Ep. 4 | United States Department of Agriculture

What's up Native Edge listeners!

On Episode 4, we share more of the conversation from Episode 2 between Chris James, President and CEO of The National Center, and Tedd Buelow, the Tribal Relations Team Lead for USDA's Office of Rural Development. This interview was recorded in April.

Buelow gives insight into USDA programs related to telecom infrastructure, rural housing development, commodity foods programs, and more. They also discuss the improvements in USDA programs and how these changes are helping Indigenous-owned businesses bid in the bidding processes. You can hear more of the RES speech from Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.

So let's dive into and get our podcasting on!

For more information on the individuals highlighted, click the links below!

The Honorable Tom Vilsack | Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/our-secretary

Ted Buelow | USDA Office of Rural Development
https://www.rd.usda.gov/

Chapters

• 0:29 Introduction
• 2:01 Tedd Buelow Background
• 3:47 RES
• 4:48 Role of USDA/Office of Rural Development
• 6:22 Banking and Rural Development
• 7:22 Investments in Indian Country
• 8:33 Growth in set-aside programs/tribal broadband
• 10:17 Program Successes
• 12:30 Office of Rural Development at RES
• 14:52 Remarks from Sec. Vilsack
• 18:09 Heather Dawn Thompson and the Office of Tribal Relations
• 18:50 Tribal Broadband grants
• 19:21 Tribal water investments
• 20:10 Food sovereignty
• 20:50 Partnerships and advocacy
• 23:17 Access to capital and wrap up