 |
|
|
|
Building North Dakota
State Director Jasper Schneider
|
|
|
Greetings,
One of the better kept secrets in North Dakota has been the massive investments in building up our high-speed broadband Internet utilities across the state. This '21st century infrastructure' is bridging the digital-divide and empowering a new wave of opportunities in business development, education, health care and social interaction. I often get asked about the future of North Dakota and I don't get too far into the conversation without mentioning the game-changing impacts of being able to access a high-speed connection. During my tenure at USDA we have partnered with the many Rural Telephone Cooperatives across the state to provide over $100 million in loans and grants to build up our North Dakota network. These investments have supported industry growth, provided opportunities for new ways of doing business and improved the quality of life. It's not just about connectivity - having an Internet connection - it's about having a fast connection and the benefits that come from that. For example, in most of North Dakota you can have a connection as fast as if you were sitting in Manhattan or Tokyo.
The neat thing about a high-speed connection is that it provides so many opportunities that didn't previously exist in the countryside. It taps into the entrepreneurial spirit that so many of us have; providing the necessary infrastructure to start up a business from anywhere or to telecommute for your current employer. For our producers, it allows our farmers and ranchers to get real-time market information. The Internet provides opportunity for distance learning and tele-medicine. There is also a quality of life perspective allowing friends and family to stay connected through the many news and entertainment channels.
I previously worked in the technology industry and started a small business in rural North Dakota thanks to an investment in broadband. It is rewarding for me to see these investments continue and empower communities and individuals with new opportunities. High-speed North Dakota has a bright future.
- Jasper Schneider |
|
|
LIVING WELL CONNECTED
USDA and Dakota Central Telecom (Daktel) have partnered to provide broadband services to rural North Dakota. Since 2000, Daktel has received three loans through the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program. Thanks in part to this funding, Daktel (along with Dickey Rural Networks, another North Dakota telephone cooperative) has constructed what is believed to be the largest 100% fiber-to-the-home network in the United States. It covers 10,000 square miles and reaches roughly 18,000 homes, mostly in rural North Dakota. This fiber network benefits several hospitals and schools in the area, allowing them to provide distance learning, remote consultations, and to send high resolution images such as x-rays remotely. Read the success story and visit the Living Well Connected website. |
|
|
UPCOMING
DATES |
- Mar. 26-28: Central Power Electric Co-op annual meeting and substation ribbon-cutting event (Minot).
- April 12: Farmers Market & Local Foods Annual Conference (Bismarck).
- April 25: Bismarck Earth Day Festival.
- April 30: Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation annual mtg.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NORTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF RURAL ELECTRIC CO-OPS
70th Annual Meeting: Powering Communities Empowering Members
 The NDaREC's 70th Annual Meeting was held in Bismarck focusing on how cooperatives can help communities and members improve their quality of life. Lori Capouch (NDaREC) moderated the session on powering communities, which Jasper Schneider and Tom Lambrecht (Great River Energy) presented. USDA Rural Development partners with the cooperatives to not only provide electric services, but to promote economic development through several financial programs. Learn more here.
| |
|
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Center for Community Engagement
 Recently students with the UND Center for Community Engagement visited the USDA Rural Development office to learn more about the agency.
The Center for Community Engagement was developed not only in response to national trends to connect universities to local and civic concerns but also to regional needs for the University to respond to critical social and economic developments in the Greater Grand Forks area and in North Dakota.
| |
|
PROGRAM UPDATES
| |
Community Facilities: Rural communities are faced with many challenges with one being the ability to obtain financial resources necessary to construct new municipal buildings or purchase vehicles and equipment. Through the Community Facilities direct loan program, communities can secure interest rates at 3.50%. Rural Development can also provide guarantee loans made by private lenders to improve, develop, and construct essential community facilities in rural areas. The interest rate is negotiated with the lender and the terms are based on the life of the security. Eligibility is determined by the Median Household Income (MHI) for the service area of the project. Communities interested in locating funding may contact mark.wax@nd.usda.gov.
Local food hubs: USDA is committed to food hubs because we believe that food hubs offer strong and sound infrastructure support to producers across the country which will also help build a stronger regional food system. For more information, please visit this web page. You will find reports, a local food hubs resource guide, research findings and support for local food hubs. |
|
|
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410 Or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). "USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." |
Copyright © 2011 USDA Rural Development. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
