Janice L. Waddell has been appointed state director of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in California. Waddell, appointed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, will be located in the California state office in Davis.
Waddell joined USDA in 1981 working for Rural Development’s predecessor agency, Farmers Home Administration. After moving to California she spent 19 years as Community Programs Director, and most recently served as Assistant to the State Director where she was closely engaged in the administration’s Public Private Partnership Initiative. Waddell holds a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University in Agriculture Economics.
“Growing up on a dairy in Pennsylvania I know first-hand the challenges and opportunities rural communities, families and businesses face every day. It’s why I began working for USDA 34 years ago,” said Waddell. “I am proud to accept this position, and I look forward to continuing the great work of our outstanding team at Rural Development.”
USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development, and supports creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $7.7 billion in California’s communities. Additional information is available online at www.rd.usda.gov/ca.