Those who call rural America home know that there's more to the rural economy than just farms and ranches. The potential to grow and make innovative products in rural America is limitless, and manufacturing is particularly important for rural communities. Rural America makes a wide array of products including light manufacturing tools, automotive parts, clothing and apparel, crafts, forest products, and services. In 2013, manufacturing accounted for nearly 2.5 million rural jobs nationwide.
Between fiscal years 2009 and 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested $2.5 billion to help rural manufacturers across the country increase production and capacity, move products to market at home and abroad, and support good paying jobs in rural communities. To learn more about how USDA invests in rural communities and businesses to help them grow, visit www.usda.gov/results.
| State | Rural Manufacturing Jobs | USDA Investment in Rural Manufacturers |
| U.S. Total | 2,486,174 | $2.5 Billion |
| Alabama | 90,527 | $28.8 Million |
| Alaska | 12,511 | $11.1 Million |
| Arizona | 3,433 | $23.7 Million |
| Arkansas | 75,614 | $16.0 Million |
| California | 18,075 | $85.9 Milllion |
| Colorado | 13,257 | $13.7 Million |
| Connecticut | 9,992 | $100,000 |
| Delaware | Data Not Available | $1.7 Million |
| Florida | 13,614 | $115.3 Million |
| Georgia | 95,732 | $274.9 Million |
| Hawaii | 2,785 | $10.3 Million |
| Idaho | 23,543 | $47.1 Million |
| Illinois | 83,938 | $49 Million |
| Indiana | 155,840 | $11.4 Million |
| Iowa | 116,806 | $112.8 Million |
| Kansas | 67,097 | $35.3 Million |
| Kentucky | 90,258 | $62.4 Million |
| Louisiana | 22,667 | $58.5 Million |
| Maine | 20,890 | $17.9 Million |
| Maryland | 6,593 | $2.3 Million |
| Massachusetts | 3,953 | $12.7 Million |
| Michigan | 93,864 | $85.2 Million |
| Minnesota | 89,898 | $25.8 Million |
| Mississippi | 94,160 | $33 Million |
| Missouri | 73,048 | $36.8 Million |
| Montana | 13,932 | $21.4 Million |
| Nebraska | 40,418 | $10.9 Million |
| Nevada | 5,860 | $124.9 Million |
| New Hampshire | 24,840 | $20.6 Million |
| New Jersey | data not available | $2.1 Million |
| New Mexico | 9,256 | $57.2 Million |
| New York | 65,151 | $61.7 Million |
| North Carolina | 112,695 | $169.5 Million |
| North Dakota | 13,399 | $26.3 Million |
| Ohio | 201,112 | $51.7 Million |
| Oklahoma | 47,049 | $42.8 Million |
| Oregon | 27,521 | $277.8 Million |
| Pennsylvania | 89,095 | $78.8 Million |
| Rhode Island | data not available | $108,682 |
| South Carolina | 51,041 | $35.9 Million |
| South Dakota | 23,155 | $20.7 Million |
| Tennessee | 95,074 | $30.7 Million |
| Texas | 117,526 | $78.5 Million |
| Utah | 6,243 | $24.1 Million |
| Vermont | 21,009 | $5 Million |
| Virginia | 48,416 | $31.1 Million |
| Washington | 24,252 | $44.9 Million |
| West Virginia | 18,657 | $18.9 Million |
| Wisconsin | 129,949 | $122 Million |
| Wyoming | 7,947 | $9.8 Million |
Sources: USDA Rural Development Fiscal Year 2014 Progress Report data, Bureau of Economic Analysis 2013 nonmetropolitan manufacturing employment data