USDA Rural Development: To hold job forum at Chippewa Valley Technical College

What: “Forum for the Future – Pathways to Wisconsin Job Creation”

When: January 26, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where: Chippewa Valley Technical College

Gateway Campus

2320 Alpine Road

Eau Claire, WI 54703

Who: Stan Gruszynski, USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director

Bruce Barker, Chippewa Valley Technical College President

Brad Pfaff, Farm Service Agency Wisconsin State Director

Other panelists

Why: President Obama has asked USDA and other federal agencies to listen to communities across the country to generate ideas to create jobs and economic opportunities. Wisconsin’s event will be hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture and Chippewa Valley Technical College. Participants will include business owners, community members, state and local officials, union members, non-profit organizations, economists and other interested parties. Participants will discuss steps that can to be taken to grow the economy and put Americans back to work.

The primary focus will be on ideas to accelerate job growth in Wisconsin. Some of the topics to be discussed are:

* Exploring ways to rejuvenate and promote local businesses;

* Creating jobs by rebuilding Wisconsin’s infrastructure;

* Creating new opportunities from existing ones, such as with value-added agricultural products;

* Supporting job growth among small businesses; and * Preparing workers for 21st century jobs.