WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA plans to open a centralized data collection and processing center near St. Louis, Mo. as part of the agency's efforts to streamline operations and better serve the statistical needs of agriculture and rural America. The new center is expected to bring approximately 100 full-time and 300 part-time jobs to the St. Louis area.
"USDA's investment in statistical research is key in helping us understand emerging trends in agriculture and the farm sector, and in providing more efficient service to America's farmers, ranchers and rural communities," said Vilsack. "This new, centrally located facility will help standardize and streamline the survey operations conducted by USDA around the country, and help ensure that we collect the best and most useful data about agriculture."
The new NASS National Operations Center is expected to open in late 2011. It will be located at the Charles F. Prevedel Federal Building, the site of a former U.S. Army federal records center. U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is currently working on converting the center to a new resource-efficient and environmentally sound facility, which will hold LEED silver certification. The GSA plans to invest $35 million dollars into improvements over the next five years.
"I was thrilled to learn of the USDA's new operations center in Overland and the jobs that will be coming to the federal center. This is a wonderful addition in the community," said Jason Klumb, GSA Regional Administrator. "GSA will work diligently to ensure the space is ready to go for USDA."
While this new center will centralize and consolidate many of its critical operations, NASS's 46 field offices will maintain viable operations, continuing to work with state governments, industry, and other partners to serve the data needs of agriculture and rural America. |
