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New director of USDA’s Rural Development in IL appointed

The new Illinois director of USDA’s Rural Development says her rural background is helping her fit into the role.

Pam Monetti, who was appointed to the position by the Biden administration, tells Brownfield…

“I was born and raised in a small, agricultural community, Bunker Hill, which is in Macoupin County.”  She says, “I understand a lot of the issues that face the individuals who live in these small communities.”

She says her previous roles within government should also help.

“I worked for the U.S. House of Representatives, and I also worked for IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation), so I’ve got a little bit of inter government experience.”  She says, “I feel like we’re part of a puzzle, and we’re gonna sit down, and we’re gonna work with our consumers, and we’re gonna see what we can do to help them solve their issues.”

Monetti says she’s excited to be a part of delivering Rural Development’s wide-reaching programs.

“So many of our small communities, they don’t have a large tax base and that’s really where we come in at to help them with water. We’ve got a big solar program. My big issue is going to be broadband,” she says.

Monetti takes over for Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, who’s now the administrator for the Rural Business Cooperative-Service at USDA.

The USDA Illinois State Office for Rural Development, located in Champaign, administers programs through 11 field offices in the state.

AUDIO: Pam Monetti – director of USDA’s Rural Development in Illinois