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South Dakota StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity

Housing, Economic Development, Community Infrastructure, Agriculture, Nutrition Assistance and Access to healthy Local Foods are just a few of the challenges for Tribal communities. We invite you to join in the conversation through the StrikeForce Initiative with South Dakota U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies. •Rural Americans face many unique challenges – and every day, the USDA provides assistance to help grow American agriculture and increase opportunity for rural communities. Unfortunately, 90 percent of America’s persistent poverty counties are in rural America – and too often these areas have been left out and left behind. •The StrikeForce Initiative is designed to provide relief to persistent high-poverty counties by accelerating program outreach, technical and financial assistance delivered through the Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). To implement the StrikeForce Initiative, agencies work in partnership to improve outreach and provide assistance to Tribes, communities and farmers. •In 2013, the initiative was expanded to the Dakotas. In South Dakota and North Dakota, the focus of the initiative is on Tribal lands. As One USDA, we hope to improve tribal access to all USDA programs. •USDA partners with rural communities, Tribes and regions on projects they support to promote economic growth. Other partners include the Intertribal Ag Council, SD Department of Agriculture, Tribal Colleges and South Dakota State University Extension. •USDA staff work with state, local and community officials to increase awareness of USDA programs and help build program participation. Outreach meetings are planned across the state but individual meetings and contacts can be made within your area.

Learn More: More information on USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity is available at www.usda.gov/strikeforce. Christine Sorensen, USDA Rural Development, christine.sorensen@sd.usda.gov / 605-530-5353.