BURLINGTON, VT – This week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, introduced the Rural Opportunities and Revitalization Act, legislation to empower the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) to carry out research, technical studies, and demonstrations to support business growth and development and job training in rural communities. This bill grants USDA flexibility to test new methods for improving access to RBCS programs for small farms and rural businesses. 

“For years, Vermont farmers, producers, and small businesses have been caught up in red tape when accessing federal job training and development programs. The RBCS should be empowered to retool development programs that work for our rural communities and farmers in practical ways—starting new businesses, growing their business, or finding jobs,” said Senator Welch. “This bill will reduce barriers for small farms and rural businesses to access vital federal funds and help them thrive.” 

Senator Welch has led efforts to strengthen rural development and expand rural clean energy production and infrastructure in the Senate. This Congress, Senator Welch has introduced several bills to support Vermont’s dairy, organic, and specialty crop farmers; strengthen rural development and infrastructure; increase energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption; improve access to nutrition; strengthen our local food systems and expand markets; and make our communities more resilient to flooding—all of which were included in the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. Many of these bills and policy provisions from Sen. Welch were bipartisan. 

Read the full text of the bill. 

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