Pete for America
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2019
Contact: Chris Meagher

Mayor Pete Buttigieg Releases Plan to Unleash the Economic Potential of Rural America

https://peteforamerica.com/rural-america/

DES MOINES, IAToday, Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced an ambitious new plan to significantly grow and empower rural communities to lead the way in addressing America’s most urgent challenges. Pete will roll this policy out on a two-day, seven county swing through Southeast Iowa.

Rural America provides the majority of domestic food and energy, but too often our government treats it as an afterthought, resulting in farm incomes plummeting, young people leaving for cities, and a growing disparity of life expectancy in rural areas. To address these pressing challenges, Pete’s plan focuses on real solutions and taps into the potential of rural America with forward-looking proposals to grow jobs through Regional Innovation Clusters and manufacturing partnerships, guarantee Internet for All, address monopolies in agriculture, invest in education, and empower rural communities to lead the way on solving climate disruption.

“I grew up and live in a mid-size, Midwestern city surrounded by farms and fields, and I’ve seen an overlooked community lift itself up with determination and creativity,” said Buttigieg. “Just as my own hometown rose up to start a new chapter and meet the future with a fresh approach and new ideas, we can tackle this moment of urgency head on to create opportunity for rural Americans if we empower our communities rather than overlook them. This plan unleashes the potential of small towns across America with good jobs, an opportunity to grow a business, and the infrastructure to raise a healthy and happy family.”

“In the military, I served with patriots from both small towns and big cities, and together we made America stronger,” added Buttigieg. “At this critical time in our history, we must realize the potential of every part of our country to meet our national challenges.” 

The plan drives growth and empowers rural America to lead through innovative policies that:

  • Invest in opportunities and jobs for rural Americans

Provides up to $500 million in federal funds to develop and support a national network of 1,000 Regional Innovation Clusters.


  • Position people living in rural communities to fill those jobs

Doubles apprenticeships and expand access to other “earn-and-learn” opportunities. Reduces the teacher shortage in rural areas by 50% within 15 years. 

Provides free public college tuition for low- and middle-income students and supports satellite hubs for colleges. 

Invests $25 billion in HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Tribal Colleges and Universities.


  • Empower rural America to combat the climate change crisis

Invests nearly $50 billion over a decade on innovative research.

Pays farmers for conservation efforts.

Establishes next-generation Resilience Hubs to share climate resilience data and tools.


  • Guarantee Internet for All
Ensures full high-speed broadband coverage with an $80 billion Internet For All initiative to close learning gaps and increase entrepreneurship.


  • Restore balance for family farms and with investments in anti-trust enforcement
Doubles funding for antitrust enforcement and halve the reporting threshold.
Revives regional antitrust enforcement.


  • Address population decline through fixes to immigration
Creates a new, place-based Community Renewal (CR) visa to provide opportunities for people who want to move to America and help build our economy where they are needed most and where they will do well. 

Rural America can not only meet our national challenges at this critical moment in history — they can lead the way in tackling them. Read Pete’s full plan to uplift rural communities with strong leadership for a new era. 


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Pete for America
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2019

What People Are Saying About Pete’s Plan to Empower Rural America

“His plan reinforces the Democratic message of care and concern for the future of rural America as being vital to the overall future of our country.” - Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack

“Buttigieg's plan of action represents a comprehensive commitment to the health of agriculture and rural America” - Former Agriculture Sec. Dan Glickman

“The plan, if enacted, could have a wide-ranging impact on different areas of rural American life” - Des Moines Register


Des Moines Register: In Iowa, Pete Buttigieg releases new policy to help rural America. Here's a rundown of the plan.

The plan, if enacted, could have a wide-ranging impact on different areas of rural American life — from creating a public option for high-speed internet to encouraging immigrants to find work in areas with declining populations. Buttigieg also wants to combat climate change with the help of farmers and boost teacher pay.


CBS 2 Iowa: Ahead of Iowa visit, Pete Buttigieg releases plan to 'renew' and 'reimagine' rural America

The release of the wide-ranging proposal—dubbed “Investing in the American Asset—comes ahead of a three-day campaign swing through Iowa [...]

Former Iowa Gov. and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack called his part of Buttigieg’s pitch “unique,” adding that Buttigieg “understands the importance of rural places and rural people to our country.”

“His plan reinforces the Democratic message of care and concern for the future of rural America as being vital to the overall future of our country,” Vilsack said.


CNN: Pete Buttigieg releases rural economy plan ahead of 7th Iowa trip

In a push to win over rural voters, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg released a wide-ranging plan Tuesday aimed at reinvigorating rural America, pledging investments in rural entrepreneurship and technological investments.

The plan comes on the heels of a new health care proposal for rural America he released last week. Buttigieg on Tuesday is also making his seventh trip to Iowa since declaring his candidacy, which will include a stop at the Iowa State Fair.


MSNBC: Live With Craig Melvin

Josh Lederman: Pete is really trying to focus here in Iowa today on how he can best represent rural America -- more than some of those candidates who are from the coasts and haven't lived, spent their lives, working in the midwest. So, he's rolling out this rural economic plan today here at the Iowa State Fair, focusing on a few key elements.

The big ticket item that's getting a lot of attention has to do with immigration, as a matter of fact. He wants to create a "Community Renewal Visa" program, where people from overseas would actually be able to come into the United States, to be able to work in parts of the United States where the population is dwindling -- they don't have enough people to be able to work and promote the economy. Pete Buttigieg also wants to pay farmers to be able to do conservation work to help with climate change, he also wants to invest about $80 billion to create rural broadband across the country -- things that he thinks will really give a jolt to the economy here in rural America.


