NATIONAL-NEWS-RELEASE: USDA HIGHLIGHTS JOBS CREATED BY THE RECOVERY ACT

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Contact: Press Office, 202-205-1134

USDA HIGHLIGHTS JOBS CREATED BY THE
RECOVERY ACT 
White Mountain Apache Tribal Community
Finds Relief in Work, 
Flood Control Measures

WASHINGTON, DC.,  April 2, 2010
- Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture highlighted the jobs created
by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The evidence is clear
- and growing by the day - that the Recovery Act is putting people back
to work.

"President Obama's Recovery Act
has helped to create jobs and lay a new foundation for economic growth
during the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression," said
Natural Resources and the Environment Under Secretary Harris Sherman.  "USDA
has used Recovery Act funding to create badly-needed jobs and stimulate
local economies; help farmers and rural businesses make it through tough
times; ensure that struggling families can put food on the table; and build
and revitalize critical infrastructure in rural communities across America."


In Arizona, a USDA Forest Service Recovery
Act-funded project treating hazardous fuels on thousands of acres within
the Fort Apache Indian Reservation is helping address the approximately
70 percent tribal unemployment rate. This project will reduce fuels and
wildfire threat around three tribal communities: Carrizo, Cibecue, and
Cedar Creek. The Fort Apache Indian Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forest share many common boundaries. 

Sixty-eight new jobs have been created
to carry out the work that also includes flood/erosion mitigation measures
emanating from the 2002 467,000-acre Rodeo-Chediski Fire, the worst forest
fire in Arizona's recorded history to date. The tribe anticipates hiring
an additional 20 workers.

All positions have been filled by Native
Americas living within the boundaries of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
Work on this project includes field crews employed by the tribe; local
Native American contractors; and local youth being encouraged by the White
Mountain Apache Tribe to continue their education. The students commit
to two-week contracts that include 20 hours of volunteer community service.
 

Crew positions include crew leaders,
sawyers, and hand crews. 

Since the Recovery Act was signed into
law a year ago, USDA has moved quickly to get nearly $28 billion dollars
out the door.  The USDA Forest Service has distributed over 
$1 billion dollars to create private
sector jobs and produce significant resource benefits.  Forest Service
Recovery Act projects are focused on:  reducing wildfire risks; maintaining
forest roads and trails; producing clean and abundant water; restoring
forest health; improving energy efficiency of public and administrative
facilities; converting wood to clean energy; and offering job training
opportunities to youth.  

"This spring and summer, over 600
Forest Service Economic Recovery projects will be going on across the nation,
accomplishing critical resource work and providing jobs and training to
people who need them," said Under Secretary Sherman.

More information about USDA's Recovery
Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery.  


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