South Dakota
BIOGRAPHY
JAFAR J. KARIM
STATE DIRECTOR - SOUTH DAKOTA
Jafar Karim was named State Director of the USDA Rural Development in South Dakota by the Bush Administration on June 16, 2008. In this capacity, he coordinates the efforts of 68 employees to work with others to ensure use of resources and 40 + programs are serving rural South Dakota residents. Through his leadership, communities and rural residents will have the opportunity to develop and grow while also improving their quality of life.
Karim has several years of experience working to promote economic and community development. Prior to joining USDA, Karim served as Publics Affairs Manager for the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad based in Sioux Falls from May 2006 to May 2008 and Director for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development in Governor Mike Round’s Administration from January 2005 – May 2006 where he oversaw the state’s business development, promotion, and recruitment programs as well as community development programs.
Before returning to South Dakota in 2005, Karim spent several years in Washington, DC. From 1997 – 2002, he worked on the staff of then U.S. Congressman John Thune, advising on several projects and on policy impacting South Dakota’s economic base, including transportation, economic development, agriculture, energy, rural water development and natural resources. In 2003, Karim served in the Bush Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and later worked on the 2004 campaign of President George W. Bush as a liaison to national and statewide agriculture, industry, professional and issue-based organizations.
From 1995 – 1997, Karim worked for South Dakota’s 308 cities and towns as Legislative and Public Affairs Director for the South Dakota Municipal League.
Between 1993 - 1995, Karim was a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Larry Pressler on the Senate Small Business Committee and Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee.
Karim is a Pierre native, holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of South Dakota, and currently lives in Sioux Falls.
Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America by providing financial programs to support essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. In Fiscal Year 2007, with the cooperation of its partners, USDA Rural Development administered over $259 million in program funding, benefiting South Dakota. Program highlights include 1,447 jobs created and 923 saved with the utilization of $108.8 million utilized in the rural business and cooperative program area; serving 2,471 families with the utilization of $112.9 million in the rural housing program area; and 10,698 new water users and 57 community facilities have been helped with the investment of $37.5 million from the community programs area.
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