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rural towns (places with fewer than 2,500 people), and. urban areas with populations ranging from 2,500 to 49,999 that are not part of larger labor market areas (metropolitan areas).

USDA has set four cross-cutting strategic priorities as part of its work behalf of producers, families, and rural communities: Addressing Climate Change via Climate Smart Agriculture, Forestry, and Clean Energy; Advancing Racial Justice, Equity, Opportunity and Rural Prosperity; Creating More and Better Market ...

Climate change, food supply chain instability and access to resources are among the critical challenges facing rural areas, ing to the U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for rural development, who met with students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences March 3.

Rural communities require three interconnected, baseline elements to thrive: sectors, workforce, and community and connectivity (Exhibit 3). Rural economic development initiatives typically tie into one or more of these key elements.

In general, rural areas are sparsely populated, have low housing density, and are far from urban centers. Urban areas make up only 3 percent of the entire land area of the country but are home to more than 80 percent of the population.

Electric Programs The loans and loan guarantees finance the construction or improvement of electric distribution, transmission and generation facilities in rural areas.