Reuters: Democrat Buttigieg unveils $80 billion plan to bring internet to all rural Americans

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg unveiled an ambitious plan on Tuesday to transform the economy of rural America, including spending $80 billion to provide high-speed internet and $50 billion over a decade to help farmers combat climate change.


WMUR: Pete Buttigieg releases plan to ‘unleash economic potential of rural America’

Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday unveiled a plan his campaign says will “empower” rural America by guaranteeing “Internet for All,” spending $500 million to advance innovation and expanding opportunities for veterans.

The campaign released a statement from state Rep. Dave Morrill, D-Keene, who said:

"In this plan, Pete wisely recognizes that time is running out for us to address climate change and that American farmers are an essential part of the solution. Pete’s plan both supports farmers and creates new opportunities by engaging them in the fight against climate change.

"At a time when we’re seeing firsthand the negative effects of climate change and also losing soil vital for growing our food, this is the kind of urgent, innovative action New Hampshire needs.”


The State: Mayor Pete Buttigieg making two-day swing through SC. Here’s where he will stop

His S.C. stops will focus on gathering feedback on his rural plan from community members and listening to hurdles they face, whether it’s access to broadband, health care or education. [...]

His proposal includes $80 billion to close high-speed internet gaps. In his plan also includes a lofty proposal of reducing the teacher shortage in rural areas by 50% in 15 years. South Carolina, for example, still reels from a statewide teacher shortage, worsening in rural districts where administrators there struggle to entice teachers by paying them equal to other larger districts in the state.

To reduce the shortage from a federal level, however, Buttigieg proposes to provide student loan forgiveness to teachers and spend $150 million per year to on grants to help train special education teachers, particularly those working in rural school districts.


AJC: Buttigieg’s new rural plan includes $80B broadband expansion pledge

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg unveiled his plan Tuesday to boost rural communities, starting with a pledge to spend $80 billion on an “Internet for All” initiative that would expand high-speed broadband coverage to underserved areas.


KSRO: Pete Buttigieg Unveils Economic Policy Plan For Rural Communities

The plan aims to put a renewed focus on bolstering rural farming and industrial communities which the candidate sees as ‘left behind’ in current economic policy discussions. Buttigieg said the plan was born out of his own experience as the Mayor of South Bend, but is also in response to the impacts on farming and agriculture from President Trump’s trade wars with China and Mexico.


Washington Times: Pete Buttigieg releases plan aimed at boosting rural economy

Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, on Tuesday released a plan aimed at boosting the economy in rural parts of America, as the 2020 Democratic contender gets set to make his pitch to potential caucus-goers at the Iowa State Fair.


From Twitter:

Don Beyer @DonBeyer: We need leaders like @PeteButtigieg, who has seen the challenges rural America faces.  His new plan will unlock the potential of rural communities across the country.

Dan Glickman @DanRGlickman: While not endorsing in the primary, I do believe that Buttigieg's plan of action represents a comprehensive commitment to the health of agriculture and rural America, focusing on research, conservation, education, jobs, and giving priority to an important segment of the economy.

Josh Lederman @JoshNBCNews: Former Iowa Gov Vilsack with praise this AM for Buttigieg rural economic plan: “His plan reinforces the Democratic message of care and concern for the future of rural America as being vital to the overall future of our country.”

Barbara Rodriguez @bcrodriguez: NEW: Ahead of Iowa visit, @PeteButtigieg rolls out policy aimed at helping rural America, in part through apprenticeships, high-speed internet and addressing climate change. “Rural America should be growing,” Buttigieg tells me in interview. bit.ly/2N4sOI1 #iacaucus

Barbara Rodriguez @bcrodriguez: Also in this new @PeteButtigieg policy on rural America: Helping immigrants find work through “community renewal visas.” Buttigieg says: "I want to make sure that immigrants hear the message that we understand and value what they bring to our communities." #iacaucus

DJ Judd @DJJudd: "Just as my own hometown rose up to start a new chapter... we can tackle this moment of urgency head on to create opportunity for rural Americans if we empower our communities rather than overlook them," Pete Buttigieg writes of his rural plan, out today.

Vanessa Yurkevich @vyurkevich: NEW w/ @DJJudd this morning. Pete Buttigieg releases his second policy plan aimed at rural America as he makes his 7th trip to Iowa today. The plan aims to win back rural voters, many who supported President Trump in 2016. https://t.co/gOSjaapiOj

Josh Lederman @JoshNBCNews Most likely to attract attention in Buttigieg’s rural economic plan: Creating a new “Community Renewal Visa” program to admit immigrants to work in parts of US where working-age population is declining

Scott Bixby @scottbix: This morning, Pete Buttigieg proposed creating a location-based “Community Renewal visa” to encourage working-age immigrants to live in U.S. counties that have their prime working-age population.

Priscilla Thompson @PriscillaWT: Today, South Bend Mayor @PeteButtigieg will unveil his plan to bolster rural economies, ahead of his three-day swing through Iowa. The plan focuses on addressing issues around business, agriculture, technology, education, and workers.

Andrew Wyrich @AndrewWyrich: In his rural economy plan unveiled today, @PeteButtigieg mentions restoring net neutrality.

CNN Business @CNNBusiness: In a push to win over rural voters, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg released a wide-ranging plan Tuesday aimed at reinvigorating rural America, pledging investments in rural entrepreneurship and technological investments cnn.it/2yXNER2