WASHINGTON, D.C. – Indiana has been named a finalist for the new U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue Friday announced the top three finalists of 136 Expressions of Interest received from parties in 35 states vying to become the new homes of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The three finalists are Indiana (multiple sites), the greater Kansas City region of Kansas and Missouri and the Research Triangle region of North Carolina.
“This short list of locations took into consideration critical factors required to uphold the important missions of ERS and NIFA. We also considered factors important to our employees, such as quality of life,” Secretary Perdue said. “Relocation will help ensure USDA is the most effective, most efficient and most customer-focused agency in the federal government, allowing us to be closer to our stakeholders and move our resources closer to our customers. Our commitment to the public and our employees is to continue to be transparent as we proceed with our analysis.”
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb offered the following statement:
“We’re extremely proud to see Indiana on the shortlist for USDA’s proposed new headquarters location for two research divisions. The Hoosier state has a rich tradition of agriculture and is well positioned for continued growth and momentum. We’re training tomorrow’s workforce and developing new solutions to solve critical challenges. Indiana would be the perfect place for USDA to call home, and we look forward to working with them as they continue to narrow their list of potential sites.”
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