National Contact: Dan Campbell (202) 720-6483
dacampbe@rdmail.rural.usda.gov
March 21, 2000
WHO:
Jill Long Thompson, Under Secretary, USDA Rural Development
WHAT:
Long Thompson will provide an overview of USDA's strategy to boost living conditions and reduce poverty in rural America. She believes that a similar approach can be used to alleviate poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. She will be addressing a major conference: "Development of the Rural Economy and Poverty Reduction in Latin American and the Caribbean," sponsored by the International Development Bank.
WHERE:
New Orleans Convention Center, Room 281-282
WHEN:
Friday, March 24, 2000; 9 a.m.
WHY:
USDA Rural Development has played a leading role in improving rural living conditions in America by forging strategic partnerships and tapping grassroots leaders to create a holistic, sustainable approach to attacking the core causes of rural stagnation and poverty, rather than the piece-meal approaches of the past. This economic development model can also work on an international scale.
For more information, call Dan Campbell (202) 720-6483, or Diane Beebe, (318) 473-7906.
Press Availability: From 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the conference center briefing room; Jill Long Thompson will meet with reporters to discuss her presentation, or other aspects of USDA's Rural Development mission area. She oversees USDA's Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service and Office of Community Development. Please confirm your interview by calling one of the above numbers.
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