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USDA Jobs, Economic Growth Roundtable Feb. 1 in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, January 28, 2010 - USDA Rural Development State Director Jim Nordlund and Farm Services Agency Executive Director Danny Consenstein are inviting anyone who wishes to participate to attend the last of four economic roundtables on Monday, February 1 at the Millennium Hotel at 4800 Spenard Road in Anchorage.  The meeting will begin at 1:30 and follows the Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth that President Obama hosted at the White House on December 3.

The roundtable will include business owners, residents, state and local officials, union members, non-profit organizations, community leaders, economists and other interested parties. Participants will discuss steps that can to be taken to grow the economy and put Americans back to work.

The primary focus will be on ideas to accelerate job growth in rural America.  Some of the topics to be discussed are:

• Creating jobs by building Alaska's rural infrastructure; such as expanded broadband access to rural communities
• Expanding Alaska's agricultural production and building stronger local food systems;
• Creating jobs by lowering energy costs and developing new renewable energy projects;
• Exploring economic opportunities as a result of climate change;
• Supporting job growth among small businesses;
• Preparing workers for 21st century jobs;
• Exploring ways to rejuvenate and promote local businesses.

Co-sponsoring the event with USDA are the AFL-CIO, the Association of ANCSA Regional Corporation Presidents/CEOs, the Denali Commission, and the State of Alaska.  A report on the Alaska meetings, and others held around the Nation, will be provided to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Washington, D.C., later in February.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).