Building North Dakota

State Director Jasper Schneider

Our rural electric and telecom cooperatives are strong partners of USDA. In the past few months, I have had the pleasure of meeting with several of their boards and speaking at their annual meetings. At low costs to members, they are providing high quality services in rural communities. They are also making the necessary investments to support North Dakota's population and industry growth.

The basic idea behind the cooperative business model is to accomplish together, what we otherwise could not accomplish alone. Our utility cooperatives first formed to bring electric power and telephone services to rural areas. Today cooperatives are still finding efficient and effective ways to provide rural areas with the same advantages as larger cities. In some cases they do it better; you may get a faster Internet connection in our rural areas than a major metropolitan area.

Our local cooperatives also mean jobs in the communities they serve. Often they are one of the largest employers in a community and they support economic growth through revolving loan programs. USDA is proud to partner in these efforts as it is vital to the current and potential development of our state. We all benefit and are stronger when working together.

- Jasper

RETAINING A WORKFORCE

Business Development: Company builds housing, funds daycare to keep workers

By: Kris Bevill, Prairie Business Magazine

Workers, housing and daycares. All three are in tight supply throughout the region and many businesses are finding it difficult to expand their operations because of it.

"Employers are recognizing that in order to recruit and retain talent, finding solutions to the limited number of options in the housing and child care market is important," says Jasper Schneider. "These two issues have very much become workforce issues and the reality is that the communities and employers that figure it out are the ones that will be able to retain talent." USDA Rural Development can provide assistance for housing and child care projects through its business and community programs, he says. Read full article here.

USDA and Cooperatives Partner For Rural Communities

State Director Schneider speaking at the NoDak Annual Meeting.

State Director Schneider has been meeting with several North Dakota utility cooperatives, who are some of USDA's best partners. Recently he spoke at the Central Power Electic and the NoDak Electric annual meetings. He also visited with the boards at Minnkota Power Cooperative, SRT Communications, Dakota Central Telecom and Northern Plains Electric.

The electric and telecom co-ops around the state have been vital in providing the basic infrastructure needed in rural areas. Besides providing electricity and broadband internet. They also support economic development in their service areas, often partnering with USDA to provide financing. For more information on USDA resources, click here.

Horsch Anderson

Mapleton

An employee works on the assembly line for the Horsch Joker series.

Recently, USDA officials took a tour of a new agriculture manufacturing business in Mapleton. HORSCH Anderson received a $5 million USDA loan guarantee through Bell State Bank & Trust. The financing helped the company build a new 111,000 square foot facility on a 30 acre lot. Production began with 40 new hired employees from around the region to assemble the popular Horsch Joker series of cultivators. The company anticipates growing and adding capaicty in the coming years, which will at least double the number of jobs.

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians

Belcourt

The track inside the wellness center.

The Youth Wellness Center in Belcourt will held it's grand opening on April 16th. State Director Schneider and staff received an early tour of the 63,000 square foot facility. The center provides a space for the community to enjoy activities that promote good health with a focus on diabetes and obesity education and prevention. Through the community facilities program, USDA Rural Development provided a $2.2 million direct loan and a $50,000 grant to help construct the facility. It includes: exercise classrooms, work-out equipment, a walking track, youth leagues, mentoring programs and educational services.

A meeting was also held between our office and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI), including Tribal Chairman McCloud, to discuss past projects and ways to partner in the future.

Transportation & Trade Beyond Borders Summit

Bismarck

Senator John Hoeven and Ambassador Doer at the summit.

State Director Schneider had the privilege of introducing the Canadian Ambassador, Gary Doer, at the Trade and Transportation Beyond Borders summit in Bismarck. The summit was organized by the Central North American Trade Corridor Association (CNATCA).

The CNATCA focus is to provide a collaborative framework for business, educational, and government/tribal leaders to address economic issues, to accomplish greater continental unity, to encourage the continued economic integration between the three North American countries, and to foster greater collective involvement in the emerging global economy.

Program Announcements

Housing Guarantee Loan Program: Every year in North Dakota, USDA partners with lenders to help hundreds of individuals and families become homeowners. Some key points that make this program attractive include:

100% financing
no down payment
no private mortgage insurance
minimal servicing fee
low interest rates and favorable terms

The program is available to those with low to moderate income in communities of 35,000 people or less. This may also include areas just outside the city limits of Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot. To learn more about the program and eligibility requirements, please click here or call (701) 530-2037.

Community Facility Programs: Effective April 1st, the market interest rate for our community programs has decreased to 4.125%.

Water Programs: Seeking applications by May 27th for the Revolving Loan Program and Household Well Water System Grant Program. Visit the funding announcements through the federal register here.

Deadlines & Events

April 26: Emerado Forum, UND Center for Community Engagement.
April 29-30: North Dakota Trade Office Global Conference, Fargo.
June 1: Tribal initiative College Grant deadline. Call USDA office at 701.530.2037.
June 3: Federal Housing conference in Fargo. No fee to attend. Register here.
June 4-5: Center for Small Towns Symposium; Morris, MN.

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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."