USDA announces 18 Town Hall Meetings to gather local input

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies will hold town hall meetings at 18 locations across Montana to discuss opportunities for and barriers to maximizing access to USDA programs and services.

In early 2016, 13 Montana counties and the seven tribal nations were designated as “StrikeForce” areas, a rural growth and opportunity initiative launched by USDA in 2010 in economically challenged areas to improve USDA services by building partnerships to help challenged communities shape a future based on local assets and regional strengths.

Montana leaders from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD), and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will listen to concerns from local citizens and community leaders at 18 town hall meetings:

Sept. 12,: Golden Valley County Fire Hall (107 Kemp Street, Ryegate) at 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 13,: Little Big Horn College Library (8645 South Weaver Drive, Crow Agency) at 3 p.m.

Sept. 14,: Rosebud County Library (201 North 9th Ave., Forsyth) at 9 a.m. and Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Chambers (600 Cheyenne Ave., Lame Deer) at 3 p.m.

Sept. 15,: Terry American Legion Hall (112 Logan Ave., Terry) at 9 a.m. and Big Horn County Extension Office (317 N. Custer Ave., Hardin) at 4 p.m.

Sept. 19,: County Building (212 Broadway Ave., Culbertson) at 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 20,: Fort Peck Community College Greet the Dawn Building (605 Indian Ave., Poplar) at 9 a.m.

Sept. 27,: Glacier County Extension Office (1210 E. Main St., Cut Bank) at 9 a.m. and Blackfeet Tribal Chambers (640 All Chiefs Rd., Browning) at 1 p.m.

Sept. 28, Mission Valley Power (36079 Pablo West Rd, Pablo) at 1 p.m.

Sept. 29,: Anaconda Local Development Corporation (118 East 7th Street, Anaconda) at 2 p.m.

Oct. 3,: Chippewa Cree Tribal Chambers (31 Agency Square, Rocky Boy Agency, Box Elder) at 8:30 a.m. and Big Sandy Senior Citizens Center (224 2nd St., Big Sandy) at 1 p.m.

Oct. 4,: Chinook Wallner Hall (112 4th St., Chinook) at 9 a.m. and Fort Belknap Red Whip Gym (118 Chippewa Ave., Fort Belknap Agency, Harlem) at 1 p.m.

Oct. 5,: Havre Northern Ag Research Center (3710 Assinniboine Road, Havre) at 9 a.m. and Liberty County Senior Center (618 E Adams St., Chester) at 2 p.m.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend this meeting can contact John George at [email protected] or 406-449-5000 ext. 101.

USDA Montana StrikeForce Coordinators/Agency Contacts:

FSA Coordinator: Jennifer Cole, [email protected], 406.654.1333, ext. 117

NRCS Coordinator: John George, [email protected] or 406.449.5000, ext. 101

RD Coordinator: Janelle Gustafson, [email protected] or 406.585.2508