Building North Dakota

State Director Jasper Schneider

 

Our local leaders deserve our thanks. I have the pleasure of routinely working with local leaders in communities across North Dakota. Some of these leaders are elected, some are career staff, others simply volunteer their time. The common denominator among them is that each do far more work than is often appreciated or recognized. Times are good in North Dakota, but our local leaders are the ones often tasked with the challenges of "making it all work." 

 

Communities are often faced with challenges of locally funding infrastructure improvements, staffing public sector workers, improving human services, keeping taxes in check, finding solutions to housing shortages, dealing with the challenges of flooding, and maintaining the quality-of-life in their town. None of that is easy and very little of it happens on its own. You may be one of those people or you likely know someone who is. Let's be sure to thank those who serve us all for the betterment of North Dakota.


Thank you!

  

                                       - Jasper Schneider

        
The future is now, let's not miss it  
By Jasper Schneider, USDA state director 
 

My late father used to tell me that if you work smart, doors will open. Similarly, if you squander an opportunity, those doors slam shut. In that spirit, when we look back on this time of prosperity in North Dakota, my hope is that we can say we made good choices and wise investments.That was also the underlying message with the forward-looking North Dakota 2.0 initiative that spotlighted the future of our great state and the sentiments of our people. Read article.  



USDA Helps Build New C-Store
 

Velva
 

Farmers Union Oil Company welcomed a new convenience store, which USDA provided $3 million in loans and grants. The 7,000 square foot gas station offers 24-hour services including dining areas, fast food and fueling bays. There also is a trucker lounge with showers, wireless internet and laundry. Located on the edge of Velva off of Highway 52, the store's entrance boasts the largest log truss in the United States, measuring 80 feet long and weighing over eight tons.


The project received USDA Rural Development financing through three different programs. This financing included: a $159,379 Rural America for Energy Program (REAP) grant for nine blender fuel pumps, a $1 million Rural Economic Development loan through Verendrye Electric Cooperative, and a $
1,850,795 Business and Industry guaranteed loan through Peoples State Bank of Velva.  

 

 

 

Administrator Trevino Visits North Dakota

 
National Homeownership Month Celebrated in June
 
Leonard Berger talks with Administrator Trevino and State Director Schneider.

Kicking off National Homeownership Month, USDA Housing and Community Facilities Administrator Tammye Trevino was in North Dakota. She first met with homebuilder, Leonard Berger of L/B Homes. They toured a home under construction in the growing community of Lincoln. The first-time homeowner was able to build because of the USDA home loan program. She had been living in an apartment, but with rental rates steadily increasing in the state, she was able to purchase a home with a comparable mortgage payment.   

 

In Dickinson, Trevino continued her trip by gathering local leaders for a meeting to discuss regional housing issues that have been amplified by the oil boom. Read article.

 

Heart of America Library Remodeled

 
Rugby
 

Through the Community Facilities program, USDA provided a $99,000 loan and a $39,000 grant to remodel the Heart of America Library in Rugby. The 7,000 square-foot library was originally built in 1968. The funds were used to install an elevator and to remodel the restrooms to be accessible. 

 

There was a open house recently to celebrate the completed project. One person in attendance commented that the elevator would have been nice when her son was young as he is disabled and in a wheelchair. The mother explained that he would have enjoyed the children's story time, which is held on the lower level. There is also a community room and an area to sell theater tickets on the lower level. Without the additional accessibility features, the library would not be able to accommodate some events and activities.  


Agriculture Equipment Company Builds New Plant, Creates Jobs

 

Mapleton

 

Horsch-Anderson, an agriculture equipment company, received a $5 million loan guarantee to construct a manufacturing plant in Mapleton that will create 40 new jobs. Based in South Dakota, the company specializes in equipment used for seeding and cultivation applications. Through the Business and Industry program, USDA partnered with Bell State Bank and Trust of Fargo on the loan guarantee.

 


Program Updates

 

New Program! The Household Water Well System (HWWS) Grant Program for fiscal year will make grants to qualified private non-profit organizations to establish lending programs for homeowners to borrow up to $11,000 to construct or repair household water wells for an existing home.

 

Program Change: The Rural Economic Development Grant and Loan (REDLG) program funding available in FY 2013 is $33 million for loans and $10 million for grants. Important to note, the notice of funding increases the maximum loan amount from from $1 million to $2 million. The maximum grant amount remains at $300,000. Applications are being accepted.

 

Housing Vouchers: USDA is making $11 million in vouchers available to any low-income household (including those not receiving Rental Assistance) residing in a property financed with a USDA Rural Rental Housing loan that has been prepaid after September 30, 2005. For more information, please  go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-18/html/2013-14397.htm

 

Housing Preservation Grants: USDA is accepting applications for grants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes.Grants are provided to qualified intermediaries and then distributed to qualified homeowners or owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low- and very-low-income residents. The grants can be used to weatherize and repair existing structures, install or improve plumbing or provide access to people with disabilities.  


Upcoming Events 
 
  Deadlines & Events
 Website     Contact Us     News    NOFAs     Forms   Progress Report

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."

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Flickr
Blogger
Click To Sign Up
Copyright © 2011 USDA Rural Development. All Rights Reserved.