Obama Administration Announces $9 Million Investment in Rural Communities to Foster Job Creation and Innovation

Obama Administration Announces $9 Million Investment in Rural Communities to Foster Job Creation and Innovation

The following press release was published by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Aug. 1, 2012. It is reproduced in full below.

Winners of the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge will strengthen regional industry clusters and rural economies across 12 states The Obama administration today announced the winners of the multi-agency Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge to spur job creation and economic growth in rural regions across the country.

Economic development partnerships and initiatives in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia will receive awards ranging from nearly $200,000 to over $1 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The winning projects will promote job creation, accelerate innovation and provide assistance to entrepreneurs and businesses in a wide range of industrial sectors, including advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, energy and natural resources, technology and tourism.

“The announcement of this round of winners marks another step in the Obama administration’s commitment to help create jobs and economic opportunities across the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator challenge winners are able to assist in a wide-range of areas include housing, community facilities, and economic and community development leading to job creation, expanded markets, and economic growth.” Last year’s 20 challenge winners generated millions in matching funds and their projects are expected to help create hundreds of new businesses and thousands of new jobs.

“Promoting job growth in economic clusters continues President Obama’s commitment to growing and investing in the nation's rural communities,” said Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Christopher Masingill. “Congratulations to the winners of the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge who will help create good jobs in rural America and build a stronger economy across the Delta and throughout the country.”

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

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