On Friday (Aug. 20) USDA secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack will be in Keizer, Oregon to answer questions and take comments about the future of funding rural development programs in Oregon. Vilsack will be joined by Congressman Schrader and Rural Development State Director Walker. Last year the USDA directed $550 million dollars to Oregon through the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans program, the Rural Energy for America Program, and other rural business assistance programs. These rural development funds can also be applied to community facility loan and grant programs, water and environmental programs, and technical support. It also includes funding for rural housing programs, such as home ownership and rental assistance.

The forum is a brief couple of hours but there will be a question and comment period with our USDA guests. I’ve got a short list of questions I’m preparing but can’t help but wonder what else we should ask these folks. A couple topics I’ve been mulling over are listed below but your comments and questions are appreciated.

• Small business development (funds for technical assistance as well as seed funding for new business)
   
• Farmer co-operative energy facilities
   
• Development and maintenance of mobile slaughter units (I know, it sounds terrible but I now have an odd curiosity about this stuff)

You can read and comment on all of Cassie Wieden's blog posts on the Rural Economy Project on Oregon Public Broadcasting's web site.

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