USDA TO COLLOCATE STATE OFFICES IN 25 STATES AND PUERTO RICO 
                                            Release No. 0078.00
                                                               
                                                               
                            Mary Beth Schultheis (202) 720-4623
                                  mary_beth.schultheis@usda.gov


USDA TO COLLOCATE STATE OFFICES IN 25 STATES AND PUERTO RICO

     WASHINGTON, March 10, 2000 -- In a move that is expected to save nearly
$9 million and result in more efficient service for customers, Agriculture
Secretary Dan Glickman announced today that USDA state offices in 25 states
and Puerto Rico will be collocated.  

     "Collocating offices will help us provide better, more efficient, less
costly service to our customers," Glickman said.

     Glickman's announcement means that USDA's Farm Service Agency, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development state offices will be
located at one site, sharing space and administrative supplies.  Cost savings
are estimated at $1.3 million over the next five years and over $8.9 million
by 2008.  No jobs will be lost as a result of the collocations. 
 
     Collocated offices are expected to be established in fiscal year 2000 in
Palmer, Alaska; Phoenix, Ariz.; Storrs, Conn.; Des Moines, Iowa; Champaign,
Ill.;  Jackson, Miss.; Durham, N.H.; Lincoln, Neb.; Portland, Ore.; Hato Rey,
Puerto Rico; Nashville, Tenn.; Burlington, Vt.; and Casper, Wyo.  

     Collocated offices are expected to be established in fiscal year 2001 in
Bismarck, N.D.; Trenton, N.J.; Reno, Nev.; Spokane, Wash.; and Madison, Wis.  

     Collocated offices are expected to be established in fiscal year 2002 in
Montgomery, Ala.; Dover, Del.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Manhattan, Kan.; Annapolis,
Md.; Bozeman, Mont.; Columbia, S.C.; and Temple, Texas.  

     Offices in the remaining states are already collocated. 

     The collocations were recommended by Glickman's National Food and
Agriculture Council, which evaluated benefit/cost analyses conducted in each
state and carried out its own research.   

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