The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is pleased to announce the selection of Rachel Reister as our new Business and Cooperative Programs Director in Oregon.

Rachel has been with Rural Development for more than 15 years. She has a diverse background grained through working in multiple programs at the agency. Rachel began with Rural Development in Oklahoma, where she served as a Single Family Housing Technician, and then as a Business and Cooperative Programs Specialist. In 2010, she took a job with Rural Development in Oregon as a Community Programs Specialist, and most recently served as a Single Family Housing Specialist.

Rachel has a background in commercial lending from her work in the private sector. She served as a commercial loan officer for Northwest Farm Credit Services (NWFCS), the third largest farm credit cooperative in the United States. She then worked as the Commercial Lending Team Lead for NWFCS in Chehalis, Washington. She also spent a year in the special assets division working with troubled credit.

In her spare time, Rachel works with her husband on the family farm in Washougal, Washington, and is the mother of two young children.

Through Rural Development's suite of Business and Cooperative Programs, USDA supports rural business start-up and expansion, job creation and retention, adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements, increased revenue for rural business ventures, and strengthened access to capital.

Contact a local staff member in Oregon today to learn more about program requirements, the application process, or to discuss a potential project. 

Please note that the primary contact for each program has recently changed:

Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program:

Contact a local staff member serving your county

Energy Programs:

Contact John Holman, Energy Coordinator, (503) 414-3369, john.holman@or.usda.gov

Intermediary Relending Program (IRP):

Contact Eben Fisher, Loan Assistant, (541) 278-8049 ext. 129, eben.fisher@or.usda.gov

Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program:

Contact a local staff member serving your county.

Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program:

Contact Mandie Cole, Program Specialist, (541) 378-3538, mandie.cole@or.usda.gov

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program:

Contact Curt Dixon, Program Specialist, (541) 699-3188, curt.dixon@or.usda.gov

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP):

Contact Eben Fisher, Loan Assistant, (541) 278-8049 ext. 129, eben.fisher@or.usda.gov

Socially-Disadvantaged Group Grant (SSDG) Program:

Contact Eben Fisher, Loan Assistant, (541) 278-8049 ext. 129, eben.fisher@or.usda.gov

Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program:

Contact Mandie Cole, Program Specialist, (541) 378-3538, mandie.cole@or.usda.gov

We look forward to working with you on your business, energy, or economic development project.