Iowa missed out on USDA regional hubs, but ‘more announcements coming,’ the federal agency’s leader says

DES MOINES — Iowa will not host one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new regional hubs, but the agency might grow in Iowa in a different form, its leader said Saturday in Iowa.

“There are more announcements coming,” USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins said during a press conference Saturday in the Cattle Barn at the Iowa State Fair.

Last month, the USDA announced a plan to reduce its workforce in the Washington, D.C., area by more than half and send employees to five regional hubs, in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Colorado, Utah and North Carolina.

“No Iowa. But there are more announcements coming,” Rollins said Saturday.

Rollins said the plan to shift some of USDA’s workforce to the regional hubs is a product of President Donald Trump’s “vision” of a federal government that is closer to the people.

“The states are really the guardians at the gate. That is where we should be governing, not with this gigantic bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.,” Rollins said. “The bottom line is moving the power out of Washington, returning the government to the people, and having people that are better able to serve our constituents, who are closer to them.”

During the press conference, Rollins announced that Glen Smith, of Atlantic, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development.

Smith, who attended the news conference, has worked as a farmer and in agribusiness, and has served on the Farm Credit Administration’s board of directors, according to a USDA press release.

Smith’s was among eight USDA leadership nominations announced Saturday.

Rollins at the press conference said Smith “will continue to be an incredible leader and a resolute voice for farmers here in Iowa and across the country in this new role.”

Rollins also announced a USDA award of $152 million toward 19 rural development projects throughout Iowa.

Among the awards are $37 million for an expansion and renovation project at the Guthrie County Hospital, a $5 million grant and $39 million loan to the City of Emmetsburg to replace its wastewater treatment facility, and a $27.7 million loan to the Southern Sioux County Rural Water System toward the construction of two wells, a treatment plant and transmission lines.

Rollins said the federal grants and loans will “will help boost the rural economies, develop rural infrastructure and encourage private investments.”

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com

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