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Media Advisory No. 0058.15 Contact: Secretary Tom Vilsack Visits His 50th State to Announce Energy Grants for Small Business Owners and Rural Ag Producers With Visit to Wyoming, Vilsack Will Have Visited all 50 States as Agriculture Secretary WASHINGTON, June 10, 2015 – TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will tour a Wyoming brewery and announce funding to help rural agricultural producers and small business owners purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. The grants being announced come through the innovative Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps farmers, ranchers and other small business owners save money on their energy bills, reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, support America's clean energy economy, and cut carbon pollution. The REAP program was created in the 2002 Farm Bill. Because of the success of the program, Congress reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill, legislation that has helped build on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and savings for taxpayers. Since 2009, USDA has awarded $545 million for more than 8,800 REAP projects nationwide. Tomorrow, Vilsack and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell will tour the Putt-Putt Trail on the Bridger-Teton National Forest to highlight National Get Outdoors Day. They will also meet with 21st Century Service Corps members and discuss how recreation and outdoor experiences contribute to economic vitality and sustained quality of life for rural and urban communities. The Outdoor Industry Association has calculated that outdoor recreation supports $646 billion in direct consumer spending, $80 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue, and 6.1 million U.S. jobs. June is Great Outdoors Month and on Saturday, National Get Outdoors Day, many Forest Service locations will provide free recreational and educational activities to better engage urban and multicultural youth to take part in nature-based activities. Opportunities include camping, rock wall climbing, kayaking, biking and archery. With his visit to Wyoming, Vilsack will have visited all 50 states in his official capacity since he became Agriculture Secretary in 2009. Wednesday, June 10, 2015 EVENT #1 5:45 p.m. Mountain Time WHAT: WHERE: **Media parking: Street parking is available on Millward Street and W Hansen Avenue Thursday, June 11, 2015 EVENT #2 10:15 a.m. Mountain Time WHAT: WHERE: **Media Parking: Street parking is available at the Putt-Putt Trail on Nelson Drive. Alternative location in case of inclement weather/rain: #
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