Hilda Legg

Rural Economic Development Consultant
Legg Strategies

Hilda Legg has dedicated her 40+-year career to rural economic development, with an emphasis on the build out of true broadband and on economic opportunities and education for the families who live in rural communities across the country. She has served under four United States presidents in efforts to enhance the economic and educational opportunities for rural residents and to strengthen agriculture-driven economies in efforts to sustain a strong and healthy rural America. Legg brings vast knowledge and a wide variety of skills from experience in public, non-profit and private industries. She currently works as a consultant for Legg Strategies in Lexington, Kentucky.

Selected accomplishments:

• Served as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development state director for Kentucky during the Donald J. Trump administration from 2017 until January 2021. She oversaw all rural development programs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky including Rural Business Development, Rural Housing, Rural Infrastructure and Community Facilities Projects. Under her leadership, Kentucky led the nation in rural development investment dollars to fight the opioid addiction crisis. She also exceeded previous investment dollars in the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Projects for the commonwealth and continued her aggressive efforts toward better broadband for rural communities.
• Served as administrator for USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service during the George W. Bush administration, where she prioritized investing portfolio assets in rural areas across the country critically in need of broadband, water and waste water projects and other infrastructure.
• Owned a small business advocating for bringing broadband to rural communities by bringing together community leaders and telecommunications providers across rural America.
• As alternate federal co-chairman for the Appalachian Regional Commission during the George H.W. Bush administration, she focused on representing and promoting economic policy in Appalachia as well as improving education and infrastructure.
• As the first executive director and CEO at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky, she paved the way for The Center’s recognition as a national model for rural economic development.
• Served in the U.S. Department of Education during Ronald Reagan’s administration, using what she had learned as a teacher in Adair County schools.

A native of Adair County, Kentucky, Legg is co-owner of the family farm. She currently resides in central Kentucky with her husband, Michael, and is the proud mother of a U.S. soldier.