USDA Promotes Recovery Act Job Creation Efforts In Arizona
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today visited Arizona and highlighted the Obama Administration’s job creation efforts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at Tonto National Forest.
Secretary Vilsack joined Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick for a tour of the Recovery Act site and facilitated a community meeting. Earlier in the day, Secretary Vilsack also discussed the Copper Basin Jobs Project with local leaders.
“Here in the Tonto National Forest, and across the country, President Obama’s Recovery Act is creating jobs by restoring our nation’s forest lands to protect communities from wildfires,” said Vilsack. “Our efforts are also stimulating regional economic growth by helping to develop markets for forest restoration by-products used to generate energy.”
The selection of the Tonto National Forest’s Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program for Recovery Act Funding was one of four initial projects in the Southwest Region’s 11 National forests; a highly competitive grant was part of the first 10 percent of ARRA funded projects announced.
In the last 10 years, the communities surrounding the Tonto National Forest have been threatened by several large wildfires and a restored and resilient forest ecosystem is directly proportional to the reduction of high-intensity wildfires.
Wildfire Management funding for this effort consists of six treatment areas within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) along the Mogollon Rim in Gila County within the ponderosa pine belt. To date, the Forest has received Recovery Act funds worth $3.15 million and created 60 jobs with a projection of at least 100 positions. Other Arizona treatment areas include Pine, Verde, Lion, Chamberlin and the Christopher/Hunter areas totaling approximately 8,000 acres.
This project is only one of the many components that make up President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These and other Recovery Act funded ventures were designed to restart the nation’s economy, create or save employment opportunities and address previously disregarded challenges.
The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
More information about the USDA’s Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery . More information about the Federal government’s efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov .
Topics: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Arizona, ARRA, Chamberlin, Christopher/Hunter, clean energy, community meeting, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, Copper Basin Jobs Project, economic development, economic growth, education, energy, energy independence, Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program, health care, Lion, Obama Administration, Pine, President Obama, recovery act, Recovery Act Funding, renewable energy, tax relief, Tonto National Forest, U.S., United States, USDA, Verde, White House, Wildfire Management funding, wildfires, Wildland Urban Interface, WUI
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