Show Rural Areas Show Growth The move from farm to city may be coming to a a new era of and social growth for rural American may already be THESE are two conclusions to be drawn from various reports on the progress of rural from the acrid stretches of the Southwest to the green fields of the Southeast They also are indications that the much talked about goals of rural development are beginning to emerge as realized accomplishments for an increasing number of SOME signs of the recharged energies within rural areas During the jobs increased by 39 percent in the a slightly better rate than the 34 percent increase in metropolitan This growth rate has been high in completely rural counties as well as in those with cities of up to The farm population has dropped to fewer than million With so few people remaining on the Nation's little further decline in the population is As the farm-to-city migration dwindles to a negligible continued gains in nonagricultural jobs will have a more visible impact on the overall economy and population of rural Federal commitment to rural The government is stepping up its investment in rural America For funds earmarked for housing in rural areas amount to billion this four times the 1969 sewer and water programs are allocated million this nearly twice the 1969 Total funds devoted to rural development efforts by the Department of Agriculture will amount to billion this year-four times the level in 1961 and twice as much as in MORE important than the statistics or the governmental is the determined individual in community after rural community who resolves to solve the problem on his who takes action to set his own neighborhood on the road to In for local leaders set out to combat decaying blighted As a result of their the community has new homes and jobs and Incomes are up because of the construction IN North citizens mounted a driver education campaign as a small but vital part of their statewide effort to connect more rural workers with more better paying development is an idea whose time has come-mostly because increasing numbers or local groups are taking it upon themselves to make sure that it |