In an effort to create jobs and spur economic development, more than 30 community leaders from across Virginia met last week on the Eastern Shore of the state to discuss and share ideas during a Jobs and Economic Roundtable.
“This economic roundtable is a national grassroots effort to provide rural employment ideas and recommendations in response to a request from President Obama,” said Ellen Davis, rural development state director. The Obama administration is currently exploring every avenue available to assist in job creation and USDA Rural Development and the Farm Service Agency has been tasked nationally to take the lead in this effort.”
Attendees agreed that offering tax incentives for small businesses and creating family wage jobs in rural communities are essential to today’s economy. Other ideas include continuing to provide incentives to promote small business incubators to help start-up operations; being mindful of the Chesapeake Bay clean-up costs so that it does not negatively affect existing agricultural businesses with added expenses; and continuing to support value-added agricultural products and programs in rural communities.
“The input provided today is very important and will be submitted to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and to the White House,” said Mike Wooden, state executive director for Farm Service Agency.
—by Virgina Public Affairs Office, USDA FSA
