NCERC at SIUE Hosts Government Officials for Roundtable Discussion
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and Illinois USDA Rural Development Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan met with local leaders and community partners during a roundtable discussion at the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (NCERC at SIUE) on Friday, March 31. The group discussed USDA grants and common issues facing rural communities in Central and Southern Illinois.
SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, and NCERC Executive Director John Caupert were among those who welcomed the government officials.
Budzinski emphasized the many grant opportunities that USDA has to offer and the importance of making USDA’s work accessible for the surrounding communities and organizations.
“To the mayors and community members that are here, we really hope we can have a robust discussion around technical assistance as it is critically important to our rural communities,” said Budzinski.
“I have heard about the incredible work SIUE does with workforce development and the cutting-edge work with biofuels,” said Torres Small. “When you are aware of all your assets and you work collaboratively, everyone succeeds. As we think about the future of higher education, in suburbs and outside of big cities, having that regional awareness is crucial because you serve such an important role in the workforce.”
The NCERC at SIUE is the only center of its kind in the world. Located 20 miles from downtown St. Louis in University Park on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Center supports a diverse clientele, including industry clients, academia, government, technology providers, trade associations, and domestic and foreign ethanol producers. Our capable, skilled staff offers third-party validation and commercial testing of products, technologies, concepts and ideas.
Photo: (L-R) Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Illinois USDA Rural Development Director, Katie Stuart, Illinois State Representative 112th District, Wayne Rosenthal, Illinois State Representative 108th District, Nikki Budzinski, U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois 13th District James T. Minor, PhD, SIUE Chancellor, Xochitl Torres Small, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary and Jerry Costello II, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director.
