Today, President Obama and members of his White House Rural Council will host the White House Rural Economic Forum at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, Iowa. The President will "engage directly with a variety of rural leaders from across the nation to discuss the importance of growing small businesses and strengthening the middle class in rural America." The President will unveil new economic initiatives for jobs, and make opening and closing remarks, as well as host two breakout sessions. The President's opening remarks will be livestreamed at 11:50 AM CDT/12:50 PM EDT, as will his closing remarks, at 2:30 PM CDT/3:30 PM EDT at whitehouse.gov/live. More on the breakout sessions, after the click.*Read about the White House Rural Council's Report, "Jobs and Economic Security For Rural America"
The President's breakout sessions will be with invited farmers, small business owners, private sector leaders, rural organizations, and government officials. They will "discuss ideas and initiatives to promote economic growth, accelerate hiring, and spur innovation in rural communities and small towns across the nation," according to the White House. Audio will be streamed on the White House blog.
Breakout Session 1: At 12:35PM CDT, the President will participate in a breakout session hosted by Small Business Administrator Karen Mills on growing rural small business.
Breakout Session 2: At 12:55 PM CDT, the President will participate in a breakout session hosted by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on promoting agricultural innovation and renewable energy jobs in rural communities.
2:00 PM: The President will conduct local interviews with KSDK Saint Louis, Missouri and WDAF Kansas City, Missouri, as well as CNN. These interviews at Northeast Iowa Community College, which will be embargoed until 5:00 PM CDT, are closed press.
The President will spend the night in Davenport, Iowa. He will finish his trip tomorrow in Illinois, with two town halls, one in Alpha and one in Atkinson.