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USDA Rural Development Welcomes Scott Soares as State Director for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut

Name
Emily Cannon
Release Date

WASHINGTON, DC, March 14, 2022 –  President Biden has announced that Scott Soares has been appointed as Rural Development State Director in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. He officially assumes this role today. State Directors serve as the chief executive officer of Rural Development in the states and territories and are tasked with carrying out the mission of rural development to the benefit of everyone in rural America. In conjunction with the guidance and support of the National Office, State Directors are responsible for promoting the mission and strategic goals of Rural Development and provide key leadership to develop and support a productive, diverse, and inclusive state workforce.

“I am thrilled to welcome these talented and experienced public servants to USDA at a critical time in the Biden-Harris administration,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I look forward to working alongside these individuals to build a better America.”

USDA Rural Development State Director Scott Soares said, "I'm grateful and excited for the opportunity to join the Biden-Harris Administration and specifically in the role of State Director for Southern New England," said Soares. "Not only does my appointment allow me to engage public service responsibilities that benefit many communities in MA, CT and RI, but I'll also have the privilege of working with a dedicated team of professionals whose work supports the delivery of a broad range of programs important for housing, community infrastructure and rural businesses throughout our region."

Most recently, Scott J. Soares owned and operated his own firm, Boston Bay Consulting. He returns to this role after serving in it from 2015 to 2017, during which he oversaw delivery of over 50 programs aimed at improving economic prosperity for Southern New England's rural communities. From 2012 to 2015, Soares served as Executive Director of the U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC). He began his career at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, where he served in several positions including as the first Aquaculture Program Director. Soares was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture in 2009. He graduated with degrees in Biology and Marine Biology from UMass Dartmouth and is veteran of the United States Army.

USDA Rural Development has a State Office located in Amherst, Massachusetts and six Area Offices throughout the Southern New England jurisdiction of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate, smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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