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USDA Appoints Tim Potts of Sturgis, SD to Community Program Director

Name
Tammi Schone
City
Huron
Release Date

Bruce Jones, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development South Dakota Acting State Director recently appointed Tim Potts from Sturgis to the position of USDA Rural Development Community Program Director for the State of South Dakota.  Potts replaced Doug Roehl who retired on September 30, 2016 after a 30-year career with USDA.

“Potts has nearly 35 years of experience in USDA programs and will now lead the team in South Dakota for Community Facilities and the Water and Environmental Programs,” said Jones.  “In the past eleven years, these two programs have invested $550 million into infrastructure and community buildings in the state of South Dakota.”

“With historic low interest rates, I am excited about the potential investments that can help rural South Dakota towns and communities with their aging infrastructure problems,” said Potts.   The rates for infrastructure lowered this quarter to 1.375% to a high of 2.375% which is a fixed rate that can be locked in for up to 40 years.   The Community Facility program rates has also dropped to 2.375% so nonprofits such as fire departments can borrow for new facilities or equipment at the lower rate.   Potts will continue to work out of the Rapid City Office location with some time spent at the Huron State Office location. 
 
Potts, a graduate from Gettysburg High School and South Dakota State University joined USDA in June of 1982 as an Assistant County Supervisor in Sturgis.  The job took him to several locations - Sturgis, Rapid City, Huron, Miller, and then back to Sturgis and he was promoted to Area Director in Rapid City in 1995.  Most recently he served as the Rural Development Coordinator for USDA.
 
He serves on many boards in Western South Dakota, Assistant Minister at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis, active in the Scooper Booster Club, and writes for the Meade County Times and sports photography. 

USDA Rural Development has eight offices in the state that assist rural communities.  Office locations include a state office in Huron, along with area offices in Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Yankton.
  
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD) has invested nearly $13 billion to start or expand nearly 112,000 rural businesses; helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; and funded nearly 9,200 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities. USDA also has invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.