WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

Support local, independent journalism on WWNO with your Member Fest gift now! Click the donate button or Call 844-790-1094.

USDA's StrikeForce meetings set for Minden, Arcadia

A StrikeForce meeting in Plain Dealing, La., drew more than 60 residents seeking assistance through USDA programs. StrikeForce coordinator Dexter Sapp handed out information at the seminar.
Submitted / USDA
A StrikeForce meeting in Plain Dealing, La., drew more than 60 residents seeking assistance through USDA programs. StrikeForce coordinator Dexter Sapp handed out information at the seminar.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a meeting Thursday in Minden, La., to help connect local residents with an array of microloans, farm loans and housing assistance programs aimed at lifting up rural America.

A StrikeForce meeting in Plain Dealing, La., drew more than 60 residents seeking assistance through USDA programs. StrikeForce coordinator Dexter Sapp handed out information at the seminar.
Credit Submitted / USDA
A StrikeForce meeting in Plain Dealing, La., drew more than 60 residents seeking assistance through USDA programs. StrikeForce coordinator Dexter Sapp handed out information at the seminar.

The USDA last year designated 44 parishes for its StrikeForce initiative. That’s a nationwide effort to curb poverty and divestment that has long plagued rural areas.

Dexter Sapp is a soil conservationist and the StrikeForce coordinator for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. He’s based in Alexandria. Over the past year, he has crisscrossed the state attending StrikeForce meetings.

“This is more than just a meeting for us to say, well, we’ve accomplished that. We’ve had our meeting, let the people know about it, and we go on our merry way. No, there’s some follow up. This meeting is different in that we have your contact information and you will be getting a call,” Sapp said.

The USDA has held dozens of StrikeForce meetings in Louisiana and poured almost $763 million into the state’s rural economy through microloans, farm loans and fully-financed rural housing assistance for repairs and renovations. That’s according to the USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity website.

Sapp says it’s rewarding for him to connect residents with the agencies that can help improve their quality of life.

“I don’t see this as a job. From a personal standpoint, I see this as a ministry. I’m being able to reach out to people who’ve never heard of us who are able to get assistance and they are in desperate need. That gives me job satisfaction right there,” Sapp said, who has worked for the NRCS for 37 years.

The meeting in Minden is hosted by Trailblazer RC&D. It will be held in the B.F. Martin Community Life Center Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5:30 p.m.

Another StrikeForce meeting will be held in Arcadia on Sept. 3 at the Bienville Parish Courthouse.

Copyright 2021 Red River Radio. To see more, visit Red River Radio.

Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' experience to Red River Radio having started out as a radio news reporter and moving into television journalism as a newsmagazine producer / host, talk-show moderator, programming director and managing producer and news director / anchor for commercial, public broadcasting and educational television. He has more recently worked in advertising, marketing and public relations as a writer, video producer and media consultant. In pursuit of higher learning, Chuck studied Mass Communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info