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Business Programs | Cooperative Development Programs | Homeownership Programs | Rental Housing Programs | Community Facilities Programs | Water and Waste Program | Telecommunications Program | Electric Program | Management Initiatives | Resource Summaries
Discussion of Performance Goals: Strong cooperatives in rural areas help achieve the Departmental goal to “Expand economic and trade opportunities for agricultural producers and other rural residents.”
A priority of the Administration is providing assistance to small and beginning farmers. The need for this assistance is reflected in the following indicators:
In 1980 farmers received 37 cents of every consumer dollar spent for food. By 1996 the farmer’s share had dropped to 23 cents.
Farms with gross annual sales under $250,000 represent 94 percent of all farms, but they receive only 41 percent of all farm receipts.
Cooperative purchasing and selling is an important tool for helping small and beginning farmers be economially viable. These goals reflect the success of the RBS in enhancing the quality of life of rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive businesses and sustainable cooperatives. These goals include the number of businesses, cooperatives, and communities that receive financial resources and technical assistance, and the impacts on rural economies that stem from this assistance. These goals also reflect success in implementing the themes from the mission area strategic plan, including partnering, leveraging, capacity building, etc. Many goals relate directly to the levels of program funding and Agency staffing levels. Reductions in the proposed levels of funding and staffing will cause corresponding reductions in the planned levels of performance.
Means and Strategies: Strategies to achieve the objectives include:
Coordinate efforts with the Foreign Agricultural Service to utilize cooperatives to promote in rural areas product development of products which have a foreign market.
Involve 1890 and 1862 land-grant universities in providing technical assistance, credit acquisition assistance, and business plan development to minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in training.
Partner with public, non-profit, and educational institutions to heighten awareness and understanding of cooperatives and marketing opportunities in under-served rural areas.
Provide field-level training and technical assistance to cooperatives and developing cooperative groups.
Establish an Outreach Program and Outreach Liaison Position.
Improve accessability of Rural Development programs for Native Americans.
Achievement of the FY 2001 Performance Goals and Indicators is contingent upon receiving the program and general support resources indicated in this plan.