Northwest Communities Among Those Interested In Housing USDA Offices

The USDA says more than 130 cities, including several here in the Northwest, have expressed interest in hosting USDA agencies that would move from Washington D.C. as part of a controversial reorganization plan.  USDA says 136 communities in 35 states are interested in becoming the new homes of the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.  In August, Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that most ERS and NIFA personnel would be moving to outside the D.C. area by the end of 2019 and invited interested parties to submit proposals.  Perdue called the interest “overwhelming,” adding that it is “gratifying” states are stepping forward to prove “not all wisdom resides in Washington, D.C.”

As far as Northwest communities that have expressed interest; that includes Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings, MT, as well as the Tri-Cities.  No communities in Idaho or Oregon expressed interested in the relocation.

The entities expressing interest include educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, state development agencies, county development agencies, municipalities, and for-profit entities.  Find the complete list of interested parties on the USDA Website.

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