Perdue Announces Site-Selection Criteria for possible ERS, NIFA Location

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says the USDA has developed a set of criteria to evaluate the 136 expressions of interest received from groups in 35 states. Those locations are all possible new homes for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Research Service. “We don’t undertake these relocations lightly,” Perdue says.”We’re doing it to improve the performance and services these agencies provide. We’ll be placing those agencies closer to many stakeholders, most of whom live and work far from Washington, D.C.” He says the move will save money for taxpayers and improve the USDA’s ability to retain more employees in the long run. They’ll also increase the probability of attracting highly-qualified staff with training and interests in agriculture. UDA will apply a set of guiding principles, including locations meeting USDA travel requirements, locations with specific labor force statistics, and locations with work hours most compatible with USDA office schedules.