HONOLULU — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will hold jobs forums two days next month in Hawaii.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Tuesday in a Washington news release that the department will begin a nationwide series of roundtables and community forums on job creation and economic growth.
The roundtables follow a forum on jobs and economic growth that President Obama hosted at the White House on Dec. 3.
Vilsack says Obama has asked the department and other federal agencies to listen to communities across the country to generate ideas to create jobs and economic opportunities. He says USDA is taking the lead in the initiative.
The department says it has scheduled jobs forums in Hawaii for Jan. 4 and 5.