WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that three sites in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District made the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) initial selection list to become the new homes of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Geauga County, Middlefield Village and Twinsburg, in addition to other Northeast Ohio locations including Akron, Streetsboro and Brimfield Township, are all still under consideration alongside sixty-three other locations. In total, the USDA received 136 expressions of interest from 35 different states hoping to welcome the new ERS and NIFA headquarters.

“Moving these USDA agencies out of Washington and into Northeast Ohio would result in better customer service, save taxpayer dollars and give an economic boost to our communities,” said Dave. “That’s why I’ve supported those in our region who have submitted proposals for this opportunity and will continue to do so throughout the selection process. Agriculture is Ohio’s number one industry and I’m hopeful the Buckeye State can continue to build on its critical role in America’s agricultural industry by becoming the new home to these two USDA branches.”

According to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue’s office, the NIFA facility is expected to house approximately 360 employees and the ERS facility is expected to employ 260. The USDA, collaborating with leadership from ERS and NIFA, is following a rigorous site selection process that utilizes the following criteria to make a decision:

• Quality of Life: Subcategory examples include Diversity Index, Residential Housing Costs, Access to Healthcare, and Home and Community Safety Ranking
• Capital and Operating Costs: Subcategory examples include Cost of Living Adjustment, Commercial Real Estate Costs, Land Costs, and Wage Growth Rate.
• Workforce: Subcategory examples include Labor Force Growth Rate, Unemployment Rate, and the Labor Force Population.
• Logistics/IT Infrastructure: Subcategory examples include Lodging Availability, Proximity to Stakeholders, and Travel Time to/from DC. 

The USDA will conduct a further refinement of the remaining candidates and announce a short list in April 2019. At that point the USDA expects to conduct site visits to a select number of locations shortly thereafter and hopes to name a final location for ERS and NIFA the following month. Questions regarding the USDA site selection process should be directed to relocation@usda.gov.

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