Building North Dakota

USDA Rural Development

Greetings,

What a remarkable time to be a North Dakotan. The past five years have been a huge growth period for our state and USDA has been able to play a key role in helping build a brighter future.

Our progress report highlights several areas of investments including: deploying the best broadband network in the country; building-out our water and electrical utilities; updating our healthcare services with quality hospitals and long-term care facilities; providing access to capital for business development; financing affordable housing projects; and proactively planning for North Dakota's future with the ND 2.0 initiative.

It has been my honor to serve at USDA over the last five and half years. I am grateful to have worked alongside our great partners and dedicated staff who will undoubtedly continue to move North Dakota forward to meet the state's expanding population and industry needs.

- Jasper Schneider

'This was not an easy decision': Schneider steps down from USDA post

The Forum, April 8, 2015 - Jasper Schneider is stepping down after five and a half years leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture's economic development efforts in North Dakota.

"This was not an easy decision," Schneider said Wednesday. "It really came down to wanting to be with family." Read the full article and view the press announcement.

Forum editorial:

Schneider did great work for ND

April 16, 2015 - Schneider, a former state legislator and private practice attorney, is the first to credit his staff for the impressive accomplishments of the past five years. And they deserve the accolades. But good leadership cannot be minimized. Schneider's tenure was successful because he redefined the agency's role in North Dakota as an active partner in rural development, rather than just another federal program. Read the editorial.

$2.8 Billion Invested in Five Years

Rural Development Progress Report

The USDA Rural Development progress report highlights investments made in North Dakota since 2009. During this time, the state was going through a historic growth period and Rural Development helped support that progress by investing more than $2.8 billion in North Dakota.

The report further outlines efforts to deploy resources in western North Dakota and participation in strategic planning. With over 40 financial programs, Rural Development offers grants, but the majority of projects are financed through direct or guaranteed loans.

Read the news release and view the progress report.

Gooseneck Implement

Harvey

USDA partnered with Verendrye Electric Cooperative to provide a $1 million loan for the construction of a new Gooseneck Implement Dealership in Harvey. The 40,000+ square-foot facility will have greatly expanded sales, parts, display and service department. It features two levels with a service department, a separate machine wash bay, special tool room, bulk oil center, showroom, and parts area.

With the project completed, the dealership recently hosted an open house. In the photo: Dennis Rodin, USDA Rural Development; Jamie Melgaard, Gooseneck Implement; Bruce Carlson, Verendrye Electric; and Kevin Borud, Verendrye Electric.

Stakeholder Strategy Session

USDA Rural Development hosted a meeting in Bismarck with several stakeholders. The session opened up communication among partners about the work that is being done to increase assistance within the StrikeForce region as identified by USDA. The group focused on developing a strategy and united effort to better deliver resources to areas in the state with persistently high levels of poverty or periods of stagnation.

Stronger Economies Together (SET)

Stronger Economies Together (SET) enables communities and counties in rural America to work together in developing and implementing an economic development blueprint for their multi-county region that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of that region.

SET was launched in 2010 and this year USDA Rural Development in partnership with the NDSU Extension Service will be piloting the SET program in one region in the south central part of North Dakota. Any counties in that area that are interested in working together on a regional economic development plan can apply to be the pilot site.

The SET process for the regional economic plan development takes about 12-14 months. The benefits of the SET process include:

Step-by-step coaching to guide the design and implementation of a practical and viable regional economic development plan.
In-depth data tailored to the region, describing its current and emerging clusters, comparative economic advantages, and detailed demographic and socio-economic information.
Tools to uncover local assets and resources that can advance the region's economic strategies.
Technical assistance from NDSU Extension Agents, USDA Rural Development state staff, Regional Rural Development Centers, and the Purdue Center for Regional Development to guide the initial states of implementation of regional goals and strategies.

Applications for regions (multiple counties working together) are due May 7th. Please contact Jodi Bruns (701-349-3249, ext. 127) or Lynette Flage (701-231-7782) at NDSU Extension if you would like more information.

Program Interest Rate Changes

Single Family Housing Direct Loan: Effective May 1, 2015, the interest rate will increase from 3.000% to 3.125%.

Community Facilities: The market interest rate, which is the lowest, is at 3.500%. Rate is effective through June 30, 2015.

Water and Environmental Program: Rates effective through June 30, 2015.

Poverty: 2.125%

Intermediate: 2.750%

Market: 3.500%

Deadlines & Events

April 22: Earth Day.
April 30: REAP application deadline.
May 8: First RBDG application deadline.
May 18-20: Transportation & Trade Beyond Borders Summit, Bismarck.
June 1: SBA Growth Accelerator Competition.
June 2-4: Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health.

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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."