You can read a one-page summary of President Obama’s’ agenda for Rural America now posted on the White House website. The agenda addresses three areas: economic opportunities for family farmers, rural economic development and rural quality of life.
“Rural communities face numerous challenges but also economic opportunities unlike anything we have witnessed in modern history. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that together we can ensure a bright future for rural America. They will help family famers and rural small businesses find profitability in the marketplace and success in the global economy.”
Leading with the need to ensure economic opportunity for family farmers, the Rural Agenda addresses the need to support family farms, preserve private lands, and promote local and organic agriculture.
To foster rural economic development, the plan includes capital to create value-added products as well as cooperative marketing, small business, and micro-enterprise initiatives. Building rural connectivity for phone service that promotes affordable broadband has been in the news over the last week. Upgrades in rural infrastructure - roads, bridges, water systems and air access - are also stated goals.
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I’d like to see you write about value-added products in art and crafts areas. I understand what it means in terms of farm products - harvesting your own peaches and making peach jelly kind of thing - but what is value-added in craft? Isn’t it my own labor?