Former State Senator Begins New Role as Nebraska Director of Rural Development at USDA
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Report for America Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Jan. 11, 2022, 4 p.m. ·
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Former Nebraska state senator Kate Bolz started her new position last week as Nebraska’s Director of Rural Development for the United States Department of Agriculture. Bolz was appointed by President Biden to direct Nebraska’s USDA grants and loans.
Kate Bolz said her experiences growing up in rural southeast Nebraska have prepared her for the state director role at the United State Department of Agriculture.
“I’m still a part of our family farming operation in Otoe County,” Bolz said, “[and] still have very fond memories of sheep and cows and pigs as a 4-H and FFA kid, and still have a heart for small rural communities.”
Bolz previously served as a state senator for a portion of Lancaster County and was a member of the state Appropriations Committee. The Nebraska Wesleyan graduate ran as a congressional candidate for the greater Lincoln area in 2020 and most recently worked in the mayor’s office for the state’s capital city.
In her current role, Bolz said she plans to address the Biden Administration's three focus areas, including climate change, in her time at USDA.
“During my time as a state senator, I supported the ‘Water for Food Institute’ which is an institute of expertise here at the university that thinks through how we use our land and water resources in [the] face of climate change,” Bolz said. “So, I really respect that work and I’m pleased to carry that over in USDA.”
According to Bolz, advancing equity in opportunities for diverse rural communities and creating a better agriculture market will be other targeted issues she plans to take on.
The former state senator said she looks forward to leveraging USDA grants for affordable housing in Nebraska. Housing is something Bolz said is a struggle for many small communities. Bolz said strengthening small businesses, advancing rural healthcare, and providing food security are other ways she believes USDA can make an impact in rural Nebraska.
For more information on USDA loans and grants, visit their website or contact State Director of Rural Development Kate Bolz.