USDA Announces Top Sites for Relocation of NIFA, ERS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced its top three choices for where it might relocate the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Economic Research Service (ERS). Multiple sites within Indiana, the Greater Kansas City Region in Missouri, and North Carolina’s Research Triangle region, have been shortlisted. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the “finalists” on May 3, 2019 from a list of 136 Expressions of Interest from parties in 35 states. Two “alternative locations” were also identified by the department in St. Louis, MO and Madison, WI, in case the top three candidates failed to meet USDA’s needs. According to USDA, the finalists were selected on the basis of a set of criteria defined by USDA, NIFA, and ERS leadership. Criteria included quality of life, as determined by housing costs, access to healthcare, community safety, etc.; capital and operating costs; availability of labor workforce in the region; IT infrastructure availability; and logistics such as airport accessibility and proximity to customers. Democratic lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee have indicated that they will likely include language in the fiscal year 2020 spending bill to slow down or block the relocation, according to E&E News. However, the move has support from Republican lawmakers in the Senate. Last September, more than 100 stakeholder groups, including AIBS, raised questions and concerns about th...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news