Perdue Announces ERS, NIFA Site Selection Criteria
(Washington, D.C., December 21, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the criteria the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed to evaluate the 136 Expressions of Interest received from parties in 35 states vying to become the new homes of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Secretary Perdue announced in August 2018 that most ERS and NIFA personnel would be moving to outside of the National Capital Region by the end of 2019.
“We don’t undertake these relocations lightly, and we are doing it to improve performance and the services these agencies provide,” Perdue said. “We will be placing important USDA resources closer to many stakeholders, most of whom live and work far from Washington, D.C. We will be saving money for the taxpayers and improving our ability to retain more employees in the long run. And we are increasing the probability of attracting highly-qualified staff with training and interests in agriculture, many of whom come from land-grant universities.”
USDA is following a rigorous site selection process, with leadership from USDA, ERS, and NIFA involved. USDA has retained Ernst & Young (EY), a leading provider of professional services with a dedicated Construction and Real Estate Advisory Services practice, to assist in the relocation efforts. EY provides real estate advice to organizations across industries, including the federal government. USDA will leverage EY inputs to support and facilitate USDA’s site selection process.
Based on the Expressions of Interest submitted in response to the USDA Notice of Request for Expression of Interest for Potential Sites for Headquarters Office Locations dated August 15, 2018 and extended through October 15, 2018, EY and USDA developed initial criteria for site selection. USDA will apply a set of guiding principles, including locations meeting USDA travel requirements, locations with specific labor force statistics, and locations with work hours most compatible with all USDA office schedules.
Additionally, using the high-level criteria posted in the Federal Register (transportation logistics, workforce, community/quality of life, and capital and operating costs), USDA has defined criteria to apply to the Expressions of Interest:
Questions regarding the USDA site selection process should be directed to relocation@usda.gov.
Sen. Lee Applauds U.S.-Mexico Asylum Agreement
WASHINGTON—Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement today responding to Thursday’s Department of Homeland Security announcement that the United States and Mexico had reached an agreement that will help solve the migrant crisis:
“I applaud Secretary Nielsen’s announcement yesterday of the Migration Protection Protocol. For too long our asylum system has been overloaded and subject to serious abuse. The Administration’s new policy is a strong first step toward solving these problems and putting the system on a more sustainable footing,” Lee said.
“The new protocol also shows what close cooperation with Mexico on migrant issues - something I have been strongly encouraging on both sides of the border - can accomplish. Going forward, my hope is that Congress follows the Administration’s example and enacts permanent changes to our asylum system,” Lee continued.
“I firmly believe both in the rule of law and that America should provide sanctuary for legitimate asylum seekers who suffer persecution in their home countries. The MPP advances both of these objectives, and is a great first step toward much needed reform of our asylum system.”
Sen. Lee visited Mexico twice in the last two months. You can read more about his trips here.
An online version of this release can be found here.
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Dayna here from Big Picture Media! I wanted to send a little note your way before years end. We are closing out this year with the overall feeling of gratefulness. For one, we had the opportunity to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Big Picture Media with many of our closest friends and colleagues, and could not be more excited about how our 11th year has started and what the future holds.
We took on the biggest campaign in BPM history with the City Parks Foundation SummerStage series. Over 90 shows in all 5 boroughs of New York City involved each and every member of our team for the first time ever. It was a success and we have already partnered to handle the press for 2019 and summer cannot get here fast enough! To celebrate we took our first international company retreat in Cancun, Mexico! Click here for the highlights!
We welcomed new clients like We The Kings, Hawthorne Heights, The Band Camino, Creeper, Senses Fail, Assuming We Survive, High River Hot Sauces, The Stolen, Sail Away Coffee, lil aaron, Cheyenne Jackson, MAE, Greek Fire, 3OH!3, Can't Swim, Crimson Apple, The Bemis Family Fundraiser, Throne Watches, UNFD, PVMNTS, Openside, Fatherson and so many others. Of course, it was amazing welcoming back our friends in Hands Like Houses, Fit For A King, Hopeless Records, New Found Glory, LIMBS, Frank Zummo, The Suffers, Walker Lukens, Bayside, Equal Vision Records, SONY Classical + Masterworks (worked on soundtracks + scores to films like Venom, Creed 2, Robin Hood), Waterparks and more. We helped say goodbye to the Vans Warped Tour as we know it and worked on some other incredible events like the Vinho Verde Wine Experience, Switchfoot's BRO-AM San Diego Surf Festival, both the Los Angeles and New York City Coffee Festival, Strange 80's 2 hosted by David Hasslehoff, the Bushwick Film Festival and Fear the Riff Guitar Festival. We handled all the publicity for the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Gala Induction ceremony with special guest Billy Joel.
Company wide we saw growth and success with premieres, features and interviews that we secured with many print, television and online outlets for all of our clients. Just a few highlights include, NPR, Refinery 29, Spin, Billboard, Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Fader, Pollstar, Vice, Last Call with Carson Daly, AfroPunk, The Hollywood Reporter, American Songwriter, Okay Player, People, Variety, Brooklyn Vegan, LA Times, Nylon, Consequence of Sound, W Magazine, The New York Times, MTV TRL, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Substream, Buzzfeed, The Knot, Teen Vogue, Los Angeles Daily News, Paper, NBC Los Angeles, NBC New York, Revolver, Hello Giggles, Marvel, MLB, Rocksound, Kerrang, The Line of Best Fit, Buzzfeed, Earmilk, Alternative Press, Modern Drummer, Atwood Magazine, Eater, Noisey, OC Register, New Noise Magazine and more.
I want to take an opportunity to thank our clients for allowing us to be your voice. You make our work fun and exciting and without you, we would be nothing. Thank you also to the fans of our clients, you give them so much love and encouragement.
I am so thankful for my team and fully believe that BPM has the best team of Publicists around. I want to personally thank and congratulate both Senior Publicists Natalie Schaffer and Shoshie Aborn who celebrated 5 years with the company in 2018! I would additionally like to thank Becky Kovach who is about to hit her 5 year anniversary as well as BPM publicists Hayley Brinkman, Kirsten Horner, Katy Cooper and Annie Skertic for giving everything they've got every single day.
As we close out the year to spend time with family and friends from 12/22 - 1/2 we want to say thank you for your support. We truly love what we do and couldn't do it without each and every one of you.
We wish you the happiest holiday and look forward to working together more in 2019.
For a look back on some of our favorite roster jams from our clients this year, check out our "2018 BPM Year In Review" playlist on Spotify, HERE.
Thank you so much.
Be safe. Be present. Be kind.
x
Dayna, Natalie, Shoshie, Becky, Hayley, Kirsten, Katy, Annie and Paul
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