LINCOLN, NE., July 17, 2009 – Kearney and North Platte visits to USDA Rural Development offices, partners and grantees were made today by Maxine Moul, Nebraska’s new State Director for USDA Rural Development.

In Kearney, Mrs. Moul visited with Housing Director, Jackie Harpst, of the Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska to discuss collaboration on housing projects in Central Nebraska. She also met with Jan Rodehorst and Ed Berglund of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss opportunities for business owners available through USDA Rural Development. Her North Platte visits included Dr. Michael Chipps, President of Mid-Nebraska Community College , Erik Seacrest of Mid Nebraska Community Foundation, Rick Kolkman at First National Bank and Gary Suhr, a grant applicant. Gary’s Super Foods received a Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan through Wells Fargo Bank in North Platte to open a new grocery store specializing in custom meats. He has owned and operated a successful store in Hershey since 1995. The new store added 15 jobs in North Platte. Suhr also applied for an energy efficiency grant to upgrade the lighting and heat recovery system. The system captures heat from the refrigeration compressors to heat the store.

Moul was nominated for the state director position by U.S. Senator Ben Nelson and appointed by President Barack Obama on June 29, 2009.

“Maxine has a deep background in the area of economic development and is one of the most knowledgeable experts there is in Nebraska,” said Senator Nelson.

Moul was Nelson’s Lt. Governor from 1990 to 1993 when she left to become Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development until 1999. In 1995, she helped form the Partnership for Rural Development and served on its Governance Board, representing the State of Nebraska. She served as President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation, formed in 1993. She was elected President Emeritus and retired from the Foundation in January 2006.

Moul said, "I am pleased to be working again with rural Nebraskans and their communities. The USDA Rural Development offices in Lincoln, Kearney, North Platte, Scottsbluff, Ainsworth and Norfolk provide great access to the federal government's programs for job creation and community infrastructure.”

USDA Rural Development administered nearly $195 million in grants, loans and loan guarantees in Nebraska last fiscal year for housing, business and community development, telecommunications, value-added activities and electricity. Since 2000, over $1 billion has been invested in Nebraska through Rural Development programs.