White House Rural Council to Host June 9 Virtual Forum on Regional Food Economies June 2014

On Monday, June 9, 2014, the White House Rural Council will host a virtual stakeholder forum on local food systems' emerging role as economic drivers in rural communities and the federal resources available to support their development.

The forum, "Regional Food Economies: Building Market Opportunities for Rural America," will feature a moderated conversation between U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary and White House Rural Council Chair Tom Vilsack; U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx; Dan Carmody, president of Detroit's Eastern Market Corporation; and Melissa Rivers, executive director of the East Arkansas Planning and Development District. ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl and leaders from the Delta Regional Authority and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will also participate.

Forum agenda (PDF: 425 KB)

The forum will be live-streamed beginning at 12:45 p.m. (EDT) at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Stakeholders can join in the discussion on regional food economies on Twitter using the hashtag #ruralmade.

The White House Rural Council is a cabinet-level council established by President Obama in 2011 to drive job creation and economic development in rural America. The council coordinates the administration's efforts in rural America by streamlining and improving the effectiveness of federal programs serving rural areas; engaging stakeholders, including farmers, ranchers, and local citizens, on issues and solutions in rural communities; and promoting and coordinating private-sector partnerships.