Amador County – A U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development forum in Plymouth will take public input on federal policy for jobs, economic development and, communities in rural California counties in February.
The Central Sierra Resource Conservation and Development Council announced Thursday that it will be co-hosting a federal forum in Plymouth February 15, with the USDA Rural Development division, to take input on needs regarding jobs, economic development and sustainable communities in California rural counties.
The open forum will aim at “strategizing policy needs and program delivery for rural California,” and it will “focus on activities and initiatives that have resulted” from USDA Rural Development’s February 2010 report entitled “Jobs, Economic Development and Sustainable Communities,” based on rural California counties.
The report was compiled with input provided by community leaders, residents, business owners and organizations throughout the state. The USDA conducted 43 input forums across the state, and talked to nearly 900 people, to compile data for the report. USDA Rural Development, Central Sierra Council planned the meeting in Plymouth will “discuss the findings and opportunities identified in the report as well as any new suggestions.”
Central Sierra RCD’s Susan Snoke said the Plymouth forum, set for Feb. 15, will be important for the Foothills counties and for Plymouth. She said they will have in attendance the people who have the ears of Washington, that is, the USDA. Snoke said Central Sierra jumped at the chance to host the forum in Amador County, which will be held in Plymouth City Hall.
The forum has three agenda items, including a “report on accomplishments toward recommendations in the report.” It will also ask if there are issues and/or recommendations that need to be added, changed or prioritized. The forum will also “solicit individuals and/or groups to champion action items in the report.”
The USDA in the report said several common themes emerged as information came in, “despite the diversity of the state’s many regions.” Available online at USDA Rural Development’s website, the report details the topics heard most often in forums and includes specific ideas and recommendations as shared in forums.
The report said “no attempt has been made by California Rural Development to assess the feasibility and/or desirability of any specific recommendation, nor can we endorse specific ideas without further research and discussions.” But the report said USDA looks “forward to working with the relevant interest groups to pursue solutions to these challenges.”
The forum is 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Plymouth City Hall, at 9426 Main Street in Plymouth. To see a copy of the report online, see USDA’s website.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
