This country is in desperate need of economic development in rural areas.  Washington State is a perfect example.  Even before the recent economic crises, Washington had the greatest income gap in the United States between its major urban area and its rural communities. If only rural communities were considered, Washington would be very near the top of the states in persistent low employment, poverty and food insecurity.

Luckily, the Stimulus Package passed last month.  The Center for Rural Affairs provides an overview of money that will be provided for rural economic stimulus:

• $20 million for USDA direct farm operation loans, with half targeted to beginning farmers.
• $30 million for the Small Business Administration program that funds loans, training and technical assistance to rural and urban microenterprises. These are owner-operated business with up to five employees.
• Funds for rural water and sewer grants, housing, community facilities, and most significantly, $2.5 million for getting internet broadband to underserved rural areas.
• $20 million for Rural Business Enterprise Grants, which support entrepreneurial projects including small business development and value added agriculture.
• An additional $500 million for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program to meet growing food assistance needs among low-income families and forestall cuts in critical rural development, beginning farmer, and sustainable agriculture programs to fund the nutrition program.
• Funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency and updating the national electricity grid, a portion of which will prompt new rural opportunities in wind, biofuels and energy conservation.

There is way more that could and should be done to forestall further decline in rural areas.  But it is very good that this money will be spent in rural areas to assist in changing the dynamics of the economic situation in rural areas.