NEWS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C.

Contact: Wayne Maloney (202) 690-0498

USDA APPOINTS JAMES F. FITZGERALD TO CHIEF OF STAFF POST AT RURAL DEVELOPMENT

     WASHINGTON, July 24, 2006--Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr today announced the appointment of James F. Fitzgerald as chief of staff for Rural Development. Fitzgerald will oversee the day-to-day operations of the agency.

     Prior to his appointment as chief of staff, Fitzgerald, a native of Washington State, served as state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Spokane, Wash. He was appointed to that position in 2001. Before that, he was president and owner of Fitzgerald Farms, Inc. of Clarkston, Wash., which has been in his family for four generations. He also previously worked for Federal Land Bank offices in Chehalis, Wash. and Lewiston, Idaho.

     "The future of rural America is bright and the 60 million people who call it home have been presented with a unique opportunity to benefit from the development of renewable energy sources, establish new businesses and improve the overall quality of life for themselves and for their neighbors. USDA Rural Development is a ready and willing partner in that process," said Fitzgerald. "I look forward in my new role at Rural Development to working on behalf of the Bush Administration and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to continue to make the dreams of the residents of rural America come true." Fitzgerald will report directly to Under Secretary Dorr.

     Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural mechanization from Washington State University in Pullman. He and his wife are moving to Washington, D.C., from Cheney, Wash.

     USDA Rural Development has a staff of about 7,000 and has offices in all 50 states and in Puerto Rico. This year the agency will provide over $17 billion in investments driven by about $2 billion in budget authority. Its mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $63 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Over 1.1 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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