Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, today announced that Adriana Valencia, housing program technician in the agency’s Mt. Pleasant office was selected as a Vilsack Wallace Award recipient for exceptional contributions to the USDA Rural Development mission.
The Vilsack-Wallace Award is given each quarter to a USDA Rural Development employee in Iowa who goes above and beyond their normal work duties to assist rural Iowans and USDA staff.
Valencia has played an important role in helping the agency’s housing team accomplish their priorities this year by quickly stepping in and assisting when staff was out for an extended period.
“As a new employee she stepped up when we needed her the most,” Menner said. “Because of her willingness to take the initiative, the programs she worked while her co-worker was away from the office continued to run smoothly.”
In Valencia’s short time with USDA Rural Development she has also served as a Spanish language interpreter for home loan applicants and has assisted in various outreach meetings to help introduce USDA Rural Development programs to underserved audiences.
“Adriana is an excellent public servant with a strong dedication to the rural Iowans she serves,” Menner added. “She is greatly appreciated as member of the USDA Rural Development team.”
USDA Rural Development’s funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $4 billion on essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities for Iowa families.
This past year USDA Rural Development’s assistance in Iowa helped create or retain more than 1,000 jobs, aided 2,400 families in buying their own homes and assisted more than 60 communities as they made improvements to their facilities, services and infrastructure.
“We are proud to serve the needs of rural people and places to ensure that rural America continues to thrive and drive the economy,” Menner added. “We are very happy to be a partner with all the communities we serve as they work hard to make investments that will impact many future generations.”
Contact USDA Rural Development
Residents, businesses and communities in Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Van Buren and Washington Counties are served by the USDA Rural Development office in Mount Pleasant. For more information please call (319) 986-5800 ext. 4 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia.
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has produced historic investment in rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have strengthened America’s small towns and cities and helped improve the nation’s economy.