NEWS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C.

Wayne Maloney (202) 690-0498

RURAL DEVELOPMENT STAFF HONORED AT ANNUAL USDA AWARDS CEREMONY

     WASHINGTON, October 20, 2006--Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today honored staff from USDA Rural Development with three 2006 USDA Group Honor Awards. The Honor Awards are the most prestigious ones given by the department.

     "I commend the Rural Development employees honored today for their commitment to, and unflagging enthusiasm for, Rural Development's public service mission, said Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr. "I am proud that we have people of this caliber in our organization - their efforts have helped Rural Development become USDA's leading federal credit program."

     These awards recognize the outstanding services and contributions provided by USDA employees towards fulfilling USDA's program missions and goals. USDA Honor Awards were presented to the following Rural Development individuals:

• Gary J. Morgan, Water and Environmental Programs Team Leader; Linda Butler, Jim Maras, Lee Tonolli, Darrel Lipscomb, Scott Barringer, Jayme Morris, Cheryl Francis, Donald Mooring, Linda Scott, Joyce Taylor, Michael Holm, Karen Gross, Stephen Saulnier, Lorrie Davis, William Kostoff, Anita O'Brien, LaVonda Pernell, Deborah Pope, Jim Wehrer, Eunice Clinton, Mark Plank, Ben Shuman, Richard Fristik, Nural Islan, Dennis Rankin, Stephanie Strength, and Keith Mitchell, Water and Environmental Programs Team Members--Group Honor Award for exceptional achievement in raising rural people's quality of life and economic opportunity through outstanding performance in the delivery and management of USDA's leading federal credit program.
  
  
• David Baggott, Illinois Accessibility Team Member--Group Honor Award for outstanding accomplishments in achieving the collaborative goal of making USDA buildings accessible to current and future clients.
  
  
• Norma Valdes,USDA Human Capital Team Member--Group Honor Award for outstanding achievement and successful implementation of the USDA Human Capital initiative and highest ranking on the President's Management Agenda scorecard.

     Also today, Russell Davis, Administrator of Rural Housing and Community Facilities Programs, accepted Employee Recognition and Remembrance Awards on behalf of nine Rural Development employees "In grateful recognition of their participation and extraordinary efforts in assisting the Department of Agriculture to respond to the disastrous effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the United States Gulf Coast in 2005." Receiving the awards were:

• Sean Le Blanc, Amite, La., Debra B. Redfearn, Alexandria, La., Yvonne R. Emerson, Alexandria, La., Karen G. Nardini, Alexandria, La., Dorothy B. Montgomery, Indianola, Miss., Deborah B. Hill, Jackson, Miss., Lorrie B. Easterling, Gulfport, Miss., Brian S. Wiles, Stillwater, Okla. and Sheila M. Feely, Starkville, Miss.

     USDA Rural Development's 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 $72 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 1.2 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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USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider, and Employer. Complaints of
discrimination should be sent to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

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