USDA reports on efforts to assist rural communities

Since 2009, the USDA reports that it has helped create nearly 450,000 jobs.
Since 2009, the USDA reports that it has helped create nearly 450,000 jobs.

Since 2009, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture committed to helping rural America, the organization has helped 102,882 rural businesses create 449,302 jobs with grant and loan support. 

The increase in jobs helped more than 1.1 million rural families to buy, repair or refinance a home. In the rural public, it created more than 7,540 critical community facilities projects -- 137 public schools, 406 libraries, 928 health care facilities, and 3,198 public safety facilities.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, high speed Internet access has been expanded to 6 million rural Americans’ homes or jobs. Over 5.5 million rural residences and businesses also received modernized electric infrastructure. Perhaps most importantly, improved water and wastewater services are now able to be accessed to nearly 18 million rural residences.

Renewable energy projects have also helped rural America by introducing them to renewable energy systems and energy efficiency solutions, saving more than 9.4 billion kilowatt hours, approximately enough energy to power 820,000 homes in America for a year.

Additionally, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helped millions of families get healthy food while getting back on their feet during the recession.