WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) delivered the keynote address at the 2010 Rural Community Conference today in Columbus. During the speech, Brown discussed the importance that small towns and rural communities play in Ohio's economy.

"RCAP and Ohio's Community Action Agencies represent why rural Ohio is a key to our state's overall economic prosperity. Strong rural communities are essential to Ohio's economic prosperity and serve as a barometer for our economy's health," Brown said. "By investing in water infrastructure and broadband and expanding agriculture's role in the clean energy economy, we can make all Ohio communities - large and small, urban and rural - competitive in the 21st century."

When the Senate reconvenes, Sen. Brown will introduce legislation that would provide funding for organizations-like RCAP-that provide technical assistance to small towns and villages to navigate the complexities of federal funding. 

Brown is working to expand job opportunities throughout Ohio. In September 2009, Brown introduced new legislation that would support and create "business incubators" in hard-hit regions of Ohio and the country. Under Brown's proposal, more Ohio communities would be eligible to receive funds, with support through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) directed to economically hard-hit regions.

In June 2010, Sen. Brown attended a hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry today- the first in a series of hearings to reauthorize the Farm Bill in 2012. In his remarks, Brown stressed the wide-reach of the Farm Bill, with implications for nutrition, clean energy policy, and rural and economic development. To see his remarks as submitted for the record, click here.

The Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) is a nationwide network of six regional nonprofit organizations with a national office located in Washington, D. C. Since 1972, RCAP has been providing training and technical assistance to solve water and wastewater problems in small, rural communities in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Ohio RCAP is located in the Great lakes region, which also serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Great lakes RCAP is operated by WSOS Community Action Commission, located in Fremont, Ohio.

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