IARN — Many times, when we talk about the infrastructure of rural America, we often focus on roads, bridges, and the internet. While these are very much a part of growing the success of rural communities, they are only a small part. We also must consider, jobs, housing, healthcare, childcare, education, community services, emergency services, and much more. It doesn’t matter if we have newly paved roads and brand-new bridges if they are leading us to a ghost town.
It is in this spirit that Iowa 3rd District Congresswoman Cindy Axne was in Perry launching her new Rural Prosperity Agenda. Axne talked about the importance of having upgrades to all the services and needs that rural communities are struggling to sometimes get. She unveiled the scope of her new agenda. It includes putting voices of rural America into the White House.
While in Perry, Axne heard from community leaders and business people that the biggest problem they have is finding a workforce to fill the jobs they have available. One businesswoman said she could immediately fill 30+ positions at her company, but the main detractor for towns like Perry is there is often no room in the rural communities to live. They need more housing expansions, but developers do not want to leave the Des Moines Metro.
Another aspect of rural housing is displacement after a natural disaster. Axne used Pacific Junction as an example of people who are forced out of their homes due to a disaster and then do not have an option to return. The Congresswoman said she is including plans and incentives in her rural agenda to help with rural housing availability.
For more on this story visit the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Rep Cindy Axne (Left) unveiled her new Rural Prosperity Agenda (Center). USDA RD Iowa State Director Theresa Greenfield (Right) talked about USDA community programs. (Photos by Dustin Hoffmann IARN)
