MEDIA RELEASE

Business owners, residents, community leaders invited to share ideas on creating jobs

State Executive Director Diane Ley announced today that the state offices of Farm Service Agency and Rural Development and the County of Hawai`i Department of Research and Development will hold a roundtable on job creation and economic growth.

The roundtable will be held on:

Wednesday, February 3, 2010. Kailua-Kona. 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
Old Kona Airport Main Events Pavilion

The roundtables follow the Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth that President Obama hosted at the White House on December 3. Participants will discuss steps that can to be taken to grow the economy and put Americans back to work.

“This forum will provide an opportunity for residents, business owners and community leaders in West Hawaii to share ideas on creating jobs and economic opportunities,” Diane Ley said. “Government can help lay the groundwork for economic growth, but the best ideas for continued growth and job creation often come from local and community leaders. I look forward to hearing these ideas and sharing them with the Obama Administration.”

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

• Exploring ways to rejuvenate and promote local businesses;
• Creating jobs by rebuilding America’s infrastructure;
• Creating new opportunities from existing ones, such as with value-added agricultural products;
• Supporting job growth among small businesses; and
• Preparing workers for 21st century jobs.

The County of Hawai`i Department of Research and Development works to provide pro-active leadership, enhancing the quality of life, and sustainability of Hawaii Island communities through programs related to: agriculture, energy, tourism, economic development, community development and film.

USDA Rural Development administers and manages more than 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs as laid out by Congress through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. 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. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $125 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

USDA’s Farm Services Agency works to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Some of the agency’s efforts include facilitating income support, disaster assistance and conservation programs, providing operating loans for the procurement of farm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as offering ownership loans to help new and veteran producers purchase a farm. FSA also works to procure various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs.

For more information, please call the Farm Service Agency in Honolulu at
(808) 441-2704, Ext. 136 or the Farm Service Agency in Kealekekua at (808) 322-2484, Ext. 111.