing Service; Agricultural Research Service, Farm Service Agency; Forest Service; National Appeals Division; National Agricultural Library; National Agricultural Statistics Service; Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Rural Development. UK Cooperative Extension Service also will have information on their programs and services available to the public.