Jobs for Rural Areas
YAKIMA --- It was the second and possibly final chance in the State of Washington to speak up about job creation in rural areas. The forum Thursday night in Yakima brought out a lot of ideas.
Before the meeting, Action News caught up with John Thompson as he trimmed trees on his 45- acre farm. "Time is money and anytime I'm not in the orchard, its dollars I'm going to pay to someone else," Thompson reasoned.
That's why he would like to see less paperwork from the government, and an end to the use it- or- loose it water rights rule.
"If you have a piece of property out there, keep it wet because even if there's nothing on it, keep it wet just to save your water allotment in future years," Thompson shrugged.
It's small businesses like the Thompson farm that sent the Department of Agriculture to the valley. Judy Olson is the USDA State Executive Director.
"We're here to gather information from our rural communities, our rural businesses, our producers, about both the problems and perceived solutions. Actions that will be taken that will stimulate both jobs and economic growth." It's one of two forum stops in the state.
"Two things that would help me is a retroactive tax credit and help with paying for health care benefits," one business owner said. People like him brought their ideas to the USDA so they could bring them to the president. "I call the stimulus funds stinky funds because there are too many strings attached and have high administration costs," another woman smiled.
Forums like it are being held throughout the nation so the president can get a list of ideas to help make America more fruitful soon. The President and USDA representatives believe rural America is the right place to start those changes.
If you can think of more ideas to help create jobs here, you still have another week to submit them. Bring those ideas to a Farm Service Agency or Rural Development Office.
Before the meeting, Action News caught up with John Thompson as he trimmed trees on his 45- acre farm. "Time is money and anytime I'm not in the orchard, its dollars I'm going to pay to someone else," Thompson reasoned.
That's why he would like to see less paperwork from the government, and an end to the use it- or- loose it water rights rule.
"If you have a piece of property out there, keep it wet because even if there's nothing on it, keep it wet just to save your water allotment in future years," Thompson shrugged.
It's small businesses like the Thompson farm that sent the Department of Agriculture to the valley. Judy Olson is the USDA State Executive Director.
"We're here to gather information from our rural communities, our rural businesses, our producers, about both the problems and perceived solutions. Actions that will be taken that will stimulate both jobs and economic growth." It's one of two forum stops in the state.
"Two things that would help me is a retroactive tax credit and help with paying for health care benefits," one business owner said. People like him brought their ideas to the USDA so they could bring them to the president. "I call the stimulus funds stinky funds because there are too many strings attached and have high administration costs," another woman smiled.
Forums like it are being held throughout the nation so the president can get a list of ideas to help make America more fruitful soon. The President and USDA representatives believe rural America is the right place to start those changes.
If you can think of more ideas to help create jobs here, you still have another week to submit them. Bring those ideas to a Farm Service Agency or Rural Development Office.
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