USDA has continued briefings with our tribal communities to provide an update on our programs and funding allocations. Our office has continuous contact with our tribal partners on a variety of projects but our briefings allow us the opportunity to strategize and listen even more. This was my third round of tribal briefings and I enjoyed meeting many of the new tribal leaders.

As we look to reach our full potential in North Dakota, our tribal communities are an important part of our future success. Unfortunately, the prosperity that North Dakota is experiencing isn't always felt on the local level. USDA has been a proud partner with our tribal communities and I will continue to direct resources and staff time to improve the quality of life and provide opportunity for the areas in our state that need it the most.

I have been working with the Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake for quite some time on an expansion of the long-term care facility. We recently had the opportunity to officially break ground on this project with the Mayor of Devils Lake, local legislators and nursing home staff and administration. This new addition is a $7.8 million project that will add 16,000 square feet to the 74-bed nursing facility.

With an aging population, it is critical to reinvest in long-term care facilities and to provide living options close to family and friends. This project will specifically address an issue that is close to my heart. The addition will add a 16-bed memory loss unit designed to provide optimum care for residents with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementia. The project was done in conjunction with Ramsey National Bank of Devils Lake and the Bank of North Dakota. Continue Reading

Housing is the backbone of any community and USDA is a proud partner in financing homes across North Dakota. Realtors, lenders and home builders are strong partners in helping people realize the dream of home ownership. The Grand Forks Realtors Association recently asked me to present an update on our programs and different funding opportunities.

Our housing programs are eligible to be used in communities up to 20,000 in population and we offer both a direct and a guaranteed home loan program. While Grand Forks proper is not eligible, as greater Grand Forks County continues to grow, the more our programs will continue to be used in the surrounding communities. Our direct home loan program is a great way for those with low to moderate incomes to purchase a home while our guaranteed program is a great partnership with a bank of your choosing with more flexibility on the type and cost of home you may purchase.

I was in Mountain, ND recently in cooperation with the University of North Dakota's Center for Community Engagement. Mountain is a community of just 92 people located in Pembina County. Despite their size, Mountain was chosen by UND because of their community leadership and vision in pursuing a new community center that combined their local cafe, community center and fire hall into a new structure that will serve a variety of services for a hundred mile radius.  

In my remarks, I stressed the importance of local leadership and my excitement of what can be accomplished when a community bands together for a common purpose. USDA helped financed a good portion of the new community center and it was a pleasure to come back at the end of the project to see the community rally around it. Over a 100 people participated in the festivities including many students and faculty from UND. Congratulations, Mountain!

North Dakota is generally known as a safe state thanks to the hard work of law enforcement officials at all levels. I was asked to address the County Sheriffs and Police Chiefs across North Dakota at their recent meeting in Bismarck about the changing landscape in rural areas. Because of booming energy production, many communities are experiencing substantial population growth and limited housing. This combination creates a challenge for law enforcement to keep up with the spike in petty crimes, domestic and sexual assaults. Recruiting and retaining quality deputies and patrol officers is also a challenge as counties and municipalities are continually strapped for resources and they often have to compete for wages with the private sector.

Through USDA we have been working with communities to provide additional resources for law enforcement, emergency services and housing. Our mission is to improve the quality of life and provide opportunity for the communities that we serve.