Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced his support for President Biden's nomination of Dr. Basil Gooden as the Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture. Secretary Vilsack praised Dr. Gooden's extensive experience and dedication to affordable housing, community advancement, and economic development. Dr. Gooden currently serves as the Director of State Operations for Rural Development at USDA and has been instrumental in expanding access to USDA programs and opportunities for rural communities.
Dr. Gooden's commitment to agriculture and rural development stems from his upbringing on a cattle farm in Virginia, where his family still operates. He has a strong passion for learning and has held various positions in the Virginia State Government, including Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was also the Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Secretary Vilsack highlighted Dr. Gooden's firsthand knowledge of USDA programs and the needs of rural communities, as well as his track record of advancing policies that benefit agriculture and rural America. If approved, Dr. Gooden will replace Xochitl Torres Small as the Under Secretary for Rural Development.
Rural Development is one of USDA's seven mission areas and focuses on increasing economic opportunities, generating jobs, and improving the quality of life for rural Americans. Dr. Gooden's leadership as the Director of State Operations for Rural Development has been crucial in ensuring that USDA's investments reach all rural communities. His nomination is seen as a significant step towards advancing rural development and addressing the unique challenges faced by rural America.
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- The following statement was made on September 11, 2023 by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in response to President Biden's nomination of Dr. Basil Gooden to the position of Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated: “Dr. Basil Gooden is a widely-respected, accomplished champion for affordable housing, community advancement, and economic development, and I applaud President Biden for nominating him to take the helm of our critical Rural Development mission area. Already we have been fortunate for Dr. Gooden’s leadership at USDA, where he has served as the Virginia State Director for Rural Development and most recently as the Director of State Operations for Rural Development, in which role he has been instrumental in our effort to help more communities take advantage of USDA programs and opportunities. His public service career is informed by a lifelong commitment to agriculture and rural development, stemming from his upbringing on the cattle farm his family still operates in Buckingham County, Virginia and a strong passion for continued learning. In 2016, Dr. Gooden became the first Black American to serve as Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia, after previously serving as Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development."
- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack continued: "In addition to his roles at USDA Rural Development and in the Virginia State Government, Dr. Gooden has served as a County Committee Advisor in Buckingham and Cumberland Counties for USDA’s Farm Service Agency, and recently was a Visiting Scholar in the Sustainable Food Access Core of the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Gooden’s firsthand knowledge of USDA programs and the needs of people who depend on them, his track record for advancing and improving polices that benefit agriculture and rural America, and his tenacity for teaching, advocating and learning make him an outstanding nominee for this position and a true asset for our department.”
- Through a variety of loan and grant programs, Rural Development, one of USDA's seven mission areas, helps to increase economic opportunities, generate jobs, and improve quality of life for millions of Americans living in rural regions. Since July 2021, Dr. Gooden has held the position of Director of State Operations for Rural Development, where he has managed a group of 47 Rural Development State Directors that help extend USDA's state-level leadership and guarantee that the department's investments are made in all rural communities. If approved, Dr. Gooden would replace Xochitl Torres Small, who was confirmed in July 2023 to be the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, in the undersecretary position.
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