Building North Dakota

State Director Jasper Schneider

Greetings,

As the weather begins to warm up, so does the construction season in North Dakota. It will be a busy time of the year for development across the state. Rural Development is proud to have partnered on some these projects that will be taking shape. A few of those include: the new hospital in Watford City, a veterinarian clinic in Hettinger, the renovation of S&S Grain in Walhalla and the Head Start facility in Fort Totten.

With strong public and private partnerships, we are helping build upon North Dakota's economic vitality. Throughout the year, we accept applications that support rural business development, affordable housing, utility infrastructure and essential community facilities. For more information on our programs, please contact our office at (701) 530-2037 or visit our website.

- Bill Davis

Farmers Union Oil of Southern Valley Expands in Fairmount

Farmers Union Oil of Southern Valley (FUOSV) held an open house of their new building in Fairmount. The project has brought all departments under one roof. It also includes a 100-foot by 300-foot shop that will accommodate the manufacturing of more trucks and trailers.

To help with the project, USDA Rural Development partnered with Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative to provide a $1 million, interest-free loan. The expansion has allowed FUOSV to hire three additional employees so far. FUOSV first formed in 1935 and now is a full-service cooperative serving members in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

A FUOSV manufactured truck.

New Grocery and Hardware Store

LaMoure

LaMoure Foods and LaMoure Hardware has been operating out of their new location for several months now. Each store uses half of a 100" X 200" building. The project almost doubled both the stores shelf space as compared to their previous locations. To help with financing, USDA Rural Development and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative partnered to provide a $1 million, no interest loan. This was possible through USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan program.

NOTICE: GUARANTEED RURAL HOUSING PROGRAM

Approved Lenders, Realtors and Affordable Housing Partners

USDA Rural Development in North Dakota has changed and updated how you may contact staff. These changes are to compliment the modifications in the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program regulations, which is moving the program to a paperless processing model.

The new Instruction, effective December 1, 2014, included several major changes to the program. Among them is the automated loan closing process which simplifies and shortens the closing process which benefits homeowners and lenders alike.

Links for more information:

New ND Rural Housing contact sheet

Listing of major changes to Instruction

New Instruction (Handbook 3555)

Rural Energy for America Program

Project Financing and Application Deadlines

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides loans and grants to rural small businesses, farmers and ranchers for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. There will be a webinar on Thursday, April 2nd to go over project financing. You may register for the webinar at this link.

Applications may be submitted all year. To be considered for this cycle of funding, applications must be received by April 30th. More information is available through the federal register.

Rural Business Development Grant

RBOG and RBEG combined to form new USDA program

We are encouraging applications under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program. To support rural businesses, grants are available to public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, institutions of higher education and rural cooperatives.

Congress established the RBDG program under the 2014 Farm Bill by combining USDA's Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) programs. The new program, like its predecessors, is designed to assist the start-up or expansion of small and emerging private businesses and/or non-profits in rural communities. For additional information on how to apply, contact our office or see Page 15665 of the March 25 Federal Register.

Rural Development Overview

Dickinson

Rural Development has over 40 programs offering technical and financial assistance. Recently, staff held an information meeting in Dickinson for the public to learn more. Contact our office if you want to learn more at (701) 530-2037 or info@nd.usda.gov.

Deadlines & Events

April 1: Ag Day at the state Capitol.
April 14 - 15: Register to attend S.O.L.E. - Summit on Local Economies.
April 16 - 18: ND Stem Strategies Conference.
April 22: Earth Day.
April 30: REAP application deadline.
June 2-4: Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health.

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."