USDA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORT OF MISSISSIPPI DELTA REGION
WASHINGTON, July 31, 1998--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced a new partnership with nine other Federal agencies to provide economic assistance to seven states located in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States. The compact, entitled The Delta: Beyond 2000, will re-examine a 1990 economic report issued by the Congressionally-appointed Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission and will determine new ways in which Federal resources might be used to assist residents of the area.
"The Clinton Administration is committed to using the resources of USDA to assist the Mississippi Delta region," said Glickman. "USDA administers a number of programs designed to develop the economic infrastructure of rural communities such as those located in the Delta. In 1997 alone, USDA programs helped preserve more than 150,000 rural jobs and assisted more than 40,000 families in purchasing homes. We will continue to work with our other agency partners, and nonprofit and government partners in the states, to make the resources available which will improve the lives of the residents of the Delta and help them look toward a brighter tomorrow."
The Mississippi Delta region has historically been one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the country. Recommendations expected as areas of action for the new agency compact include improvements in transportation, education, and health and safety of Delta residents. Breakout sessions held at the Beyond 2000 conference include segments on the development of human capital, of natural and physical assets, and private enterprise in the region.
"Working together in the Delta Region, the agencies will have more resources to break the cycle of persistent poverty and high unemployment rates that have affected these states for generations," said Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Jill Long Thompson. "With this initiative, I believe we will be able to work as a partner to create long-term improvements for the people of the Delta."
Note: Below is a list of agencies participating in the agreement and states included in the lower Mississippi Delta region.
States included in the Delta Region Compact: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Participating Agencies: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department Commerce, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Labor, United States Small Business Administration, and U.S. Department of Transportation.
Media Contact: Roger Salazar, (202) 720-4623
roger.salazar@usda.gov
Public Contact: Jean Carter, (202) 690-0513
jean.carter@usda.gov
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