Congressman Chris Collins Announces Rural Technical Assistance Provided by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership
Written by WBTA STAFF on June 21, 2019
Press Release:
Clarence, NY – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) announced that the Letchworth Gateway Villages and the Rural Outreach Center will receive technical assistance provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) initiative called Rural Economic Development Innovation. Each organization will receive assistance for up to two years to help create and implement economic development plans.
“This assistance is crucial to improve the local economy of our rural communities throughout Western New York,” said Congressman Collins. “I applaud the USDA for taking the initiative in ensuring rural communities are not forgotten and a part of making America great again.”
The Letchworth Gateway Villages is a collaboration of towns designed to accelerate economic growth and new tourism-related market for the communities surrounding the Letchworth State Park. This assistance will help identify solutions to depopulation, outmigration of young people, unemployment, a growing opioid epidemic, increased suicide rates, and persistent poverty.
The Rural Outreach Center provides a holistic approach to providing education, job creation, and child programs to help grow self-sufficiency. This center will use the assistance to support workforce development and public-private transportation for the community.
In April 2017, President Donald Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory, and policy changes that could promote agriculture prosperity in rural communities.
