picking up all corners

USDA Rural Development - Committed to the future of rural communities

Building North Dakota

State Director Jasper Schneider

Greetings,

North Dakota's prosperity has been well-documented with a booming agriculture and energy economy. Despite this prosperity, North Dakota does have areas of persistent poverty. It is a priority at USDA to help lift up all areas of the state through an initiative called StrikeForce. The initiative's goal is to target areas in the state to vigorously promote USDA programs and encourage economic growth. In North Dakota, Benson, Rolette and Sioux counties along with the tribal nations of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, have been identified.

At Rural Development, we value the relationships we have built with the rural communities and the five tribal nations in North Dakota. Through our tribal partnerships, we have provided support for growing infrastructure needs and helped empower institutions of higher learning. I believe that one of the best tools to challenge long-term poverty and unemployment is education. USDA Rural Development is very proud of the investments made to build modern tribal campuses. Recently, a tribal progress report was released from our office where you may learn more about USDA financed projects in the tribal communities.

I think we have a real opportunity to pick up all corners of the state including those impoverished counties and our tribal nations. It is important to move all of North Dakota forward and our office will continue to help in that effort.

- Jasper Schneider

Tribal Progress Report

USDA Rural Development recently released a tribal progress report highlighting the agency's impact on North Dakota tribal nations. Since 2009, more than $232 million has been invested into North Dakota's tribal regions to improve infrastructure, increase access to housing and empower the tribal colleges.

The progress report provides a breakdown of projects financed in the tribal nations of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. View report.

UPCOMING

DATES

April 30: Starting a Business
Workshop
April 30: JSDCannual meeting
May 30: Great Plains Young Professionals Summit (in Bismarck)
May 31: REAP grant deadline extended
May 31: 'Make it in America' application deadline.

USDA LAUNCHES "STRIKEFORCE" INITIATIVE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the launch of its "StrikeForce" initiative in North Dakota. The primary goal of the StrikeForce initiative is to increase partnerships with targeted persistent poverty communities across the country. For more information, please click the media links below.

The Dickinson Press

Prairie Business Magazine

KFYR-TV

WATER DISTRICTS RECEIVE USDA FUNDING TO EXPAND

Protecting and providing a vital natural resource

As part of USDA's Earth Day celebration, USDA Rural Development State Director Jasper Schneider announced that Stutsman Rural Water District and South Central Rural Water District will each receive $1.2 million in federal financing to expand safe, reliable water services. Read news release.

LEADERSHIP WILLISTON PROGRAM

Class of 2013

Jasper Schneider recently spoke to the Leadership Williston Program's graduating class. The program was developed and implemented by the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce. This year's class graduated ten people. Kicking off in October, the class met twice a month through April. Using the community as a classroom, candidates participate in critical Issue Days led by community experts, attend two official meetings in the community, provide topic presentations, and complete a community betterment project. Read article.

PROGRAM UPDATES

REAP deadline extended: USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. For more information, read the news release.**Note: the application deadline for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants has been extended from April 30 to May 31. Please call our office for more information at (701) 530-2037.

'Make it in America' Challenge: USDA is joining the Department of Commerce's EDA and other organizations to collaborate on a new outreach campaign to inform rural manufacturers of opportunities available to help them create jobs. The campaign will promote economic development and job creation across the nation. The Challenge will provide up to $40 million in competitive grants to support the development and implementation of regionally-driven economic development strategies. For information on how to apply for grants that will be made available through the initiative, please visit http://www.eda.gov/challenges/MakeItInAmerica/. Applications are due May 31, 2013.

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