The U.S. Department of Agriculture will close its St. Thomas office this summer as part of consolidation efforts nationwide, according to Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen.
After that, the USDA will serve the whole territory out of its other V.I. office, in Gallows Bay on St. Croix.
Christensen first cited the department's decision to close the St. Thomas office in a written notice to her staff late last year.
"I would like to assure residents that USDA will maintain its level of service to the Virgin Islands community," Christensen said. "This move is based on an administrative decision by the department in keeping with the reorganization of federal resources."
She added, "Because of the higher volume of rural development casework on St. Croix, it was more advantageous to house the regional office there."