Joe O’Hern has been named director of the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).

He replaces Bret Mills, who was recently picked by Gov. Chet Culver to lead the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED).

O’Hern served as interim deputy director of IDED and as deputy director of IFA.

Gov. Culver also announced that as part of his efforts to streamline state government, the HOME program would move from IDED to IFA, which is the state’s lead housing agency. The transfer of the HOME program is scheduled for the spring. The move will consolidate key housing resources in one agency.