Rural-issues roundtable discussion set Monday

Local residents, business owners and community leaders will have the opportunity to share their thoughts about opportunities and challenges in rural Iowa when Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development state director in Iowa, visits Fairfield Monday.

A rural-issues roundtable discussion will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Activity Building. The meeting is open to the public.

USDA Rural Development?s funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested nearly $2 billion on essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities for Iowa families.

Today, more than 1.7 million Iowans live in rural communities and areas, and nearly half of the state?s communities have fewer than 500 residents.

USDA Rural Development is working with rural communities to create jobs, expand opportunity, encourage innovation and build a strong foundation for the future. The agency currently administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility loan and grant programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents and farmers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

This past year, USDA Rural Development?s investment in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,900 jobs, aided 2,000 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 80 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

For more information about finance programs available through USDA Rural Development, call the office in Mount Pleasant at 319-986-5800 Ext. 4. The office serves communities, businesses and residents in Keokuk, Washington, Muscatine, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Van Buren and Lee counties.

Further information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting the agency?s website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia.