Bush, USDA helping minorities.

• Position: Business & Finance - Department of Agriculture - Brief Article

"Minority owned firms are key to creating economic prosperity," stresses Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "Ensuring that these entrepreneurs have access to the markets and resources they need to succeed is a major focus of the Bush Administration."

"The entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens creates economic growth and prosperity," adds Pres. George W. Bush. "By accelerating tax cuts, increasing investment incentives, ending the death tax, streamlining regulations, and curtailing frivolous lawsuits, [businesses can] develop, grow, and succeed."

At the President's urging, the USDA will create or save an estimated 348,000 jobs in 2004, as programs are helping rural Hispanics open new businesses, buy their first homes, and strengthen their roots in local communities. Veneman says this includes 52,000 jobs from housing investments, nearly 204,000 in utilities and community infrastructure investments, and more than 92,000 jobs from business investments.

The USDA also hopes to increase the number of minority homeowners. While the overall rate has reached 68%, Hispanics are...