DENVER – National leaders spoke Wednesday on rural America, pointing to the critical need to develop remote parts of the country that are lagging.

Former President Bill Clinton moderated an event with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as part of the annual Clinton Global Initiative America conference in Denver. The conference ended Wednesday.

Using natural resources and agricultural exports, conservation efforts, ecosystem markets and biotechnology is part of a plan to empower rural America. Federal officials hope to expand on successful programs, including extending food assistance for low-income individuals and families to farmers markets and bringing locally farmed fruits and vegetables into schools.

“I’m very bullish and very excited about the future of rural America,” Vilsack said.

But much work remains. Large swaths of rural America are shrinking as younger people head to urban areas in search of jobs. Focusing on water and electric projects, developing broadband and expanding business could be keys to recovery.

Clinton said it is not for a lack of motivation in rural America, suggesting that the rest of the nation needs to assist.

“I know how many smart people there are in rural America,” Clinton said. “We need to be as clear as we can on what people like us can do, doing what we do, and what we can do a heck of a lot quicker and better if we had an investment focus from the public sector.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner of Yuma said Tuesday that he has signed a bipartisan letter to Vilsack and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker that asks them to review broadband efforts and analyze existing programs.

“A thorough understanding of what we know already works – and what important questions remain – will help to inform the debate about what more we can do to truly bring rural America into the 21st century,” the letter reads.

Part of the rural America conversation includes Native American reservations, such as the Ute Mountain Ute reservation and the Southern Ute Indian reservation in the Southwest. Many of these reservations have been put at a disadvantage because of poverty and a lack of basic needs. Renewable energy, including solar and wind, might help these reservations, as harnessing renewables could come as an economic advantage.

“The capacity is there to export energy to the rest of America and build a new diverse economy,” Clinton said.

pmarcus@ durangoherald.com