Building Resiliency Program

The Building Resiliency Pilot Program is a collaborative effort between the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), Alcorn State University, Annie’s Project, and Rural Coalition, spanning two years with a budget of $1.9 million. The initiative aims to establish a pipeline of crop insurance agents and adjusters within underserved communities, increasing representation and accessibility of insurance services for producers.

Key objectives of the program include:

1. Increasing Representation: By increasing and training individuals from underserved communities, the program aims to enhance diversity within the crop insurance sector, ensuring better alignment with the needs and perspectives of producers.
2. Educating Producers: Through outreach and engagement efforts, producers will become more familiar with risk mitigation strategies and insurance products available to them, ultimately leading to increased adoption of insurance within their agricultural operations.
3. Empowering Agents and Loss Adjusters: Aspiring agents and adjusters from Native American, African American, Hispanic, Asian American/Asian Pacific Islander, and women communities will undergo structured curriculum and preparation, enabling them to pursue careers in the insurance industry and serve as liaisons between historically underserved producers and federal safety nets.
4. Strategic Alliances: The program will leverage partnerships with public and private entities in the crop insurance sector to bridge gaps in resource delivery and facilitate better access to insurance products and services for historically underserved producers.
5. Community Impact: Through collaboration with organizations like the IAC, Alcorn State University, Annie’s Project, and Rural Coalition, known for their advocacy and support within their communities, the program will create a positive impact by addressing systemic barriers and promoting economic resilience in underserved agricultural economies.

Overall, the Building Resiliency program aims to empower individuals and communities by providing opportunities for education, career development, and access to essential resources, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector.

The collaboration between RMA and these organizations demonstrates a concerted effort to promote diversity and inclusion within the crop insurance sector while addressing the needs of underserved agricultural communities.

A comprehensive overview of the partners involved in the program and the problem they aim to address, along with their proposed solution and expected outcomes.

Problem:

• Lack of diverse representation among insurance agents/loss adjusters.
• Underutilization of crop insurance products in underserved communities.
• Limited outreach and education on risk mitigation strategies for historically underserved producers.

Solution:

• Recruit and train insurance agents/loss adjusters from underserved communities to serve those areas.
• Emphasize the value of diversity within the crop insurance industry.
• Target existing agriculture producers, young professionals, and agricultural organizations.
• Provide education, certification, and placement opportunities with crop insurance agencies.

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased familiarity with risk mitigation strategies among historically underserved producers.
• Higher adoption of crop insurance products in agriculture operations.
• Improved understanding and service from agents/loss adjusters within the region.
• Greater risk aversion and utilization of risk management tools. 

The map of participants per state for agents and loss adjusters currently enrolled in the program would be beneficial for identifying areas for further recruitment and outreach. The program is well-structured and poised to make a significant impact in enhancing resilience and accessibility within underserved agricultural communities.

The Building Resiliency program aims to address systemic barriers and promote economic resilience in underserved agricultural communities by training and empowering agents and adjusters from diverse backgrounds. Through strategic partnerships and targeted outreach efforts, the program seeks to increase access to insurance products and risk mitigation strategies, ultimately enhancing the sustainability and success of historically underserved producers across the country.

For more information or inquiries, contact:

Intertribal Agriculture Council • Julian Ledford • julian@indianag.org
Alcorn State University • Carolyn Banks • cbanks@alcorn.edu
Annie’s Project • Doris Mold • doris@anniesproject.org
Rural Coalition • Lorette Picciano • Lpicciano@ruralco.org