USDA Rural Development is the leading advocate for rural America. The mission area supports rural communities and enhances quality of life for rural residents by improving economic opportunities, community infrastructure, environmental health, and the sustainability of agricultural production.

To support rural regional economic prosperity, USDA Rural Development provides job training and business development opportunities for rural residents, including cooperative business development, community economic development and strategic community planning and faith-based and self-help initiatives. Funding for most of these efforts is administered by USDA Rural Business Programs.

Rural Development also offers programs to provide the educational opportunities, training, technical support, and tools for rural residents to start small businesses and to access jobs in agricultural markets, the green economy, and other existing markets, as well as acquire training in vocational and entrepreneurship skills they can use in the marketplace and business sector. USDA, in cooperation with our public and private partners, is connecting rural residents to the global economy by:

1. Increasing access to broadband and continuous business creation;
2. Facilitating sustainable renewable energy development;
3. Developing regional food systems;
4. Capitalizing on climate change opportunities; and
5. Generating and retaining jobs through recreation and natural resource restoration, conservation, and management.

Such investments support our long-term national prosperity by ensuring that rural communities are self-sustaining, repopulating, and thriving economically. For more information, contact your state Rural Development Office.