Our rural communities are home to some of the most hard working and fiercely self-reliant Americans in the United States. Strong and secure rural communities are essential to creating an economy built to last that rewards hard work and responsibility -- not outsourcing, loopholes, and risky financial deals. While the security of the middle class has been threatened by the irresponsible financial collapse and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, rural Americans continue to come together to work hard and make ends meet. The values that have helped hard-working, responsible families weather the storm continue to move our economy forward. This book discusses factors affecting former residents' returning to rural communities; rural employment trends in recession and recovery; the 2014 Farm Bill rural development provisions; the secure rural schools and community self-determination act of 2000' and the rural education achievement program.

Our rural communities are home to some of the most hard working and fiercely self-reliant Americans in the United States. Strong and secure rural communities are essential to creating an economy built to last that rewards hard work and responsibility -- not outsourcing, loopholes, and risky financial deals. While the security of the middle class has been threatened by the irresponsible financial collapse and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, rural Americans continue to come together to work hard and make ends meet. The values that have helped hard-working, responsible families weather the storm continue to move our economy forward. This book discusses the broadband availability beyond the rural/urban divide; the state of small and rural libraries in the United States; a focused look at rural schools receiving school improvement grants; emerging energy industries and rural growth; the current and future role and impact of Medicaid in rural health; and frequently asked questions of the essential air service (EAS).

In the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Congress required that the Commission report on rural Medicare beneficiaries' access to care, rural providers' quality of care, special rural Medicare payments, and the adequacy of Medicare payments to rural providers. In addition to the findings presented on each of the four topics, this book presents a set of principles designed to guide expectations and policies with respect to rural access, quality, and payments for all sectors. This book also discusses multi-enterprising farm households and the importance of their alternative business ventures in the rural economy. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the greatest number of rural development programs and has the highest average of program funds going directly to rural counties (approximately 50%). An overview of the USDA rural development programs is provided in this book.

Our rural communities are home to some of the most hard working and fiercely self-reliant Americans in the United States. Strong and secure rural communities are essential to creating an economy built to last that rewards hard work and responsibility -- not outsourcing, loopholes, and risky financial deals. While the security of the middle class has been threatened by the irresponsible financial collapse and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, rural Americans continue to come together to work hard and make ends meet. The values that have helped hard-working, responsible families weather the storm continue to move our economy forward. This book lays out the economic landscape rural America faces today and presents some of the Administration's many efforts to promote economic growth and job creation in rural communities with a focus on broadband loan and grant programs in the USDA's rural utilities service; and rural water infrastructure, water supply and sewer systems.

Rural development researchers and practitioners have argued in recent years that investing in a broad range of assets is a critical component of long-term economic growth in rural communities. Wealth can contribute to people's welfare in many ways beyond increasing income, such as providing economic resilience in adverse circumstances or enhancing one's power and prestige. Understanding the distribution of wealth across and within rural communities is critical. Additionally, population loss is a longstanding concern among rural development practitioners. Nearly half of today's non-metropolitan counties lost population through net out-migration over the past 20 years. Population loss tends to increase tax burdens, reduce property values, and reduce both the demand for and supply of local goods and services. Rural out-migration is also troublesome because it is highly concentrated among young adults, especially those possessing or acquiring education and skills. This book examines rural America, with a focus on rural wealth, out-migration, population and transportation issues.

Our rural communities are home to some of the most hard working and fiercely self-reliant Americans in the United States. Strong and secure rural communities are essential to creating an economy built to last that rewards hard work and responsibility -- not outsourcing, loopholes, and risky financial deals. While the security of the middle class has been threatened by the irresponsible financial collapse and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, rural Americans continue to come together to work hard and make ends meet. The values that have helped hard-working, responsible families weather the storm continue to move our economy forward. This book lays out the economic landscape rural America faces today and presents some of the Administration's many efforts to promote economic growth and job creation in rural communities.