USDA INVESTS IN NEW CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
WASHINGTON, January 7, 1998 -- Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development Jill Long Thompson today announced the establishment of four National Centers of Excellence across the country to better serve the Clinton Administration's Community Empowerment Initiative by providing technical expertise to rural America.
This program creates a partnership between four colleges and universities and three rural Empowerment Zones and one Enterprise Community. These Centers of Excellence will be located at the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, Texas; Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi; Somerset Community College in Somerset Kentucky, and Heritage College in Toppenish, Washington.
"This program is an investment toward breaking the cycle of poverty," said Long Thompson. "Not only will it help to better serve the people of rural America, but it will also empower communities to help themselves."
Each Center of Excellence will receive $100,000 from the Fund for Rural America. The Fund was established by Congress in the 1996 Farm Bill. Among other things, it allows USDA to provide technical expertise to rural America and address economic development problems facing those communities.
The Centers of Excellence will serve as the cornerstone for a nation-wide rural development network. They will provide rural communities with: better access to federal and state assistance; facilities for leadership training; better communication capabilities, and an economic development resource center for the community at large.
"The Centers for Excellence initiative represents the type of investment rural America's poverty-stricken communities need to develop the capacity to achieve sustainable community development," Long Thompson said.
A Peace Corps Fellow has been assigned to each Center of Excellence to assist as a liaison between the community and the university or college. Illinois State University, in Normal, Illinois, will be coordinating this effort and has received $138,778, from the Fund for Rural America, to manage this program. A Peace Corps Fellow will be assigned to the USDA Office of Community Development in Washington, D.C. also.
"We are very pleased that Illinois State University has agreed to assist us with this program," Long Thompson said. "The success of this program will undoubtedly ensure that other universities and colleges join this effort -- making the rural development network stronger and more effective, thus improving the quality of life for those living in rural America."