TODAY: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Keynote ‘Hiring Our Heroes’ Roundtable on Veterans in Agriculture

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TODAY: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Keynote ‘Hiring Our Heroes’ Roundtable on Veterans in Agriculture

 

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2016 – TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver keynote remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Roundtable on Veterans in Agriculture. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation signed an agreement to increase employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for military veterans and their spouses, strengthening USDA’s ongoing efforts to help America’s returning service men and women return to rural areas and find rewarding careers in farming and ranching.

 

Today, more than 5 million veterans live in rural areas, a higher concentration than in any other part of the country. USDA is committed to assisting veterans as they start or expand farming and ranching operations, in order to strengthen the American economy and provide livelihoods to our returning veterans. For example, since 2009 USDA has provided $466.8 million in farm loans to help more than 6,868 veterans purchase farmland, buy equipment and make repairs and upgrades. Our microloans, which offer smaller amounts of support to meet the needs of small- or niche-type farm operations, have also grown in popularity among veterans. Since it was launched in January 2013, USDA's microloan program has provided more than $25.8 million in support to help veterans grow their farming businesses.

 

For more information on how USDA can help military veterans transition into agriculture as a career, visit www.usda.gov/veterans.

 

Credential media interested in covering this event are encouraged to attend but must follow all U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation protocol. To RSVP or for more information on Hiring Our Heroes, contact Brooke Prouty at bprouty@uschamber.com.

 

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to deliver keynote remarks at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Roundtable on Veterans in Agriculture

 

WHEN: Tues., Aug. 23, 2016

           9:30 a.m. EDT

 

WHERE: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Hall of Flags

1615 H Street NW

Washington, DC 20062