The Trump Administration recently appointed Clare Carlson as the State Director for USDA Rural Development in North Dakota.
Carlson has 17 years of senior executive leadership including previously serving nearly eight years successfully as the State Director of USDA Rural Development. He brings an extensive background in public policy including rural issues having served on the senior staff of North Dakota Governors Schafer and Hoeven, as Agriculture Legislative Assistant during the 1985 Farm Bill and later as State Agriculture Director, both to U.S. Senator Mark Andrews. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives and was a statewide election candidate for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner in 2000. Since 2009, Carlson has served as the Deputy Director of Workplace Safety and Insurance (WSI). He has a family farm where he raises wheat, soybeans and canola. Carlson is married and lives in Bismarck.
“I am looking forward to serving rural North Dakotans again,” said Carlson. “With this opportunity, I will work to help our communities thrive and improve the quality of life for residents.”
As State Director, Carlson will use his leadership experience to oversee Rural Development programs in a customer-focused manner to restore prosperity in rural North Dakota.
Under the direction of Secretary Sonny Perdue, the USDA will always be facts-based and data-driven, with a decision-making mindset that is customer-focused. Secretary Perdue leads the USDA with four guiding principles: to maximize the ability of American agriculture to create jobs, sell foods and fiber, and feed and clothe the world; to prioritize customer service for the taxpayers; to ensure that our food supply is safe and secure; and to maintain good stewardship of the natural resources that provide us with our miraculous bounty. And understanding that we live in a global economy where trade is of top importance, Secretary Perdue has pledged to be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/nd.